Analysis by: Karl Dominguez
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: File infector

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This file infector cenerates pseudorandom alpha characters using a randomizing function, which is computed from the current UTC system date and time.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 211,761 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 04 Feb 2013
Payload: Downloads files

File Infection

This is the Trend Micro detection for files infected by:

  • PE_LICAT.SM-O

Download Routine

This file infector saves the files it downloads using the following names:

  • %User Temp%\{random characters}.tmp

(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.)

Other Details

This file infector does the following:

  • Generates pseudorandom alpha characters using a randomizing function, which is computed from the current UTC system date and time.
  • Creates 800 domain names at every execution based from the generated characters and appends any of the following to complete a URL:
    • .biz/forum
    • .org/forum
    • .info/forum
    • .net/forum
    • .com/forum
  • Connects to its generated URLs to donwload file(s).
  • Infected files do not have the capability to infect other files

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 8.900
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 7.671.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 03 Dec 2010

Step 1

Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.

Step 2

Remove the malware/grayware file dropped/downloaded by PE_LICAT.SM

     PE_LICAT.SM-O

Step 3

Identify and terminate files detected as PE_LICAT.SM

[ Learn More ]
  1. Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
  2. If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
  3. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

Step 4

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to clean files detected as PE_LICAT.SM. 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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