ALIASES:

TrojanDownloader:Win32/CWS.C (Microsoft); Adware-CWS. (McAfee); Trojan.Bookmarker (Symantec); Trojan-Downloader.Win32.CWS.c (Kaspersky); BehavesLike.Win32.Malware.dss (mx-v) (Sunbelt); May be infected by unknown virus Win32/DH{ICUDYQ93XA} (AVG)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Trojan 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

File Size: 13,824 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 19 May 2013

Arrival Details

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

  • %Windows%\inet20013\services.exe

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

It creates the following folders:

  • %Windows%\inet20013

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

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
xp_system = "%Windows%\inet20013\services.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
xp_system = "%Windows%\inet20013\services.exe"

It registers itself as a BHO to ensure its automatic execution every time Internet Explorer is used by adding the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Browser Helper Objects\{5321E378-FFAD-4999-8C62-03CA8155F0B3}

Other System Modifications

This Trojan deletes the following files:

  • %System Root%\web.exe
  • %Common Startup%\Microsoft Office.hta

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.. %Common Startup% is the system's shared Startup folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Enable Browser Extensions = "yes"

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}store.com/affiliate/interface.php?{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}store.com/gallery20013/xpsystem/rxs.ini.php

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

Close all opened browser windows

Step 4

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
    • xp_system = "%Windows%\inet20013\services.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • xp_system = "%Windows%\inet20013\services.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
    • Enable Browser Extensions = "yes"

Step 5

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%\inet20013

Step 6

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TROJ_DLOADER.VZ. 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 7

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.

  • %System Root%\web.exe
  • %Common Startup%\Microsoft Office.hta


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