Analysis by: jont
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, XP, 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 dropped by other malware. It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.

It bears the file icons of certain applications to avoid easy detection and consequent removal. It uses Windows Task Scheduler to create a scheduled task that executes the dropped copy.

It may create registry entries under a certain registry key.

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: Varies
File Type: PE
File Compression: UPX
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 22 Nov 2010

Arrival Details

This Trojan may be dropped by other malware.

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

Installation

This Trojan bears the file icons of the following applications:

  • Windows Media Player

It uses Windows Task Scheduler to create a scheduled task that executes the dropped copy.

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
{Random characters} = "{Malware path and file name}"

The scheduled task executes the malware every:

  • 1 hour

Other System Modifications

This Trojan may create registry entries under the following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{random characters}
@ =  

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}com/borders.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}2.218.84/borders.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}n.com/1wave.php

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 8.900
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 7.640.11
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 22 Nov 2010

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

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as TROJ_FAKEAV.SMRY

Step 3

Delete this registry key

[ 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\
    • {random characters}

Step 4

Delete the registry entry with an unknown data 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
    • {Random characters} = "{Malware path and file name}"

Step 5

Search and delete the file detected as TROJ_FAKEAV.SMRY

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden files in the search result.

Step 6

Delete the Scheduled Tasks added by this malware/grayware

[ Learn More ]

Step 7

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_FAKEAV.SMRY. 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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