BKDR_QAKBOT.MEOF
Trojan-Spy.Win32.SpyEyes.aqul (Kaspersky), Backdoor:Win32/Qakbot (Microsoft), W32.Qakbot (Symmantec), RDN/Akbot!c (Mcafee), Backdoor.Win32.Qakbot (Sunbelt), BDS/Qakbot.A.172 (Antivir), W32/SpyEyes.L.gen!Eldorado (Authentium), Trojan.GenericKD.1816192 (Bitdefender), W32/SpyEyes.AQUL!tr (Fortinet), Trojan.Win32.Qbot (Ikarus), Win32/Qbot.BH trojan (Esset)
Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)
Threat Type: Backdoor
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted:
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This backdoor arrives via peer-to-peer (P2P) shares. It arrives via removable drives. It arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Arrival Details
This backdoor arrives via peer-to-peer (P2P) shares.
It arrives via removable drives.
It may arrive via network shares.
It 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 drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{random}\{random}.exe
(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)
It drops the following non-malicious file:
- %User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{random}\{random}.dll
(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)
It creates the following folders:
- %User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{random}
(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)
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
{random name} = "%User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{random}\{random}.exe"
It modifies the following registry entries to ensure it automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
ctfmon.exe = "%User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{random}\{random}.exe /c %System%\ctfmon.exe"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is %System%\ctfmon.exe.)
Other Details
This backdoor connects to the following URL(s) to check for an Internet connection:
- facebook.com/login.php
It connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- {BLOCKED}auskmt.pw
- {BLOCKED}heusas.org
- {BLOCKED}cmasn.net
- {BLOCKED}kdfasjdmtf.org
- {BLOCKED}psgrn.com
- {BLOCKED}tmaksjdo.net
- {BLOCKED}aqmi.net
- {BLOCKED}uakyat.org
- {BLOCKED}hatdfsaf.net
- {BLOCKED}geyaihudmn.org
- {BLOCKED}kahdmansgip.org
- {BLOCKED}ifdnaetra.net
SOLUTION
Step 1
Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.
Step 2
Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.
Step 3
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as BKDR_QAKBOT.MEOF
Step 4
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 5
Search and delete these folders
Step 6
Delete this registry value
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
- {random name} = "%User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{random}\{random}.exe"
- {random name} = "%User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{random}\{random}.exe"
Step 7
Restore this modified registry value
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
- From: ctfmon.exe = "%User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{random}\{random}.exe /c %System%\ctfmon.exe"
To: ctfmon.exe = %System%\ctfmon.exe
- From: ctfmon.exe = "%User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{random}\{random}.exe /c %System%\ctfmon.exe"
Step 8
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as BKDR_QAKBOT.MEOF. 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 9
The following created files/folders/registry keys/registry entries cannot be identified by the user since there are no reference values in the created key. The only way it can be identified is by comparing the present system information with a backup. Note that the said components do not have to be deleted since it won't be harmful to the system.
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- {random name)
- {random name)
Did this description help? Tell us how we did.