Analysis by: Sabrina Lei Sioting
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 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 malware is a Trojanized proxy tool used for bypassing censorship that targets Iranian users.

To get a one-glance comprehensive view of the behavior of this Spyware, refer to the Threat Diagram shown below.

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 logs a user's keystrokes to steal information.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 1,435,879 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 30 May 2012
Payload: Logs keystrokes, Displays graphics/image, Drops files

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.

Installation

This spyware drops the following non-malicious files:

  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Simurgh\Uninstall.lnk
  • %Program Files%\Simurgh\Simurgh.exe
  • %System%\drivers\MSINET.OCX
  • %System%\drivers\richtx32.ocx
  • %System%\drivers\shdocvw.dll

(Note: %Start Menu% is the current user's Start Menu folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows NT and C:\Windows\Start Menu or C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.. %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.)

Autostart Technique

This spyware modifies the following registry entries to ensure it automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Shell = "explorer.exe %System%\drivers\lsass.exe"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "Explorer.exe".)

Other System Modifications

This spyware deletes the following files:

  • %Windows%\Media\Windows XP Start.wav

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows or C:\WINNT.)

Dropping Routine

This spyware drops the following files:

  • %System%\drivers\lsass.exe - also detected as TSPY_SWISYN.CI

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.)

It drops the following file(s), which it uses for its keylogging routine:

  • %System%\1.txt
  • %System%\2.txt
  • %System%\win.txt

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.)

Information Theft

This spyware logs a user's keystrokes to steal information.

Stolen Information

This spyware sends the gathered information via HTTP POST to the following URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}live.com/ip.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}elplive.com/ip.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}rys-watch.com/tellfriends/index.php

NOTES:

This spyware displays the following GUI:

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.200
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 9.153.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 30 May 2012

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

Identify and delete files detected as TSPY_SWISYN.CI using the Recovery Console

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

Restore this modified 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 NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
    • From: Shell = "explorer.exe %System%\drivers\lsass.exe"
      To: Shell = "Explorer.exe"

Step 4

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TSPY_SWISYN.CI. 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 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.

  • %Windows%\Media\Windows XP Start.wav


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