Analysis by: Michael Cabel
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:

  • Threat Type: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This worm executes then deletes itself afterward.

It modifies registry entries to hide files with System and Read-only attributes.

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

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 116,736 bytes
File Type: PE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 09 Sep 2010

Installation

This worm drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %User Temp%\dsoqq.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.)

It drops the following file(s)/component(s):

  • %User Temp%\dsoqq0.dll - also detected as WORM_TATERF.IK
  • %User Temp%\apiqq.exe - also detected as WORM_TATERF.IK
  • %User Temp%\apiqq0.dll - also detected as WORM_TATERF.IK

(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 executes then deletes itself afterward.

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
dso32 = %User Temp%\dsoqq.exe

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
api32 = %User Temp%\apiqq.exe

Other System Modifications

This worm modifies the following registry entries to hide files with System and Read-only attributes:

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:

  • g6jk.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=g6jk.exe
shell\open\Command=g6jk.exe

Download Routine

This worm downloads updated copies of itself from the following websites:

  • http://www.baidulop.com/1mg/am1.rar
  • http://www.163lou.com/1mg/am.rar

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 8.900
VSAPI PATTERN File: 07.448.07
VSAPI PATTERN Date: 09 Sep 2010
VSAPI PATTERN Date: 9/9/2010 12:00:00 AM

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • dso32 = %User Temp%\dsoqq.exe
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • api32 = %User Temp%\apiqq.exe

Step 4

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    • From: Hidden = 2
      To: 1
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    • From: ShowSuperHidden = 0
      To: 1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Hidden\SHOWALL
    • From: CheckedValue = 0
      To: 1

Step 5

Search and delete AUTORUN.INF files created by WORM_TATERF.IK that contain these strings

[ Learn More ]
[AutoRun]
open=g6jk.exe
shell\open\Command=g6jk.exe   

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as WORM_TATERF.IK. 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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