Analysis by: Rhena Inocencio

ALIASES:

Win32/Spy.Agent.NYU trojan (ESET)

 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:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware

This spyware is downloaded and executed by JAVA_DLOADER.NTW.

This spyware arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites. It may be downloaded by other malware/grayware from remote sites.

It executes the downloaded files. As a result, malicious routines of the downloaded files are exhibited on the affected system.

It logs a user's keystrokes to steal information.

It deletes the initially executed copy of itself.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 85,592 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 18 Jan 2013
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs

Arrival Details

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

It may be downloaded by the following malware/grayware from remote sites:

  • JAVA_DLOADER.NTW

It may be downloaded from the following remote site(s):

  • http://{BLOCKED}lcurrencyreport.com/cybercrime-suspect-arrested/up2.exe

Installation

This spyware adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:

  • ADQpdULQ

Autostart Technique

This spyware adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
igfxtray = "%Application Data%\igfx\igfxtray.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{GUID}
StubPath = %Application Data%\igfx\igfxtray.exe"

Download Routine

This spyware accesses the following websites to download files:

  • http://{BLOCKED}yacipta.com/mastersoft/disk.exe

It saves the files it downloads using the following names:

  • %User Temp%\{random file name}.exe - TROJ_RANSOM.ACV

(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.)

It then executes the downloaded files. As a result, malicious routines of the downloaded files are exhibited on the affected system.

Information Theft

This spyware attempts to steal stored email credentials from the following:

  • Thunderbird
  • Outlook
  • WindowsLive

It attempts to get stored information such as user names, passwords, and hostnames from the following browsers:

  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Opera
  • Google Chrome
  • SeaMonkey

It logs a user's keystrokes to steal information.

Other Details

This spyware deletes the initially executed copy of itself

NOTES:

This spyware connects to the following URL to send the gathered information:

  • wordpress.{BLOCKED}log.net:3360

  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

Remove malware/grayware files dropped/downloaded by TSPY_KEYLOG.NTW

Step 3

Remove malware/grayware files that dropped/downloaded TSPY_KEYLOG.NTW

Step 4

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 5

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • igfxtray = "%Application Data%\igfx\igfxtray.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{GUID}
    • StubPath = "%Application Data%\igfx\igfxtray.exe"

Step 6

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_KEYLOG.NTW. 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.


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.