Analysis by: Rhena Inocencio
ALIASES:

Virus:Win32/Frayemet.B (Microsoft), Virus.Win32.Induc.lf (Kaspersky)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: File infector

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware, Infects files

This file infector arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

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

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: Varies
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 15 Apr 2016
Payload: Drops files

Arrival Details

This file infector 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 file infector drops the following copies of itself into the affected system and executes them:

  • {malware path}\~.exe - deleted after execution
  • %Application Data%\APMV\APMV.exe

(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming 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.)

It drops the following files:

  • %Application Data%\APMV\APMV.exe.flag - marker
  • %Application Data%\APMV\APMV.id - victim ID
  • %Application Data%\APMV\APMV.dat - timestamp
  • {source directory}\Defines.inc - contains malicious code in array form

(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming 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.)

Autostart Technique

This file infector drops the following file(s) in the Windows User Startup folder to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

  • %User Startup%\APMV.lnk

(Note: %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 2000 and XP, and C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

File Infection

This file infector infects the following files:

  • Delphi-compiled *.EXE

Download Routine

This file infector accesses the following websites to download files:

  • http://www.{BLOCKED}et.com/tabla/uploads/av-33970.jpg
  • http://{BLOCKED}m.{BLOCKED}a.com/data/avatars/l/49/49632.jpg
  • http://{BLOCKED}m.{BLOCKED}s.vn/image.php?u=696

Other Details

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

NOTES:
This file infector searches for Delphi installation folder to locate the following files needed for infection routine:

  • bin\dcc32.exe
  • lib\sysinit.dcu
  • rtl\sys\system.pas

This infector writes code to rtl\sys\sysinit.pas to load the malicious code from Defines.inc.

It executes the following command to compile Delphi libraries with inserted malicious code:

{Delphi installation path}\­bin\­dcc32.exe –Q &{Delphi installation path}\­rtl\­sys
\­System.pas& –M –Y –Z -$D- -0

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

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 Startup%\APMV.lnk
  • %Application Data%\APMV\APMV.exe.flag
  • %Application Data%\APMV\APMV.id
  • %Application Data%\APMV\APMV.dat

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to clean files detected as PE_INDUC.M. 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.


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.