Analysis by: Mark Joseph Manahan
 Modified by: Al Victor de Leon

ALIASES:

W32/AutoIt.CFO!tr (Fortinet) ,Trojan.Win32.AutoIt.cfo (Ikarus),W32/Autorun.worm.aapp (McAfee) ,Win32/Autoit.JW worm (Eset),Backdoor.Trojan (Symantec)

 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: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Via physical/removable drives, Propagates via 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 executes commands from a remote malicious user, effectively compromising the affected system.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 136,505 bytes
File Type: None
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 24 Feb 2014
Payload: Collects system information, Connects to URLs/IPs

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 files:

  • C:\Google\Autoit3.exe
  • C:\Google\Google.lnk
  • C:\Google\Windowsupdate.lnk
  • C:\Google\GoogleUpdate.lnk
  • %User Startup%\GoogleUpdate.lnk
  • %User Startup%\WindowsUpdate.lnk
  • {removable drive letter}:\Hot.lnk
  • {removable drive letter}:\Movies.lnk
  • {removable drive letter}:\My Games.lnk
  • {removable drive letter}:\My Pictuers.lnk
  • {removable drive letter}:\My Videos.lnk

(Note: %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.)

It creates the following folders with attributes set to System and Hidden to prevent users from discovering and removing its components:

  • C:\Google

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

  • googleupdate

Autostart Technique

This worm creates the following registry entries to enable automatic execution of dropped component at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Windows Update = "C:\Google\Windowsupdate.lnk"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Windows Update = "C:\Google\Windowsupdate.lnk"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
JavaUpdate = "C:\Google\GoogleUpdate.lnk"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
AdopeUpdate = "C:\Google\GoogleUpdate.lnk"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
NewJavaInstall = "C:\Google\AutoIt3.exe /AutoIt3ExecuteScript C:\Google\googleupdate.a3x"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
AdopeFlash = "C:\Google\AutoIt3.exe /AutoIt3ExecuteScript C:\Google\googleupdate.a3x"

Other System Modifications

This worm deletes the following files:

  • C:\Google\googleupdate.vbs

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

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

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

Backdoor Routine

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

  • Stop the malware process
  • Start the malware
  • Perform a shell command
  • Delete the current malware copy and execute updated copy
  • Display message box prompt
  • Access receive URL
  • Download file
  • Perform system shut down
  • Perform system restart
  • Log off current user session
  • Perform system standby

It connects to the following URL(s) to send and receive commands from a remote malicious user:

  • {BLOCKED}u.{BLOCKED}o.org:86

It posts the following information to its command and control (C&C) server:

  • Windows volume ID
  • Computer's network name
  • ID of the currently logged on user.
  • Country code
  • OS Version
  • Architecture type of the currently running Operating System
  • List of installed Anti Virus product

Other Details

This worm checks for the presence of the following process(es):

  • explorer.exe

It accesses the following URL(s) to get the affected system's location:

  • http://www.geoplugin.net/json.gp

NOTES:

It has anti-VM routines that checks the system info, then exit if the malware is running on a VM platform.

This worm scans the system for the following modules, which are related to emulation applications:

  • snxhk.dll
  • SbieDll.dll
  • api_log.dll
  • dir_watch.dll
  • dbghelp.dll
  • monitornet.dll
  • cuckoo
  • SandCastle
  • sandbox
  • tracer.dll

It terminates itself if any of said modules exists.

This worm scans the system for the following process, which are related to debugging applications:

  • VBoxService.exe
  • VBoxTray.exe
  • guninraik.exe
  • SbieSvc.exe
  • VMwareTray.exe
  • VMwareUser.exe
  • VMwareService.exe
  • VMwareUser.exe
  • FortiTracer.exe
  • vmacthlp.exe
  • vmtoolsd.exe
  • BehaviorDumper.exe
  • FakeHTTPServer.exe
  • FakeServer.exe
  • FakeHTTPServer.exe
  • FakeHTTPServer.exe
  • FakeHTTPServer.exe
  • FakeHTTPServer.exe
  • tcpview.exe
  • procmon.exe

It terminates itself if any of said processes exists.

This worm scans the system for the following process, which are related to antivirus and security applications:

  • avp.exe
  • zonealarm.exe
  • avguard.exe
  • nod32kui.exe
  • kavmm.exe
  • fsbwsys.exe
  • vmacthlp.exe
  • avp.exe
  • kavsvc.exe

It terminates itself if any of said processes exists.

This worm checks for the existence of following directories, which are related to debugging/emulation:

  • C:\CWSandbox
  • C:\python26
  • C:\cuckoo

It also check the full path and file name of the current executable file:

  • C:\virus\{script file name}

It terminates itself if any of said directories exist.

It copies the created C:\Google directory as {root drive}:\Skypee with file attribute RHS in all root directory, (e.g., C:\Skypee, D:\Skypee).

It drops shortcut files pointing to its copy in all folders located at the root directory. These shortcut files use the names of the folders that they were dropped in, (e.g., C:\Documents and Settings\Documents and Settings.lnk, C:\foldername\foldername.lnk, etc).

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.700
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 10.732.09
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 24 Feb 2014
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 10.733.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 24 Feb 2014

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_UTOTI.VRU

Step 3

Terminate the malware/grayware/spyware process:

[ 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
    • Windows Update = "C:\Google\Windowsupdate.lnk"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Windows Update = "C:\Google\Windowsupdate.lnk"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • JavaUpdate = "C:\Google\GoogleUpdate.lnk"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • AdopeUpdate = "C:\Google\GoogleUpdate.lnk"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • NewJavaInstall = "C:\Google\AutoIt3.exe /AutoIt3ExecuteScript C:\Google\googleupdate.a3x"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • AdopeFlash = "C:\Google\AutoIt3.exe /AutoIt3ExecuteScript C:\Google\googleupdate.a3x"

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"

Step 6

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.
  • C:\Google
  • %drive letter%:\Skypee
  • %User Startup%\GoogleUpdate.lnk
  • %User Startup%\WindowsUpdate.lnk
  • {removable drive letter}:\Hot.lnk
  • {removable drive letter}:\Movies.lnk
  • {removable drive letter}:\My Games.lnk
  • {removable drive letter}:\My Pictuers.lnk
  • {removable drive letter}:\My Videos.lnk

Step 7

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as WORM_UTOTI.VRU. 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.

NOTES:
Please perform this step before proceeding to Step 7

Delete all dropped shortcut files pointing to its copy in all folders located at the root directory, (e.g., C:\Documents and Settings\Documents and Settings.lnk, C:\foldername\foldername.lnk, etc).


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