WORM_TATERF.EQ

This worm attempts to steal user credentials, such as user names and passwords, related to online games. It does this by monitoring processes/services in the memory that contains certain strings.

It also steals Yahoo Japan credentials by monitoring certain URLs, processes, and registry key.

It deletes the initially executed copy of itself.

This worm arrives via removable drives. It arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It drops an AUTORUN.INF file to automatically execute the copies it drops when a user accesses the drives of an affected system.

It does not have any backdoor routine.

Arrival Details

This worm arrives via removable drives.

It 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 worm drops the following component file(s):

• %User Temp%\4tddfwq{number}.dll - also detected as WORM_TATERF.EQ

(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.)

It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

• %User Temp%\xvassdf.exe

(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.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
54dfsger = "%User Temp%\xvassdf.exe"

Other System Modifications

This worm adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\MADOWN

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
Hidden = "2"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
ShowSuperHidden = "0"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced\Folder\Hidden\
SHOWALL
CheckedValue = "0"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

Propagation

This worm drops the following copy of itself in all physical and removable drives:

• 9swdbe.exe

It drops an AUTORUN.INF file to automatically execute the copies it drops when a user accesses the drives of an affected system.

The said .INF file contains the following strings:

[AutoRun]
open=9swdbe.exe
shell\open\Command=9swdbe.exe

Backdoor Routine

This worm does not have any backdoor routine.

Process Termination

This worm terminates processes or services that contain any of the following strings if found running in the affected system's memory:

• VCRMON.EXE
• Update.exe
• CCSVCHST.EXE
• ALUSCHEDULERSVC.EXE
• luall.exe
• ASHDISP.EXE
• avast.setup
• setup.ovr
• EKRN.EXE
• updater.dll
• eguiEpfw.dll
• eguiEmon.dll
• ekrnEpfw.dll
• ekrnEmon.dll
• AVP.EXE
• prupdate.ppl
• AYAGENT.AYE
• AYUpdate.aye
• UFSEAGNT.EXE
• SfFnUp.exe
• UfUpdUi.exe
• AVGNT.EXE
• preupd.exe
• update.exe
• VSTSKMGR.EXE
• vsupdate.dll
• mcupdate.exe
• AVGRSX.EXE
• avgupd.exe
• avgupd.exe
• AVP.EXE

NOTES:

Rootkit Capabilities

It does not have rootkit capabilities.

Download Routine

It may also download an updated copy of itself or other possibly malicious file(s) from following remote site:

• www.{BLOCKED}xh.com

As of this writing, however, the said URL is inaccessible.

Information Theft

This worm attempts to steal user credentials, such as user names and passwords, related to online games. It does this by monitoring processes/services in the memory that contains the following strings:

• Altair(Non-PvP)
• Arcturus
• Canopus
• coc.exe
• Forthgoer
• pol.exe
• Ragexe.exe
• Rigel
• Sirius
• Vega(Non-PvP)

It also steals Yahoo Japan credentials by monitoring the following URLs, processes, and registry key:

• https://login.yahoo.co.jp/config/login_verify2?.src=ym
• https://login.yahoo.co.jp/config/login?
• YahooWidgetEngine.exe
• YPagerj.exe
• \Software\YahooJapan

It also monitors traffic to the following sites to steal information:

• 211.13.235.228
• 211.13.235.227
• 211.13.235.226
• 211.13.235.229

It sends the information it gathers to the following remote site through port 80 (HTTP port):

• www.{BLOCKED}xh.com

As of this writing, however, the said URL is inaccessible.

Other Details

This worm deletes the initially executed copy of itself

The dropped DLL component file is then injected to running processes in the memory.

It does not exploit any vulnerability.