Analysis by: Rhena Inocencio
ALIASES:

Virus.Win32.Parite.b (Kaspersky), W32/Pate.b (McAfee), W32.Pinfi (Symantec), W32/Parite (Avira), W32/Parite-B (Sophos), Virus:Win32/Parite.B (Microsoft)

 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:

  • Threat Type: File infector

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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.

It appends its codes to target files.

It exports functions used by other malware.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 176,128 bytes
File Type: DLL
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 26 Jan 2008

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.

Other System Modifications

This file infector adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
PINF

File Infection

This file infector infects the following files:

  • .EXE
  • .SCR

It appends its codes to target files.

Other Details

This file infector exports functions used by other malware.

NOTES:

PE_PARITE.A drops and executes this .DLL using a random file name and a TMP extension.

It exports a function called INITIATE, which triggers its routine.

It infects all files found on the system and accessible network shares. Trend Micro detects files infected by this virus as PE_PARITE.A.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.300
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 4.964.03
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 26 Jan 2008
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 4.965.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 27 Jan 2008

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

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. Before you could do this, you must restart in Safe Mode. For instructions on how to do this, you may refer to this page If the preceding step requires you to restart in safe mode, you may proceed to edit the system registry.

 
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
    • PINF

Step 3

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as PE_PARITE.A-O. 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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