Analysis by: Erika Bianca Mendoza

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Trojan may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites. It may be dropped by other malware.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 28,672 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 20 Sep 2011
Payload: Drops files

Arrival Details

This Trojan may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.

It may be dropped by the following malware:

  • TROJ_ARTIEF.SM1

Installation

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %Program Files%\Internet Explorer\Connection Wizard\icwcomn.dll - detected as BKDR_SMALL.DRK

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.)

Other System Modifications

This Trojan creates the following service using its DLL component:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{net service}\Parameters
ServiceDll = %Program Files%\Internet Explorer\Connection Wizard\icwcomn.dll

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\6to4
Type = 20

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\6to4
Start = 2

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\6to4
ErrorControl = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\6to4
ImagePath = %System%\svchost -k netsvcs

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\6to4
DisplayName = Internet Explorer Help Center

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\6to4
ObjectName = LocalSystem

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\6to4
Description = Windows IE Online Help Experts

NOTES:
This Trojan queries the following registry to obtain a list of net services and use one of them as its service name:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Svchost
netsvcs

  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

Remove the malware/grayware file that dropped/downloaded TROJ_DROPPER.CQY

     TROJ_ARTIEF.SM1

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

Search and delete this file

[ Learn More ]
There may be some component files 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. %Program Files%\Internet Explorer\Connection Wizard\icwcomn.dll

Step 5

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

NOTES:

Perform the following procedure as Step 4 of the Solution.

To delete the random service key this malware/grayware/spyware created:
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and take note of the name of the malware/grayware/spyware detected.
Open Registry Editor. To do this, click Start>Run, type regedit in the text box provided, then press Enter.
Press CTRL+F.
In the Find dialog box, type the file name of the malware detected earlier.
(Note: Make sure that only the data checkbox is selected, then click Find Next.)


Once found, in the right panel, check if the result is the following value-data pair:
  • ServiceDll = {Malware/Grayware/Spyware path and file name}

If yes, in the left panel, locate the service where the data is under.
Right-click on the located service in the left panel and choose Delete.
Repeat steps 2 to 6 until the Finished searching through the registry dialog box appears.


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