Analysis by: Anthony Joe Melgarejo

ALIASES:

Backdoor.Win32.QBot.pez (Kaspersky)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)

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

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware

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

It is injected into all running processes to remain memory resident.

It executes commands from a remote malicious user, effectively compromising the affected system. It connects to a website to send and receive information.

It retrieves specific information from the affected system.

It connects to certain websites to send and receive information. It prevents users from visiting antivirus-related websites that contain specific strings.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 287,744 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 10 Nov 2013
Payload: Compromises system security, Steals information, Connects to URLs/IPs

Arrival Details

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

  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{random folder}\{random name}.dll

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users or Common profile folder, which is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users in Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, and C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista and 7.)

It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{random folder}\{random name}.exe

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users or Common profile folder, which is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users in Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, and C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista and 7.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{random folder}

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users or Common profile folder, which is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users in Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, and C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista and 7.)

It is injected into all running processes to remain memory resident.

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

  • {malware file name}a
  • {random string}

It terminates itself if it finds the following processes in the affected system's memory:

  • msdev.exe
  • dbgview.exe
  • mirc.exe
  • ollydbg.exe
  • ctfmon.exe

Autostart Technique

This backdoor registers itself as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{random name}
Imagepath = "%All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{random name}
DisplayName = "Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Service"

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{random name} = "%All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe"

It modifies the following registry entries to ensure it automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{legitimate application} = "%All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe /c {path and file name of legitimate application}"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {path and file name of legitimate application}.)

Backdoor Routine

This backdoor executes the following commands from a remote malicious user:

  • Download and execute component files
  • Download configuration and updates
  • Download updated copy of itself
  • Uninstall itself
  • Kill processes
  • Upload files containing stolen information
  • Perform FTP functionalities

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

  • {BLOCKED}s.{BLOCKED}ev.ua
  • {BLOCKED}m.{BLOCKED}v.ua
  • {BLOCKED}n.org
  • {BLOCKED}nz.net
  • {BLOCKED}mausj.org
  • {BLOCKED}tkrich.net
  • {BLOCKED}carusled.org

Information Theft

This backdoor retrieves the following information from the affected system:

  • GeoIP locations
  • Browser cookies
  • Flash cookies
  • Network information
  • System information
  • FTP, POP3, IMAP, SMTP, HTTPMail, NNTP Passwords
  • Outlook login credentials
  • Private keys from system certificates
  • Login credentials for certain websites
  • Internet sessions

Other Details

This backdoor connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.239.145:8080

It prevents users from visiting antivirus-related websites that contain the following strings:

  • explabs.
  • sanasecurity
  • phishtank.com
  • hautesecure.com
  • truste.com
  • clearclouddns
  • webroot.
  • agnitum
  • ahnlab
  • arcabit
  • avast
  • avg
  • avira
  • avp
  • bitdefender
  • bit9
  • castlecops
  • centralcommand
  • clamav
  • comodo
  • computerassociates
  • cpsecure
  • defender
  • drweb
  • emsisoft
  • esafe
  • .eset
  • etrust
  • ewido
  • fortinet
  • f-prot
  • f-secure
  • gdata
  • grisoft
  • hacksoft
  • hauri
  • ikarus
  • jotti
  • k7computing
  • kaspersky
  • malware
  • mcafee
  • networkassociates
  • nod32
  • norman
  • norton
  • panda
  • pctools
  • prevx
  • quickheal
  • rising
  • rootkit
  • securecomputing
  • sophos
  • spamhaus
  • spyware
  • sunbelt
  • symantec
  • threatexpert
  • threatfire
  • trendmicro
  • virus
  • wilderssecurity
  • windowsupdate
  • update.microsoft.
  • download.microsoft.

NOTES:

The modified autostart registry of the legitimate application is randomly selected by the user.

It may also connect to IRC servers to depending on its confuguration file to receive commands.

It gathers passwords by monitoring the following applications:

  • firefox.exe
  • iexplore.exe
  • msmsgs.exe
  • msnmsgr.exe
  • opera.exe
  • outlook.exe
  • skype.exe
  • wscntfy.exe
  • wuauclt.exe
  • yahoomessenger.exe

It is capable of monitoring the browsing activities of the infected computer to steal login creadentials of information related to finance-related websites containing the following strings:

  • blilk.com
  • bankeft.com
  • cmol.bbt.com
  • securentrycorp.zionsbank.com
  • tmcb.zionsbank.com
  • .web-access.com
  • nj00-wcm
  • commercial.bnc.ca
  • /clkccm/
  • paylinks.cunet.org
  • e-facts.org
  • accessonline.abnamro.com
  • providentnjolb.com
  • firstmeritib.com
  • corporatebanking
  • firstmeritib.com/defaultcorp.aspx
  • e-moneyger.com
  • jsp/mainWeb.jsp
  • svbconnect.com
  • premierview.membersunited.org
  • each.bremer.com
  • iris.sovereignbank.com
  • /wires/
  • paylinks.cunet.org
  • securentrycorp.amegybank.com
  • businessbankingcenter.synovus.com
  • businessinternetbanking.synovus.com
  • ocm.suntrust.com
  • otm.suntrust.com
  • cashproonline.bankofamerica.com
  • singlepoint.usbank.com
  • netconnect.bokf.com
  • business-eb.ibanking-services.com
  • cashproonline.bankofamerica.com
  • /cashplus/
  • ebanking-services.com
  • /cashman/
  • web-cashplus.com
  • treas-mgt.frostbank.com
  • business-eb.ibanking-services.com
  • treasury.pncbank.com
  • access.jpmorgan.com
  • tssportal.jpmorgan.com
  • ktt.key.com
  • onlineserv/CM
  • premierview.membersunited.org
  • directline4biz.com
  • .webcashmgmt.com
  • tmconnectweb
  • moneymanagergps.com
  • ibc.klikbca.com
  • directpay.wellsfargo.com
  • express.53.com
  • ctm.53.com
  • itreasury.regions.com
  • itreasurypr.regions.com
  • cpw-achweb.bankofamerica.com
  • businessaccess.citibank.citigroup.com
  • businessonline.huntington.com
  • /cmserver/
  • goldleafach.com
  • iachwellsprod.wellsfargo.com
  • achbatchlisting
  • /achupload
  • commercial2.wachovia.com
  • commercial3.wachovia.com
  • commercial4.wachovia.com
  • wc.wachovia.com
  • commercial.wachovia.com
  • wcp.wachovia.com
  • chsec.wellsfargo.com
  • wellsoffice.wellsfargo.com
  • /ibws/
  • /stbcorp/
  • /payments/ach
  • trz.tranzact.org
  • /wiret
  • /payments/ach
  • cbs.firstcitizensonline.com
  • /corpach/
  • scotiaconnect.scotiabank.com
  • webexpress.tdbank.com
  • businessonline.tdbank.com
  • /wcmpw/
  • /wcmpr/
  • /wcmtr/
  • tcfexpressbusiness.com
  • trz.tranzact.org

It also monitors the browsing activities of the infected computer and logs all information related to websites containing the following strings:

  • king.com
  • phantomefx.com
  • facebook.com
  • gator.com
  • doubleclick.
  • zango.com
  • 180solutions.com
  • wildtangent.com
  • webhancer.com
  • tbreport.bellsouth.net
  • spamblockerutility.com
  • internet-optimizer.com
  • .adworldmedia.com
  • seekmo.com
  • r777r.info
  • sipuku.com
  • eorezo.com
  • newasp.com.cn
  • wpzkq.com
  • radialpoint.com
  • owlforce.com
  • .microsoft.com
  • securestudies.com
  • farmville.com
  • mybrowserbar.com
  • auditude.com
  • digitalmediacommunications.com
  • mapquest.com
  • kixeye.com
  • myshopres.com
  • conduit-services.com
  • zynga.com
  • .5min.com
  • netflix.com
  • tubemogul.com
  • youtube.com
  • brightcove.com
  • mochibot.com
  • fwmrm.net
  • mendeley.com

It creates a randomly named scheduled task for its downloaded javascript component every 15 hours.

It attempts to drops its randomly named EXE and DLL components to the following network shares:

  • ADMIN$
  • C$

It uses the following user names and passwords to gain access to password-protected shares:

  • 123
  • password
  • Password
  • letmein
  • 1234
  • 12345
  • 123456
  • 12345678
  • 123456789
  • 1234567890
  • qwerty
  • love
  • iloveyou
  • princess
  • pussy
  • master
  • monkey
  • abc123
  • 99999999
  • 9999999
  • 999999
  • 99999
  • 9999
  • 999
  • 99
  • 9
  • 88888888
  • 8888888
  • 888888
  • 88888
  • 8888
  • 888
  • 88
  • 8
  • 77777777
  • 7777777
  • 777777
  • 77777
  • 7777
  • 777
  • 77
  • 7
  • 66666666
  • 6666666
  • 666666
  • 66666
  • 6666
  • 666
  • 66
  • 6
  • 55555555
  • 5555555
  • 555555
  • 55555
  • 5555
  • 555
  • 55
  • 5
  • 44444444
  • 4444444
  • 444444
  • 44444
  • 4444
  • 444
  • 44
  • 4
  • 33333333
  • 3333333
  • 333333
  • 33333
  • 3333
  • 333
  • 33
  • 3
  • 22222222
  • 2222222
  • 222222
  • 22222
  • 2222
  • 222
  • 22
  • 2
  • 11111111
  • 1111111
  • 111111
  • 11111
  • 1111
  • 111
  • 11
  • 1
  • 00000000
  • 0000000
  • 00000
  • 0000
  • 000
  • 00
  • 0987654321
  • 987654321
  • 87654321
  • 7654321
  • 654321
  • 54321
  • 4321
  • 321
  • 21
  • 12
  • super
  • secret
  • server
  • computer
  • owner
  • backup
  • database
  • lotus
  • oracle
  • business
  • manager
  • temporary
  • ihavenopass
  • nothing
  • nopassword
  • nopass
  • Internet
  • internet
  • example
  • sample
  • love123
  • boss123
  • work123
  • home123
  • mypc123
  • temp123
  • test123
  • qwe123
  • pw123
  • root123
  • pass123
  • pass12
  • pass1
  • admin123
  • admin12
  • admin1
  • password123
  • password12
  • password1
  • default
  • foobar
  • foofoo
  • temptemp
  • temp
  • testtest
  • test
  • rootroot
  • root
  • fuck
  • zzzzz
  • zzzz
  • zzz
  • xxxxx
  • xxxx
  • xxx
  • qqqqq
  • qqqq
  • qqq
  • aaaaa
  • aaaa
  • aaa
  • sql
  • file
  • web
  • foo
  • job
  • home
  • work
  • intranet
  • controller
  • killer
  • games
  • private
  • market
  • coffee
  • cookie
  • forever
  • freedom
  • student
  • account
  • academia
  • files
  • windows
  • monitor
  • unknown
  • anything
  • letitbe
  • domain
  • access
  • money
  • campus
  • explorer
  • exchange
  • customer
  • cluster
  • nobody
  • codeword
  • codename
  • changeme
  • desktop
  • security
  • secure
  • public
  • system
  • shadow
  • office
  • supervisor
  • superuser
  • share
  • adminadmin
  • mypassword
  • mypass
  • pass
  • Login
  • login
  • passwd
  • zxcvbn
  • zxcvb
  • zxccxz
  • zxcxz
  • qazwsxedc
  • qazwsx
  • q1w2e3
  • qweasdzxc
  • asdfgh
  • asdzxc
  • asddsa
  • asdsa
  • qweasd
  • qweewq
  • qwewq
  • nimda
  • administrator
  • Admin
  • admin
  • a1b2c3
  • 1q2w3e
  • 1234qwer
  • 1234abcd
  • 123asd
  • 123qwe
  • 123abc
  • 123321
  • 12321
  • 123123
  • James
  • John
  • Robert
  • Michael
  • William
  • David
  • Richard
  • Charles
  • Joseph
  • Thomas
  • Christopher
  • Daniel
  • Paul
  • Mark
  • Donald
  • George
  • Kenneth
  • Steven
  • Edward
  • Brian
  • Ronald
  • Anthony
  • Kevin
  • Mary
  • Patricia
  • Linda
  • Barbara
  • Elizabeth
  • Jennifer
  • Maria
  • Susan
  • Margaret
  • Dorothy
  • Lisa
  • Nancy
  • Karen
  • Betty
  • Helen
  • Sandra
  • Donna
  • Carol
  • james
  • john
  • robert
  • michael
  • william
  • david
  • richard
  • charles
  • joseph
  • thomas
  • christopher
  • daniel
  • paul
  • mark
  • donald
  • george
  • kenneth
  • steven
  • edward
  • brian
  • ronald
  • anthony
  • kevin
  • mary
  • patricia
  • linda
  • barbara
  • elizabeth
  • jennifer
  • maria
  • susan
  • margaret
  • dorothy
  • lisa
  • nancy
  • karen
  • betty
  • helen
  • sandra
  • donna
  • carol

It terminates itself when executed in the following Virtual Environments:

  • Virtual HD
  • VirtualProtect
  • VBOX
  • VirtualBox
  • CWSandbox

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.300
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 10.402.06
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 10 Oct 2013
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 10.403.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 11 Oct 2013

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

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as WORM_QAKBOT.JEE

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

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
    • {random name}

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • {random name} = "%All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe"

Step 6

Restore these modified registry values

[ Learn More ]

Important:Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this only if you know how to or you can seek your system administrator's help. You may also check out this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • From: {legitimate application} = "%All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe /c {path and file name of legitimate application}"
      To: {legitimate application} = {path and file name of legitimate application}

Step 7

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.
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{random folder}

Step 8

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