TROJ_FAKEAV.KAX

These malware use social engineering methods to lure users into performing certain actions that may, directly or indirectly, cause malicious routines to be performed. Specifically, it hijacks users’ known Internet browser so that infected users will be able install the rogue application.

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

It poses as an antispyware application that displays deceptive warnings and misleading scan results. It may also add other applications which it detects upon its installation. It displays fake alerts that warn users of infection. It also displays fake scanning results of the affected system. It then asks for users to purchase it once scanning is completed. If users decide to purchase the rogue product, users are directed to a certain website asking for sensitive information, such as credit card numbers.

Arrival Details

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

Installation

This Trojan creates the following folders:

• %Program Files%\Win7 AV

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

It injects codes into the following process(es):

• Chrome.exe
• firefox.exe
• IExplore.exe

Autostart Technique

This Trojan registers itself as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\windiskdefend
Type = 10

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\windiskdefend
Start = 2

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\windiskdefend
ErrorControl = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\windiskdefend
ImagePath = %System%\windiskdefend.exe

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\windiskdefend
DisplayName = Windows Disk Defender

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\windiskdefend
ObjectName = LocalSystem

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\windiskdefend
Description = Provides hard disk defend and error check.

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Win7 AV = %Program Files%\Win7 AV\Win7 AV.exe

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Win7 AV

It modifies the following registry key(s)/entry(ies) as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{C9C42510-9B41-42c1-9DCD-7282A2D07C61}
(Default) = Windows Defendor Web-module

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{C9C42510-9B41-42c1-9DCD-7282A2D07C61}\
InProcServer32
(Default) = %System%\windefWebModule.dll

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{C9C42510-9B41-42c1-9DCD-7282A2D07C61}\
InProcServer32
ThreadingModel = Apartment

Download Routine

This Trojan connects to the following URL(s) to download its component file(s):

• http://initrd.{BLOCKED}v.com/ins/w7avf/0.000/35073951E80010002B1C20V30I7NA/NI/0000/1daf86729ab7e428aed65d56ae6b33d8d0377fb0
• http://initrd.{BLOCKED}v.com/ins/w7avf/0.000/35073951E80010002B1C20V30I7NA/FL/0000/33ca75c798ceffa5693c41287e19cb6f364a9bc1

Other Details

Based on analysis of the codes, it has the following capabilities:

• It injects codes to web browsers to display fake infection warnings.

It drops the following file(s)/component(s):

• %Program Files%\\\\Win7 AV\\\\AxInterop.SHDocVw.dll
• %Program Files%\\\\Win7 AV\\\\base001.dat
• %Program Files%\\\\Win7 AV\\\\base002.dat
• %Program Files%\\\\Win7 AV\\\\base003.dat
• %Program Files%\\\\Win7 AV\\\\Interop.SHDocVw.dll
• %Program Files%\\\\Win7 AV\\\\Win7 AV.exe
• %Program Files%\\\\Win7 AV\\\\Win7Browser.exe
• %Program Files%\\\\Win7 AV\\\\svhostqt.dll
• %Program Files%\\\\Win7 AV\\\\svhostesl.dll
• %Program Files%\\\\Win7 AV\\\\sbhostcl.dll
• %System%\\\\msxml.dll
• %System%\\\\windefWebModule.dll
• %System%\\\\windiskdefend.exe
• %System%\\\\windiskdefend.InstallState
• %User Profile%\\Desktop\\Win7 AV.lnk

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.. %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name} on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name} on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

Rogue Antivirus Routine

This Trojan poses as an antispyware application that displays deceptive warnings and misleading scan results. It may also add other applications which it detects upon its installation.

It displays fake alerts that warn users of infection. It also displays fake scanning results of the affected system. It then asks for users to purchase it once scanning is completed. If users decide to purchase the rogue product, users are directed to a certain website asking for sensitive information, such as credit card numbers.