Analysis by: RonJay Kristoffer Caragay
ALIASES:

Exploit.OLE2.Toolbar.a(Kaspersky), LooksLike.OLE.Malware.a (v)(Sunbelt), MSWord/Toolbar.A!exploit(Fortinet)

 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:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • 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 executes the dropped file(s). As a result, malicious routines of the dropped files are exhibited on the affected system.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 410,792 bytes
File Type: DOC, RTF
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 19 May 2014
Payload: Drops files

Arrival Details

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

    Installation

    This Trojan drops and executes the following files:

    It drops the following non-malicious file:

    • %User Temp%\Word.doc

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

    Dropping Routine

    This Trojan takes advantage of the following software vulnerabilities to drop malicious files:

    It executes the dropped file(s). As a result, malicious routines of the dropped files are exhibited on the affected system.

    Other Details

    More information on this vulnerability can be found below:

    NOTES:

    This Trojan drops the following shortcut pointing to its dropped file (BKDR_SACTO.FAM) in the User Startup folder to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

    • %User Startup%\msn.lnk

    This Trojan opens its dropped non-malicious .DOC file %User Temp%\Word.doc as a decoy to trick user that they are opening a legitimate document.

      SOLUTION

    Minimum Scan Engine: 9.700
    FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 10.804.04
    FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 19 May 2014
    VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 10.805.00
    VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 19 May 2014

    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

    Remove malware/grayware files that dropped/downloaded TROJ_ARTIEF.KJC. (Note: Please skip this step if the threats listed below have already been removed.)

      • %User Temp%\SVCH0ST.exe - BKDR_SACTO.FAM

    Step 3

    Search and delete these files

    [ 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 Temp%\Word.doc
    • %User Startup%\msn.lnk

    Step 4

    Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_ARTIEF.KJC. 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 5

    Download and apply these security patches 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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