Analysis by: Roland Marco Dela Paz
 Modified by: Michael Cabel

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Spammed via email

This Trojan arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users.

It does not have any propagation routine.

It does not have any backdoor routine.

It does not have any downloading capability.

It does not have any information-stealing capability.

However, due to errors in its code, it fails to perform its intended routine.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 88,431 bytes
File Type: RTF
Initial Samples Received Date: 16 Mar 2012

Arrival Details

This Trojan arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users.

Propagation

This Trojan does not have any propagation routine.

Backdoor Routine

This Trojan does not have any backdoor routine.

Download Routine

This Trojan does not have any downloading capability.

Information Theft

This Trojan does not have any information-stealing capability.

Other Details

More information on this vulnerability can be found below:

However, due to errors in its code, it fails to perform its intended routine.

NOTES:

This specially-crafted RTF file takes advantage of a Stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability in certain versions of Microsoft Office that allows an attacker to execute an arbitrary code.

This malware does not have rootkit capabilities.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.200
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 8.842.01
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 16 Mar 2012
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 8.843.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 17 Mar 2012

Step 1

For Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 users, before doing any scans, please make sure you disable System Restore to allow full scanning of your computer.

Step 2

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_ARTIEF.EB. 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.

Step 3

Download and apply this security patch Refrain from using these products until the appropriate patches have been installed. Trend Micro advises users to download critical patches upon release by vendors.


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