Analysis by: Khristian Joseph Morales
ALIASES:

Virus:Win32/Sality.AT(MICROSOFT)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Virus

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Virus arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 745,991 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 10 Oct 2021

Arrival Details

This Virus arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

Other System Modifications

This Virus adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
AntiVirusOverride = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center\Svc
AntiVirusDisableNotify = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center\Svc
FirewallDisableNotify = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center\Svc
FirewallOverride = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center\Svc
UpdatesDisableNotify = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center\Svc
UacDisableNotify = 1

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
Hidden = 2

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
ShowSuperHidden = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
EnableLUA = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
EnableFirewall = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
DoNotAllowExceptions = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
DisableNotifications = 1

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{Random Characters}
{Random Character}1_0 = {Random Numbers}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{Random Characters}
{Random Character}2_0 = {Random Numbers}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{Random Characters}
{Random Character}3_0 = {Random Numbers}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{Random Characters}
{Random Character}4_0 = {Random Numbers}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{Random Characters}\
{Random Numbers}
{Random Characters} = {value}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{Random Characters}\
{Random Numbers}
{Random Characters} = {hex value}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
Msversion = 1021

It deletes the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Control\SafeBoot
AlternateShell =

Dropping Routine

This Virus drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\{Random Characters}.exe;
  • {Drive Letter}:\{Random Characters}.pif;
  • {Drive Letter}:\autorun.inf;
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Office\rundll32.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(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

Other Details

This Virus adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{Random Characters}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{Random Characters}\
{Random Numbers}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Microsoft Windows = %Application Data%\Microsoft\Office\rundll32.exe

It connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • {BLOCKED}es.com
  • {BLOCKED}etrzyn.ugu.pl
  • {BLOCKED}i.com
  • {BLOCKED}qpaper.net

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 17.124.05
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 11 Oct 2021
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 17.125.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 12 Oct 2021

Step 1

Trend Micro Predictive Machine Learning detects and blocks malware at the first sign of its existence, before it executes on your system. When enabled, your Trend Micro product detects this malware under the following machine learning name:

     
    • Troj.Win32.TRX.XXPE50FFF049

Step 2

Before doing any scans, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.

Step 3

Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.

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\Run
    • Microsoft Windows = %Application Data%\Microsoft\Office\rundll32.exe
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
    • AntiVirusOverride = 1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center\Svc
    • AntiVirusDisableNotify = 1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center\Svc
    • FirewallDisableNotify = 1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center\Svc
    • FirewallOverride = 1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center\Svc
    • UpdatesDisableNotify = 1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center\Svc
    • UacDisableNotify = 1
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    • Hidden = 2
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    • ShowSuperHidden = 0
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    • Msversion = 1021
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
    • EnableLUA = 0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
    • EnableFirewall = 0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
    • DoNotAllowExceptions = 0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
    • DisableNotifications = 1
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    • HideFileExt = 1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\SafeBoot
    • AlternateShell =
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{Random Characters}
    • {Random Character}1_0 = {Random Numbers}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{Random Characters}
    • {Random Character}2_0 = {Random Numbers}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{Random Characters}
    • {Random Character}3_0 = {Random Numbers}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{Random Characters}
    • {Random Character}4_0 = {Random Numbers}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{Random Characters}\{Random Numbers}
    • {Random Character} = {value}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{Random Characters}\{Random Numbers}
    • {Random Character} = {value}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{Random Characters}\{Random Numbers}
    • {Random Character} = {value}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{Random Characters}\{Random Numbers}
    • {Random Character} = {value}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{Random Characters}\{Random Numbers}
    • {Random Character} = {value}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{Random Characters}\{Random Numbers}
    • {Random Character} = {hex value}

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.

  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{Random Characters}
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{Random Characters}\{Random Numbers}

Step 7

Search and delete this file

[ Learn More ]
There may be some 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.
  • %User Temp%\{Random Characters}.exe
  • {Drive Letter}:\{Random Characters}.pif
  • {Drive Letter}:\autorun.inf
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Office\rundll32.exe

Step 8

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Virus.Win32.SALITY.RP. 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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