ALIASES:

Virus:Win32/Viking.EA (Microsoft); W32/HLLP.Philis.fl (McAfee); W32.Looked.P (Symantec); Worm.Win32.Viking.ey (Kaspersky); Virus.Win32.Viking.Gen (v) (Sunbelt); Win32/NSAnti.J (AVG)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 REPORTED INFECTION:

  • Threat Type: File infector

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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

It deletes itself after execution.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 76,967 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 14 May 2013

Arrival Details

This file infector 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 file infector creates the following folders:

  • %Windows%\uninstall

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

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
load = "%Windows%\uninstall\rundl132.exe"

Other System Modifications

This file infector deletes the following files:

  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroBroker.exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroRd32Info.exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroTextExtractor.exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AdobeCollabSync.exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\Eula.exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\LogTransport2.exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\PDFPrevHndlrShim.exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
  • %Program Files%\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\Install\msnsusii.exe
  • %Program Files%\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\Install\MSN9Components\Digcore.exe
  • %Program Files%\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\Install\MSN9Components\Msncli.exe
  • %Program Files%\WinPcap\rpcapd.exe
  • %Program Files%\WinPcap\Uninstall.exe

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).)

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\
Microsoft\Imapi
LogSessionName = "stdout"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {random values}.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\
Microsoft\Imapi
Active = "1"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\
Microsoft\Imapi
ControlFlags = "1"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\
Microsoft\Imapi\ImapiSvc
Guid = "8107d8e9-e323-49f5-bba2-abc35c243dca"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 8107d8e9-e323-49f5-bba2-abc35c243dca.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\
Microsoft\Imapi\ImapiSvc
BitNames = "{random characters}"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is ImapiDebugError ImapiDebugWarning ImapiDebugTrace ImapiDebugInfo ImapiDebugX ImapiDebugSort.)

Dropping Routine

This file infector drops the following files:

  • %Windows%\uninstall\rundl132.exe
  • %Windows%\Logo1_.exe
  • %System Root%\_desktop.ini
  • %Windows%\RichDll.dll
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroBroker.exe.Exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe.Exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroRd32Info.exe.Exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroTextExtractor.exe.Exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AdobeCollabSync.exe.Exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\Eula.exe.Exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\LogTransport2.exe.Exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\PDFPrevHndlrShim.exe.Exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe.Exe
  • %Program Files%\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\Install\msnsusii.exe.Exe
  • %Program Files%\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\Install\MSN9Components\Digcore.exe.Exe
  • %Program Files%\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\Install\MSN9Components\Msncli.exe.Exe
  • %Program Files%\WinPcap\rpcapd.exe.Exe
  • %Program Files%\WinPcap\Uninstall.exe.Exe
  • %Temp%\20u9uv1f.TMP

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.. %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).. %Temp% is the Windows Temporary folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Temp.)

Other Details

This file infector deletes itself after execution.

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.300

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

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • load = "%Windows%\uninstall\rundl132.exe"

Step 4

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\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\Microsoft\Imapi
    • From: LogSessionName = "stdout"
      To: LogSessionName = ""{random values}""
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\Microsoft\Imapi
    • From: Active = "1"
      To: Active = ""1""
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\Microsoft\Imapi
    • From: ControlFlags = "1"
      To: ControlFlags = ""1""
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\Microsoft\Imapi\ImapiSvc
    • From: Guid = "8107d8e9-e323-49f5-bba2-abc35c243dca"
      To: Guid = ""8107d8e9-e323-49f5-bba2-abc35c243dca""
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\Microsoft\Imapi\ImapiSvc
    • From: BitNames = "{random characters}"
      To: BitNames = "" ImapiDebugError ImapiDebugWarning ImapiDebugTrace ImapiDebugInfo ImapiDebugX ImapiDebugSort""

Step 5

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.
  • %Windows%\uninstall\rundl132.exe
  • %Windows%\Logo1_.exe
  • %System Root%\_desktop.ini
  • %Windows%\RichDll.dll
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroBroker.exe.Exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe.Exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroRd32Info.exe.Exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroTextExtractor.exe.Exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AdobeCollabSync.exe.Exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\Eula.exe.Exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\LogTransport2.exe.Exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\PDFPrevHndlrShim.exe.Exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe.Exe
  • %Program Files%\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\Install\msnsusii.exe.Exe
  • %Program Files%\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\Install\MSN9Components\Digcore.exe.Exe
  • %Program Files%\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\Install\MSN9Components\Msncli.exe.Exe
  • %Program Files%\WinPcap\rpcapd.exe.Exe
  • %Program Files%\WinPcap\Uninstall.exe.Exe
  • %Temp%\20u9uv1f.TMP

Step 6

Search and delete this folder

[ 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.
  • %Windows%\uninstall

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as PE_LOOKED.KT. 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 8

Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.

  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroBroker.exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroRd32Info.exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroTextExtractor.exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AdobeCollabSync.exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\Eula.exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\LogTransport2.exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\PDFPrevHndlrShim.exe
  • %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
  • %Program Files%\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\Install\msnsusii.exe
  • %Program Files%\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\Install\MSN9Components\Digcore.exe
  • %Program Files%\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\Install\MSN9Components\Msncli.exe
  • %Program Files%\WinPcap\rpcapd.exe
  • %Program Files%\WinPcap\Uninstall.exe


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