Modified by: Roland Marco Dela Paz
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Dropped by other malware

This spyware's dropped DLL components are injected to running processes in order to stay memory resident. It gathers system and network information by executing DOS commands via its dropped batch file, ieted32.bat.

This spyware may be dropped by other malware.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: Varies
File Type: PE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 13 Mar 2012
Payload: Executes commands

Arrival Details

This spyware may be dropped by the following malware:

  • TROJ_ARTIEF.AE

Installation

This spyware drops the following file(s)/component(s):

  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\NetworkService\Application Data\Microsoft\SystemKsat\ieted32.bat - detected as BAT_MARADE.A
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\SystemLrow\ierw32.dll - also detected as TSPY_MARADE.AA
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\SystemCahe32\mfc41.dll - also detected as TSPY_MARADE.AA

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.. %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.. %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\NetworkService\Application Data\Microsoft\SystemKsat
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\NetworkService\Application Data\Microsoft\SystemPmt
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\NetworkService\Application Data\Microsoft\SystemTslr
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\SystemLrow
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\SystemCahe32

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.. %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.. %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:

  • LLCXDOWN

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\WinSock2\Parameters\
NameSpace_Catalog5\Catalog_Entries\00000000000{digit}
LibraryPath = "%Application Data%\Microsoft\SystemCahe32\mfc41.dll"

NOTES:

Its dropped DLL components are injected to running processes in order to stay memory resident.

It gathers system and network information by executing the following DOS commands via its dropped batch file, ieted32.bat:

  • ipconfig /all
  • netstat -ano
  • systeminfo
  • net view
  • net group
  • net group /domain
  • net use
  • net user
  • net share
  • arp -a

It also searches for the following file types on all drives:

  • *.doc*
  • *.xls*
  • *.ppt*
  • *.pdf
  • *.rtf

It then logs the above-mentioned gathered information to the following file:

  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\NetworkService\Application Data\Microsoft\SystemPmt\sysInfo.txt

It uploads the said log file to the following sites:

  • {BLOCKED}s.{BLOCKED}iamov.com
  • {BLOCKED}e.{BLOCKED}aldisk.com

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.200
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 8.833.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 13 Mar 2012

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 malware files dropped/downloaded by TSPY_MARADE.AA

    • TROJ_ARTIEF.AE

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\NameSpace_Catalog5\Catalog_Entries
    • 00000000000{digit}

Step 4

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%\Documents and Settings\NetworkService\Application Data\Microsoft\SystemKsat
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\NetworkService\Application Data\Microsoft\SystemPmt
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\NetworkService\Application Data\Microsoft\SystemTslr
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\SystemLrow
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\SystemCahe32

Step 5

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