Analysis by: Neljorn Nathaniel Aguas

ALIASES:

Net-Worm.Win32.Kido.ih (KASPERSKY)

 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: Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware

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 does not have any backdoor routine.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 162,941 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 24 Aug 2017
Payload: Drops files, Modifies system registry, Creates files

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 copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %System%\viajus.dll

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

It adds the following processes:

  • netsh interface tcp set global autotuning=disabled

Autostart Technique

This Worm 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\ControlSet001\
services\{Random Characters}
DisplayName = {Random Characters}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\{Random Characters}
Type = 32

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\{Random Characters}
Start = 2

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\{Random Characters}
ErrorControl = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\{Random Characters}
ImagePath = %System%\svchost.exe -k netsvcs

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\{Random Characters}
ObjectName = LocalSystem

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\{Random Characters}\Parameters
ServiceDll = %System%\viajus.dll

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Svchost
netsvcs = {Default Services}, {Service Created By the Malware}

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

Propagation

This Worm creates the following folders in all removable drives:

  • {Drive Letter}:\RECYCLER\{SID}

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

  • {Drive Letter}:\RECYCLER\{SID}\jwgkvsq.vmx

It modifies the contents of an existing AUTORUN.INF file to automatically execute its dropped copy. It does this by adding the following strings in the .INF file:

  • {Drive Letter}:\autorun.inf
    • {Garbage Characters}
    • [AUTorun
    • {Garbage Characters}
    • AcTION = Open folder to view files
    • {Garbage Characters}
    • icon = %syStEmrOot%\sySTEM32\sHELL32.Dll,4
    • {Garbage Characters}
    • shelLExECUte = RuNdLl32.EXE .\RECYCLER\{SID}\jwgkvsq.vmx,ahaezedrn
    • {Garbage Characters}
    • useAuTopLAY=1

Backdoor Routine

This Worm does not have any backdoor routine.

Rootkit Capabilities

This Worm does not have rootkit capabilities.

Other Details

This Worm connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://www.whatsmyipaddress.com
  • http://checkip.dydns.org
  • http://www.whatismyip.org
  • http://www.yahoo.com
  • http://www.ask.com
  • http://www.baidu.com

It does the following:

  • It modifies the attributes of the created folders into the following:
    • System
    • Hidden
    • Read-only
  • It modifies the attributes of the dropped files into the following:
    • Archive
    • System
    • Hidden
    • Read-only

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 18.666.04
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 30 Aug 2023
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 18.667.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 31 Aug 2023

Step 1

Before doing any scans, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 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

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\{Random Characters}
    • DisplayName = {Random Characters}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\{Random Characters}
    • Type = 32
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\{Random Characters}
    • Start = 2
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\{Random Characters}
    • ErrorControl = 0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\{Random Characters}
    • ImagePath = %System%\svchost.exe -k netsvcs
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\{Random Characters}
    • ObjectName = LocalSystem
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\{Random Characters}\Parameters
    • ServiceDll = %System%\viajus.dll

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Svchost
    • netsvcs = {Default Services}, {Service Created By the Malware}

Step 6

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\ControlSet001\services\{Random Characters}\
    • Parameters
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\
    • {Random Characters}

Step 7

Search and delete AUTORUN.INF files created by Worm.Win32.DOWNAD.NLJ that contain these strings

[ Learn More ]
  • {Garbage Characters}
  • [AUTorun
  • AcTION = Open folder to view files
  • icon = %syStEmrOot%\sySTEM32\sHELL32.Dll,4
  • shelLExECUte = RuNdLl32.EXE .\RECYCLER\{SID}\jwgkvsq.vmx,ahaezedrn
  • useAuTopLAY=1

Step 8

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.
  • In %System%\
    • viajus.dll
  • In {Drive Letter}:\RECYCLER\{SID}\
    • jwgkvsq.vmx

Step 9

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.
  • In {Drive Letter}:\RECYCLER\
    • {SID}
  • In {Drive Letter}:\
    • RECYCLER

Step 10

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Worm.Win32.DOWNAD.NLJ. 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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