Analysis by: Nikko Tamana
ALIASES:

Rogue:Win32/Winwebsec (Microsoft), FakeAlert-SecurityTool.ga (McAfee), SystemProgressiveProtection.wws (Sunbelt), TR/FakeAV.awe (Antivir), W32/FakeAV.SBE!tr (Fortinet), Win32/Adware.SystemSecurity.AL application (NOD32)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Downloaded from the Internet

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.

When users agree to buy the software, it connects to a certain URL. It displays a window where users can purchase this fake antivirus program.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: Varies
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 20 Jan 2014
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Displays graphics/image, Terminates processes

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 files:

  • %Start Menu%\Programs\System Progressive Protection\System Progressive Protection.lnk - detected as LNK_FAKEAV.SM2
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.ico
  • %Desktop%\System Progressive Protection.lnk - detected as LNK_FAKEAV.SM2

(Note: %Start Menu% is the current user's Start Menu folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Start Menu or C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu on Windows Vista and 7.. %All Users Profile% is the All Users or Common profile folder, which is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users in Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, and C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista and 7.. %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop on Windows Vista and 7.)

It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users or Common profile folder, which is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users in Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, and C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista and 7.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Start Menu%\Programs\System Progressive Protection
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}

(Note: %Start Menu% is the current user's Start Menu folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Start Menu or C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu on Windows Vista and 7.. %All Users Profile% is the All Users or Common profile folder, which is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users in Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, and C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista and 7.)

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\RunOnce
{random file name} = "%All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Installer\Products\{random file name}

It adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Installer\Products\{random file name}
Default = "1"

Rogue Antivirus Routine

This Trojan displays the following fake alerts:

When users agree to buy the software, it connects to the following URL to continue the purchase:

  • http://{BLOCKED}ketpay.com/p/?&lid={values}&affid={values}&nid={values}&group=srs
  • http://ww2.{BLOCKED}ketpay.com/p/?&lid={values}&affid={values}&nid={values}&group=srs
  • http://ww2.{BLOCKED}rketpay.com/?epl={values}

The following window is displayed for users to purchase the fake antivirus program:

It displays the following window and pretends to scan the system:

NOTES:

This Trojan terminates processes except the following:

  • alg.exe
  • csrss.exe
  • ctfmon.exe
  • iexplore.exe
  • lsass.exe
  • services.exe
  • smss.exe
  • svchost.exe
  • winlogon.exe

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.700
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 9.544.07
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 23 Nov 2012
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 9.545.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 24 Nov 2012

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

Remove malware/grayware files dropped/downloaded by TROJ_FAKEAV.SMWV

Step 3

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

Step 4

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 5

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\RunOnce
    • {random file name} = "%All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Installer\Products\{random file name}
    • Default = "1"

Step 6

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\Microsoft\Installer\Products
    • {random file name}

Step 7

Search and delete these files

[ 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.
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\System Progressive Protection\System Progressive Protection.lnk
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.ico
  • %Desktop%\System Progressive Protection.lnk

Step 8

Search and delete these folders

[ 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.
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\System Progressive Protection
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}

Step 9

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