Modified by: Byron Jon Gelera

ALIASES:

Worm:Win32/Renocide.gen!A (Microsoft); W32.Harakit (Harakit)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Dropped by other malware, Downloaded from the Internet, Via physical/removable drives

This Worm arrives via removable drives. 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 drops copies of itself into network drives. It drops an AUTORUN.INF file to automatically execute the copies it drops when a user accesses the drives of an affected system.

It executes commands from a remote malicious user, effectively compromising the affected system. It connects to a website to send and receive information. However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

It deletes the initially executed copy of itself.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 985,384 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 23 Jan 2018
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Drops files, Executes commands, Terminates processes

Arrival Details

This Worm arrives via removable drives.

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 copies of itself into the affected system and executes them:

  • %System%\csrcs.exe

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)

It drops the following component file(s):

  • %User Temp%\suicide.bat ← used to delete itself, deleted afterwards
  • {drive letter}:\khq
  • %System%\autorun.inf

(Note: %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp 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.. %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)

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\policies\
Explorer\Run
csrcs = "%System%\csrcs.exe"

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Shell = "Explorer.exe csrcs.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Worm adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
DRM\amty

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
DRM\amty
{value} = {data based on value}
where {value} can be any of the following:

  • a
  • b
  • bn
  • dreg
  • eggol
  • exp1
  • fix
  • fix1
  • ilop
  • input
  • input2
  • kin
  • kiu
  • output
  • regexp
  • rem
  • rem1
  • su

It modifies the following registry entries to hide files with Hidden attributes:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
Hidden = "2"

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

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

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

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\Hidden\
SHOWALL
CheckedValue = 1

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {user defined}.)

Propagation

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

  • {random filename}.exe

It drops copies of itself into network drives.

It drops an AUTORUN.INF file to automatically execute the copies it drops when a user accesses the drives of an affected system.

The said .INF file contains the following strings:

  • {garbage codes}
  • [AutoRun]
  • {garbage codes}
  • open={random filename}.exe
  • {garbage codes}
  • shell\open\Command={random filename}.exe
  • {garbage codes}
  • shell\open\Default=1
  • {garbage codes}
  • shell\explore\Command={random filename}.exe
  • {garbage codes}

Backdoor Routine

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

  • Connect to a website
  • Connect to an IRC channel to receive commands
  • Copy files
  • Delete files
  • Download file
  • Download malware plugins
  • Execute file
  • List MSN Life contacts
  • List active window titles
  • List and terminate processes
  • Query and manipulate registries
  • Scan for IP addresses within the network
  • Update itself

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

  • http://star.{BLOCKED}atama.com/yuyo.php
  • http://geo.{BLOCKED}rbo.com/yuyo.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}sai.{BLOCKED}r.tp/yuyal.php
  • http://76yr6s.{BLOCKED}rbo.com:88/tromp2.gif
  • http://{BLOCKED}sai.tp:88/gome2.gif
  • http://{BLOCKED}ro.op:88/tromp2.gif

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

Rootkit Capabilities

This Worm does not have rootkit capabilities.

Process Termination

This Worm terminates the following processes if found running in the affected system's memory:

  • TeaTimer.exe

Other Details

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

  • http://www.whatismyip.com/automation/n09230945.asp
  • http://checkip.dyndns.org/?rnd1={random number}&rnd2={random number}

It deletes the initially executed copy of itself

It does not exploit any vulnerability.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 6.894.06
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 04 Mar 2010
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 6.895.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 05 Mar 2010

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

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 3

Identify and terminate files detected as WORM_UTOTI.KC

[ Learn More ]
  1. Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 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\DRM
    • amty

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\policies\Explorer\Run
    • csrcs = "%System%\csrcs.exe"

Step 6

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
    • From: Shell = "Explorer.exe csrcs.exe"
      To: Shell = Explorer.exe
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    • From: Hidden = "2"
      To: Hidden = 1
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    • From: SuperHidden = "0"
      To: SuperHidden = 1
  • 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\Hidden\SHOWALL
    • From: CheckedValue = "1"
      To: CheckedValue = "{user defined}"

Step 7

Search and delete these files

[ 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.
  • %User Temp%\suicide.bat
  • {drive letter}:\khq

Step 8

Search and delete AUTORUN.INF files created by WORM_UTOTI.KC that contain these strings

[ Learn More ]
 
  • {garbage codes}
  • [AutoRun]
  • {garbage codes}
  • open={random filename}.exe
  • {garbage codes}
  • shell\open\Command={random filename}.exe
  • {garbage codes}
  • shell\open\Default=1
  • {garbage codes}
  • shell\explore\Command={random filename}.exe
  • {garbage codes}

Step 9

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as WORM_UTOTI.KC. 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 the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:


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