ALIASES:

Worm:Win32/Blaxe.A (Microsoft); RDN/PWS-Banker!bk (McAfee); W32.HLLW.Blaxe (Symantec); P2P-Worm.Win32.Blaxe (Kaspersky); Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt); I-Worm/Lablan.A (AVG)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This worm 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: 59,596 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 01 May 2013

Arrival Details

This worm 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 worm creates the following folders:

  • %Windows%\kernell

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Internet Explorer = "%Windows%\Internet Explorer.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
Internet Explorer = "%Windows%\Internet Explorer.exe"

Other System Modifications

This worm adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\microsoft\
windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\iMesh\
Client\LocalContent

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Kazaa\
LocalContent

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Grokster\
LocalContent

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\iMesh\
Client\LocalContent
dir1 = "012345:%Windows%\kernell"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\iMesh\
Client\LocalContent
dir2 = "012345:%Windows%\kernell"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Kazaa\
LocalContent
dir1 = "012345:%Windows%\kernell"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Kazaa\
LocalContent
dir2 = "012345:%Windows%\kernell"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Grokster\
LocalContent
dir1 = "012345:%Windows%\kernell"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Grokster\
LocalContent
dir2 = "012345:%Windows%\kernell"

Dropping Routine

This worm drops the following files:

  • %Program Files%\winmx\library.dat

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).)

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.300

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

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
    • RunServices
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\iMesh\Client
    • LocalContent
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Kazaa
    • LocalContent
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Grokster
    • LocalContent

Step 4

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
    • Internet Explorer = "%Windows%\Internet Explorer.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
    • Internet Explorer = "%Windows%\Internet Explorer.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\iMesh\Client\LocalContent
    • dir1 = "012345:%Windows%\kernell"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\iMesh\Client\LocalContent
    • dir2 = "012345:%Windows%\kernell"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Kazaa\LocalContent
    • dir1 = "012345:%Windows%\kernell"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Kazaa\LocalContent
    • dir2 = "012345:%Windows%\kernell"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Grokster\LocalContent
    • dir1 = "012345:%Windows%\kernell"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Grokster\LocalContent
    • dir2 = "012345:%Windows%\kernell"

Step 5

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.
  • %Program Files%\winmx\library.dat

Step 6

Search and delete this folder

[ 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.
  • %Windows%\kernell

Step 7

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