Analysis 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: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This specially crafted .PDF file takes advantage of the vulnerabilities found in several functions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader.

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

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: Varies
File Type: PDF
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 25 Mar 2011
Payload: Downloads files

Arrival Details

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

Download Routine

After successfully exploiting the said vulnerability, this malware connects to the following URLs to possibly download other malicious files:

  • http://{BLOCKED}3.ru/5_Clients/20/load.php?spl=pdf_new
  • http://{BLOCKED}3.ru/5_Clients/20/load.php?spl=pdf_pack
  • http://{BLOCKED}3.ru/5_Clients/6/viewforum.php/c204c05548940b4a96876ef51165ded3?spl=pdf_13

Other Details

For more information on the aforementioned vulnerabilities, please see the following pages:

  • Adobe Reader And Acrobat util.printf Stack Buffer Overflow
  • Adobe Reader and Acrobat 'newplayer()' JavaScript Method Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
  • Adobe Acrobat and Reader Collab 'getIcon()' JavaScript Method Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
  • Adobe Multiple Products PDF JavaScript Method Buffer Overflow

NOTES:

This specially crafted .PDF file takes advantage of the vulnerabilities found in the following functions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader:

  • util.printf
  • util.printd
  • Collab.getIcon
  • Collab.collectEmailInfo

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 8.900
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 7.922.11
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 25 Mar 2011

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_PIDIEF.ZAG. 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 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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