ALIASES:

Trojan:Win32/Kerproc!rts, Trojan:Win32/Malagent (Microsoft); [wesa.exe\Microkill.exe]:QLowZones-35, [Spynet-Server.exe\00004e9c.EXE]:generic!bg.bjn (McAfee); Trojan.ADH (Symantec); ARC:ZIP, ARC:[wesa.exe]:ZIP, [wesa.exe/Microkill.exe]:Backdoor.Win32.Poison.afp, [wesa.exe/Microkill (Kaspersky); Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT, Trojan.Win32.Generic.pak!cobra (Sunbelt); MemScan:Backdoor.Generic.34924 (FSecure)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This backdoor arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It disables Task Manager, Registry Editor, and Folder Options.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 1,239,972 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 24 Apr 2012

Arrival Details

This backdoor arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

Installation

This backdoor creates the following folders:

  • Extracted
  • %System%\Spy-Net

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Spy-Net = "%System%\Spy-Net\server.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Spy-Net = "%System%\Spy-Net\server.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{V8JW14YL-1OSE-515D-E1TD-O8WAN862SSI4}
StubPath = "%System%\Spy-Net\server.exe Restart"

Other System Modifications

This backdoor adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\victima

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer\Run

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer\Run

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{V8JW14YL-1OSE-515D-E1TD-O8WAN862SSI4}

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
EnableFirewall = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
DisableNotifications = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\victima
FileNameAtual = "%System Root%\Extracted\Spynet-Server.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\victima
FirstExecution = "16/04/2012 -- 09:14"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer\Run
Spy-Net = "%System%\Spy-Net\server.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\victima
ByPersist = "%System%\Spy-Net\server.exeSpy-NetSpy-Net"

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\wscsvc
start = "0"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 2.)

It creates the following registry entry(ies) to disable Task Manager, Registry Tools and Folder Options:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer\Run
Spy-Net = "%System%\Spy-Net\server.exe"

It deletes the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{V8JW14YL-1OSE-515D-E1TD-O8WAN862SSI4}

Dropping Routine

This backdoor drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\sfx.ini
  • wesa.exe
  • Spynet-Server.exe
  • Lighthouse.jpg
  • Microkill.exe
  • %System%\Spy-Net\server.exe

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista and 7.. %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.)

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.200

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

Enable Registry Editor, Task Manager, and Folder options

[ Learn More ]
By doing this step, you also enable other applications/programs disabled by this malware/grayware/spyware.

Step 4

Delete this registry key

[ 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
    • victima
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
    • Run
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
    • Run
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components
    • {V8JW14YL-1OSE-515D-E1TD-O8WAN862SSI4}

Step 5

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Spy-Net = "%System%\Spy-Net\server.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Spy-Net = "%System%\Spy-Net\server.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{V8JW14YL-1OSE-515D-E1TD-O8WAN862SSI4}
    • StubPath = "%System%\Spy-Net\server.exe Restart"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
    • EnableFirewall = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
    • DisableNotifications = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\victima
    • FileNameAtual = "%System Root%\Extracted\Spynet-Server.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\victima
    • FirstExecution = "16/04/2012 -- 09:14"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer\Run
    • Spy-Net = "%System%\Spy-Net\server.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\victima
    • ByPersist = "%System%\Spy-Net\server.exeSpy-NetSpy-Net"

Step 6

Restore these modified registry values

[ Learn More ]

Important:Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this only if you know how to or you can seek your system administrator's help. You may also check out this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\wscsvc
    • From: start = "0"
      To: start = ""2""

Step 7

Search and delete these components

[ Learn More ]
There may be some components that are hidden. Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the "More advanced options" option to include all hidden files and folders in the search result.
  • %User Temp%\sfx.ini
  • wesa.exe
  • Spynet-Server.exe
  • Lighthouse.jpg
  • Microkill.exe
  • %System%\Spy-Net\server.exe

Step 8

Search and delete these folders

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden folders in the search result.
  • Extracted
  • %System%\Spy-Net

Step 9

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as BKDR_POISON.IM. 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.

Step 10

Restore these deleted registry keys/values from backup

*Note: Only Microsoft-related keys/values will be restored. If the malware/grayware also deleted registry keys/values related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on your computer.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components
    • {V8JW14YL-1OSE-515D-E1TD-O8WAN862SSI4}


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