Analysis by: Christopher Daniel So

 PLATFORM:

Mac OS X

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

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Dropped by other malware

This backdoor may be dropped by other malware.

It runs certain commands that it receives remotely from a malicious user. Doing this puts the affected computer and information found on the computer at greater risk. It connects to a website to send and receive information.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 95,828 bytes
File Type: Mach-O
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 29 Mar 2012
Payload: Compromises system security

Arrival Details

This backdoor may be dropped by the following malware:

  • TROJ_MDROPR.LB

Installation

This backdoor drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • /Library/launched

Autostart Technique

This backdoor drops the following files:

  • /Users/{user name}/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.FolderActionsxl.plist

Backdoor Routine

This backdoor executes the following command(s) from a remote malicious user:

  • Delete a file
  • Terminate a process
  • Get operating system version, user name, and machine name
  • Get list of processes
  • List directory contents
  • Send a file to the C&C server
  • Receive a file from the C&C server
  • Execute a file
  • Uninstall itself
  • Open a remote shell (/bin/sh)

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

  • {BLOCKED}bet2012.{BLOCKED}p.net:80

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.200
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 8.872.08
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 30 Mar 2012

Step 1

Remove the malware/grayware file that dropped/downloaded OSX_KONTROL.HVN

NOTES:

Step 2

Delete the autostart file used by this malware. To delete the autostart file, open a Terminal window and type the following command:

rm "/Users/{user name}/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.FolderActionsxl.plist"

Step 3

Terminate the malware process. To terminate the malware process, open a Terminal window and perform the following:

  1. Enter the following command:

    ps -A

  2. In the Terminal window, search for a line similar to the following:

    {number} ?? Ss {time} /Library/launched

    Take note of the number. This number is the malware process ID (PID)
  3. Enter the following command:

    kill {malware PID}

Step 4

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as OSX_KONTROL.HVN 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.

To open a Terminal window, double-click Applications > Utilities > Terminal in Finder.

To close the Terminal application, press ⌘ (Command) + Q.


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