ALIASES:

HEUR:Trojan.Win32.Generic (Kaspersky); Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt); Trojan horse Pakes3_c.OWL (AVG)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

 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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 2,294,784 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 08 May 2017

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 adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\NVIDIA Corporation

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\NVIDIA Corporation\
Swak

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\NVIDIA Corporation\
Swak\Recent File List

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\NVIDIA Corporation\
Swak\Settings

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\NVIDIA Corporation\
Swak\Parameters

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\MCD

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\MCD
Enable = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\MCD
SwapSync = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\MCD
Palettized Formats = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\MCD
IO Priority = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\MCD
Use Generic Stencil = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\MCD
Enumerate as ICD = "0"

Dropping Routine

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\Swa1.tmp
  • %User Profile%\My Documents\ExternSwak.swk

(Note: %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.8

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.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • NVIDIA Corporation
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\NVIDIA Corporation
    • Swak
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\NVIDIA Corporation\Swak
    • Recent File List
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\NVIDIA Corporation\Swak
    • Settings
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\NVIDIA Corporation\Swak
    • Parameters
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
    • MCD

Step 3

Delete this registry value

[ 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.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\MCD
    • Enable = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\MCD
    • SwapSync = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\MCD
    • Palettized Formats = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\MCD
    • IO Priority = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\MCD
    • Use Generic Stencil = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\MCD
    • Enumerate as ICD = "0"

Step 4

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%\Swa1.tmp
  • %User Profile%\My Documents\ExternSwak.swk

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_SWATIY.AA. 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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