Analysis by: Roland Marco Dela Paz
 Modified by: Sabrina Lei Sioting

ALIASES:

Backdoor.Bifrose (Symantec); BackDoor-CDC.svr (McAfee)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This backdoor opens a hidden Internet Explorer window.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 16,207 bytes
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 26 Sep 2007

Installation

This backdoor drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %System%\SPLOOVS.EXE

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.)

It injects codes into the following process(es):

  • explorer.exe

Autostart Technique

This backdoor adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
SPLOOVS.EXE = "%System%\SPLOOVS.EXE"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
*SPLOOVS.EXE = "%System%\SPLOOVS.EXE"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{2EA70A76-1CB4-4BA5-3DC8-3A5C2B7C1D3C}
StubPath = "%System%\SPLOOVS.EXE"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
SPLOOVS.EXE = "%System%\SPLOOVS.EXE"

Backdoor Routine

This backdoor opens a hidden Internet Explorer window.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 8.900
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 4.860.08
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 04 Dec 2007

Step 1

For Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 users, before doing any scans, please make sure you disable System Restore to allow full scanning of your computer.

Step 2

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

Delete this registry value

[ Learn More ]

Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • SPLOOVS.EXE = "%System%\SPLOOVS.EXE"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
    • *SPLOOVS.EXE = "%System%\SPLOOVS.EXE"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{2EA70A76-1CB4-4BA5-3DC8-3A5C2B7C1D3C}
    • StubPath = "%System%\SPLOOVS.EXE"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • SPLOOVS.EXE = "%System%\SPLOOVS.EXE"

Step 4

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as BKDR_BIFROSE.AY. If the detected files have already been cleaned, deleted, or quarantined by your Trend Micro product, no further step is required. You may opt to simply delete the quarantined files. Please check this Knowledge Base page for more information.


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