ALIASES:

HEUR:Trojan.Win32.Generic (Kaspersky); Trojan horse MSIL4.AKCX (AVG)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)

 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.

It disables Task Manager, Registry Editor, and Folder Options.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 658,355 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 05 Aug 2014

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:

  • %System Root%\directory\CyberGate\install\server.exe

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %System Root%\directory
  • %System Root%\directory\CyberGate
  • %System Root%\directory\CyberGate\install

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{2G1CM005-5K1Q-14R2-4Y2N-X2FNXMA08S41}
StubPath = "%System Root%\directory\CyberGate\install\server.exe Restart"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{2G1CM005-5K1Q-14R2-4Y2N-X2FNXMA08S41}
StubPath = "%System Root%\directory\CyberGate\install\server.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer\Run

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer\Run

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{2G1CM005-5K1Q-14R2-4Y2N-X2FNXMA08S41}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\test

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer\Run
Policies = "%System Root%\directory\CyberGate\install\server.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\test
FirstExecution = "03/08/2014 -- 23:19"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\test
NewIdentification = "test"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\test
NewGroup = [REG_EXPAND_SZ, value: ]

It creates the following registry entry(ies) to disable Task Manager, Registry Tools and Folder Options:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer\Run
Policies = "%System Root%\directory\CyberGate\install\server.exe"

It deletes the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{2G1CM005-5K1Q-14R2-4Y2N-X2FNXMA08S41}

Dropping Routine

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\Wilbert2.txt
  • %User Temp%\Wilbert7
  • %User Temp%\Wilbert8
  • %User Startup%\{malware file name}
  • %User Startup%\server.exe

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista and 7.. %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.)

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • {BLOCKED}.7.253

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.700

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

Enable Registry Editor, Task Manager, and Folder options

[ Learn More ]
By doing this step, you also enable other applications/programs disabled by this malware/grayware/spyware.

Step 4

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
    • Run
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
    • Run
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components
    • {2G1CM005-5K1Q-14R2-4Y2N-X2FNXMA08S41}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE
    • test

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{2G1CM005-5K1Q-14R2-4Y2N-X2FNXMA08S41}
    • StubPath = "%System Root%\directory\CyberGate\install\server.exe Restart"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{2G1CM005-5K1Q-14R2-4Y2N-X2FNXMA08S41}
    • StubPath = "%System Root%\directory\CyberGate\install\server.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer\Run
    • Policies = "%System Root%\directory\CyberGate\install\server.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\test
    • FirstExecution = "03/08/2014 -- 23:19"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\test
    • NewIdentification = "test"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\test
    • NewGroup = [REG_EXPAND_SZ, value: ]

Step 6

Search and delete these components

[ Learn More ]
There may be some components 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.
  • %User Temp%\Wilbert2.txt
  • %User Temp%\Wilbert7
  • %User Temp%\Wilbert8
  • %User Startup%\{malware file name}
  • %User Startup%\server.exe

Step 7

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.
  • %System Root%\directory
  • %System Root%\directory\CyberGate
  • %System Root%\directory\CyberGate\install

Step 8

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TROJ_MSIL.PEP. 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 9

Restore these deleted registry keys/values from backup

*Note: Only Microsoft-related keys/values will be restored. If the malware/grayware also deleted registry keys/values related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on your computer.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components
    • {2G1CM005-5K1Q-14R2-4Y2N-X2FNXMA08S41}


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