Backdoor:Win32/Qakbot (Microsoft); Net-Worm.Win32.Kolab.ucv (Kaspersky)
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
This worm may be dropped by other malware. It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.
It also has rootkit capabilities, which enables it to hide its processes and files from the user.
Arrival Details
This worm may be dropped by other malware.
It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.
Installation
This worm drops the following files:
It creates the following folders:
It is injected into the following processes running in memory:
Autostart Technique
This worm adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{random name} = "%System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe"
It modifies the following registry entries to ensure it automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{legitimate application} = ""%System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe" /c {path and file name of legitimate application}"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {path and file name of legitimate application}.)
Rootkit Capabilities
This worm also has rootkit capabilities, which enables it to hide its processes and files from the user.
NOTES:
Propagation
This worm enumerates network shares and drops a copy of the main executable and the package file to default shares.
Payload
This worm's configuration file contains the following information:
It is capable of monitoring the browsing activities of the infected computer and logs all information related to finance-related websites containing the following strings:
It may also collect the following information:
This worm blocks access to websites with the following strings:
This worm also drops a JavaScript (JS) file detected as JS_QAKBOT.SM which is responsible for downloading updated components of this malware. It then creates a scheduled task that executes this script every four hours.
It downloads updated components from the following websites:
It saves the downloaded components in the following folder:
It sends the information gathered to the following sites using credentials from its configuration file:
It may also connect to IRC servers and receive commands from a remote user.
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
Remove malware files dropped/downloaded by WORM_QAKBOT.USL
Step 3
Identify and delete files detected as WORM_QAKBOT.USL using either the Startup Disk or Recovery Console
Step 4
Delete this registry value
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.
Step 5
Restore this modified registry value
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.
Step 6
Search and delete this folder
Step 7
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as WORM_QAKBOT.USL. 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.