Analysis by: Rika Joi Gregorio
ALIASES:

Trojan-Dropper.Win32.Injector.gwqe(Kaspersky), VirTool:Win32/CeeInject.FE(Microsoft), a variant of Win32/Injector.ABAH trojan(Eset)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Downloaded from the Internet, Propagates via removable drives

This worm arrives by connecting affected removable drives to a system. It arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It connects to certain websites to send and receive information.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 271,872 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 19 Nov 2014
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Terminates processes

Arrival Details

This worm arrives by connecting affected removable drives to a system.

It 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 drops the following files:

  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\_ZZZZCertifiededd\winenit.dll - also detected as WORM_KILLAV.WYA
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\_ZZZZCertifiededd\_E39winitinet32ss.dll - also detected as WORM_KILLAV.WYA
  • {Drive}:\My Passwords.txt
  • {Drive}:\Message.txt
  • {Drive}:\Family Photos.lnk
  • {Drive}:\Message.txt.lnk
  • {Drive}:\My Girlfriend Images.lnk
  • {Drive}:\My Passwords.txt.lnk
  • {Drive}:\Sexy Photos.lnk
  • {Drive}:\{folder or file name}.lnk - if folder / file exists in removable drives

(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

It drops the following non-malicious files:

  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Libraries\bystvu.dll - copy of urlmon.dll
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Libraries\dpupula.dll - copy of wininet.dll
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Libraries\dz5_65.dll - copy of ws2_32.dll
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Libraries\hkchwp65.dll - copy of advapi32.dll
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Libraries\pwoswhwp.dll - copy of iphlpapi.dll
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Libraries\rlyuls65.dll - copy of kernel32.dll
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Libraries\uakss.dll - copy of ntdll.dll
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Libraries\Ulahwp65.dll - copy of netapi32.dll
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Libraries\zolss65.dll - copy of shell32.dll

(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

Its DLL component is injected to the following process(es):

  • all running processes

It creates the following folders:

  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Libraries
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\_ZZZZCertifiededd

(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
Run = "%Application Data%\Microsoft\_ZZZZCertifiededd\_E39msnmsgrskypess.exe"

Other System Modifications

This worm modifies the following registry entries:

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

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced\Folder\SuperHidden
UncheckedValue = "0"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

Propagation

This worm creates the following folders in all removable drives:

  • {Drive}:\Sexy Photos
  • {Drive}:\My Girlfriend Images
  • {Drive}:\Family Photos

It drops the following copy(ies) of itself in all removable drives:

  • {Drive}:\RemovableDrive.exe

Other Details

This worm connects to the following URL(s) to get the affected system's IP address:

  • api.wipmania.com

It connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • omar.{BLOCKED}l.net

NOTES:

This worm creates .LNK (shortcut) files using folder names found in removable drives. It then hides the original folder tricking users to click .LNK files. This .LNK files point out to a dropped copy of itself in the removable drive.

It may also terminate active windows with the following strings:

  • AntiVir Desktop
  • Avast
  • AVAST software
  • Avira
  • Kasper
  • Microsoft Security Client
  • msseces.exe

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.700
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 11.290.03
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 21 Nov 2014
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 11.291.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 21 Nov 2014

Step 1

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 2

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

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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 NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
    • Run = "%Application Data%\Microsoft\_ZZZZCertifiededd\_E39msnmsgrskypess.exe"

Step 5

Restore this modified 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\Explorer\Advanced
    • From: ShowSuperHidden = "0"
      To: ShowSuperHidden = 1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\SuperHidden
    • From: UncheckedValue = "0"
      To: UncheckedValue = 1

Step 6

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.
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Libraries
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\_ZZZZCertifiededd
  • {Drive}:\Sexy Photos
  • {Drive}:\My Girlfriend Images
  • {Drive}:\Family Photos

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.
  • {Drive}:\My Passwords.txt
  • {Drive}:\Message.txt
  • {Drive}:\Family Photos.lnk
  • {Drive}:\Message.txt.lnk
  • {Drive}:\My Girlfriend Images.lnk
  • {Drive}:\My Passwords.txt.lnk
  • {Drive}:\Sexy Photos.lnk
  • {Drive}:\{folder or file name}.lnk - if folder / file exists in removable drives

Step 8

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