ALIASES:

Trojan:Win32/Qhost.HB (Microsoft); Qhost-Gen!bm (McAfee); Infostealer (Symantec); Trojan-PSW.Win32.MoonBlk.bj (Kaspersky); Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt); Gen:Trojan.Heur.hqWaXjka4Nm (FSecure); May be infected by unknown virus Win32/DH{Bg} (AVG)

 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

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.

It modifies files, disabling programs and applications from properly running.

It deletes itself after execution.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 126,246 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 04 Feb 2013

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.

Other System Modifications

This Trojan modifies the following files:

  • %System%\drivers\etc\hosts

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.)

It deletes the following files:

  • %System%\dia3.ini

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.)

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
AppInit_DLLs = "ws2help.dll"

Dropping Routine

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\pinghux.exe
  • %Windows%\IRIMGV3.bmp
  • %System%\ws2helpXP.dll

(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.. %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.. %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.)

Other Details

This Trojan deletes itself after execution.

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.300

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

Restore these modified registry values

[ Learn More ]

Important:Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this only if you know how to or you can seek your system administrator's help. You may also check out this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
    • AppInit_DLLs = "ws2help.dll"

Step 3

Search and delete these components

[ Learn More ]
There may be some components 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%\pinghux.exe
  • %Windows%\IRIMGV3.bmp
  • %System%\ws2helpXP.dll

Step 4

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_QHOST.AFG. 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

Restore deleted/modified files and/or registry entries from backup

*Note: Only Microsoft-related files/keys/values will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted registry keys/values related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on your computer.

    • %System%\drivers\etc\hosts

Step 6

Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.

  • %System%\dia3.ini


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