Analysis by: Sabrina Lei Sioting

ALIASES:

Backdoor:Win32/Cycbot.G (Microsoft); Trojan.Win32.FraudPack.bonn (Kaspersky); Backdoor.Bot.128504 (FSecure); W32/Goolbot.KA!tr.bdr (Fortinet); Backdoor.Win32.Goolbot (Ikarus)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 83,456 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 09 Jul 2011

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 copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\svchost.exe

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)

It drops the following files:

  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\stor.cfg

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
svchost = "%User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\svchost.exe"

Other System Modifications

This backdoor modifies the following registry key(s)/entry(ies) as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
ProxyEnable = "1"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG\Software\Microsoft\
windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
ProxyEnable = "1"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

Other Details

This backdoor connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}hoj.cn/gbot/sc.cgi?q={random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}hoj.cn/gbot/t.php?q={random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}yuj.cn/gbot/r.php?q={random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}yuj.cn/gbot/sc.cgi?q={random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}yuj.cn/gbot/t.php?q={random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}hoj.cn/gbot/r.php?q={random characters}

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.200
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 8.275.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 09 Jul 2011

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

Identify and terminate files detected as BKDR_CYCBOT.SME1

[ 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 3

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
    • svchost = "%User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\svchost.exe"

Step 4

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
    • From: ProxyEnable = "1"
      To: ProxyEnable = 0
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG\Software\Microsoft\windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
    • From: ProxyEnable = "1"
      To: ProxyEnable = 0

Step 5

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.
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\stor.cfg

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as BKDR_CYCBOT.SME1. 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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