Analysis by: Karl Dominguez
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This worm has the capabality to send out spammed emails, which contain links to TROJ_KELIHOS.SMU. It may also send out links that leads to advertisements.

This worm may be downloaded by other malware/grayware from remote sites.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 651,264 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 08 Apr 2011

Arrival Details

This worm may be downloaded by the following malware/grayware from remote sites:

  • TROJ_KELIHOS.SMU

It may be downloaded from the following remote sites:

  • http://{BLOCKED}r.com/client1.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}se.com/client1.exe

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
SmartIndex = "{malware path and file name}"

Other System Modifications

This worm adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google
ID = "50"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google
ID2 = "{random values}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google
ID3 = "{random values}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google
AppID = "{random characters}"

NOTES:
It has the capabality to send out spammed emails, which contain links to TROJ_KELIHOS.SMU. However, the binaries downloaded from the links may change anytime. It may also send out links that leads to advertisements. It sends a GET request to any of the above-mentioned servers to download an encrypted data, which contains information on its spamming routine. The information contains the email addresses to be used as sender, where to send, subject, and the email body.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 8.900

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 WORM_KELIHOS.K

    TROJ_KELIHOS.SMU

Step 3

Identify and terminate files detected as WORM_KELIHOS.K

[ Learn More ]
  1. If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
  2. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • SmartIndex = "{malware path and file name}"

Step 5

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
    • Google

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as WORM_KELIHOS.K. 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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