WORM_QAKBOT.WEE

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.

It drops copies of itself into network drives.

It also has rootkit capabilities, which enables it to hide its processes and files from the user.

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 drops the following files:

• %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Microsoft\{random characters}\{random characters}.dll - also detected as WORM_QAKBOT.WEE
• %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Microsoft\{random characters}\{random characters-1}.dll - non-malicious configuration file

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)

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

• %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Microsoft\{random characters}\{random characters}.exe

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)

It creates the following folders:

• %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Microsoft\{random characters}

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)

It is injected into the following processes running in memory:

• EXPLORER.EXE
• IEXPLORE.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
{random characters} = "%System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Microsoft\{random characters}\{random characters}.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} = ""%System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\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}.)

Propagation

This worm drops copies of itself into network drives.

Rootkit Capabilities

This worm also has rootkit capabilities, which enables it to hide its processes and files from the user.

NOTES:

Propagation via Removable Drives

This worm is capable of dropping a copy of itself to default shares in the network. It then starts a service to execute the dropped file.

Whenever a USB drive is plugged in, it randomly selects a file name in the drive and name its dropped copy as {malware file name}_{selected file name}.exe. If the drive is empty, it simply appends _Documents in its file name. For example: {malware_file name}_Documents.exe.

It attempts to access certain URLs to get its peer list. However, none are currently accessible.

Information Theft Routine

This worm configuration file contains the following information:

• FTP hosts (upload sites)
• Infection log
• IRC data
• Reference to the components and their corresponding random file names in the system

It is capable of monitoring the browsing activities of the infected system and logs all information related to websites in the finance sector that contains the following strings:

• /cashman/
• /cashplus/
• /cmserver/
• access.jpmorgan.com
• business-eb.ibanking-services.com
• businessaccess.citibank.citigroup.com
• businessonline.huntington.com
• cashproonline.bankofamerica.com
• cpw-achweb.bankofamerica.com
• directline4biz.com
• directpay.wellsfargo.com
• ebanking-services.com
• express.53.com
• ibc.klikbca.com
• itreasury.regions.com
• itreasurypr.regions.com
• ktt.key.com
• moneymanagergps.com
• netconnect.bokf.com
• onb.webcashmgmt.com
• onlineserv/CM
• premierview.membersunited.org
• singlepoint.usbank.com
• tmconnectweb
• treas-mgt.frostbank.com
• treasury.pncbank.com
• web-cashplus.com

It may also collect the following information:

• Account name
• Browsing activities
• Certificates
• City
• Cookies
• Country
• IE password protected sites
• IE user namesand passwords
• IP address
• MSN user name and password
• Operating system
• Outlook user name and password
• Public Storage - SMTP, POP3, LDAP
• System Information

It blocks access to websites with the following strings:

• .eset
• agnitum
• ahnlab
• arcabit
• avast
• avg
• avira
• avp
• bit9
• bitdefender
• castlecops
• centralcommand
• clamav
• comodo
• computerassociates
• cpsecure
• defender
• drweb
• emsisoft
• esafe
• etrust
• ewido
• f-prot
• f-secure
• fortinet
• 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
• trendmicro
• virus
• webroot.
• wilderssecurity
• windowsupdate

It sends the gathered information to the following sites using credentials from its configuration file:

• {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.134.75

Backdoor Routine

This worm may also connect to IRC servers and receive commands from a remote user.

Other Details

This worm may accept the following parameters:

• /i - drop the .DLL and config file to current directory
• /s - start service
• /t - terminate any process with a similar file name

It enumerates network shares and drops a copy of the main executable and the package file to default shares.

It does not continue its routine if its host process is any of the following:

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

It downloads updated components from the following websites:

• {BLOCKED}omo.info
• {BLOCKED}01.in
• {BLOCKED}02.in
• {BLOCKED}te.info
• {BLOCKED}03.com.ua

It saves the downloaded components in the following folder:

• %System Report%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\{random folder}\u