PE_POLIP.A
Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)
Threat Type: File infector
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: Yes
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
Downloaded from P2P shares, Via physical/removable drives
This file infector arrives by connecting affected removable drives to a system. It arrives via peer-to-peer (P2P) shares. 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.
It does not have any information-stealing capability.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Varies
EXE
Yes
25 Jun 2010
Infects files
Arrival Details
This file infector arrives by connecting affected removable drives to a system.
It arrives via peer-to-peer (P2P) shares.
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 file infector drops the following copies of itself into the affected system and executes them:
- %Windows%\system\svchost.exe
(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.)
It creates the following folders:
- %Windows%\system\_sv_CMD_
(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.)
Autostart Technique
This file infector modifies the following registry entries to ensure it automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Userinit = "userinit.exe,%Windows%\system\svchost.exe"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "%System%\userinit.exe,".)
Propagation
This file infector creates the following folders in all removable drives:
- {Removable Drive Letter}:\RECYCLER
It drops the following copy(ies) of itself in all removable drives:
- {Removable Drive Letter}:\RECYCLER\INFO.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=
shell\open\Command=RECYCLER\INFO.exe
shell\open\Default=1
shell\explore\Command=RECYCLER\INFO.exe
Backdoor Routine
This file infector does not have any backdoor routine.
Dropping Routine
This file infector drops the following files:
- {Removable Drive Letter}:\RECYCLER\desktop.ini
Information Theft
This file infector does not have any information-stealing capability.
NOTES:
This malware infects .scr and .exe files when they are executed in the infected computer.
This malware avoids infecting files that contains the following strings in their file names or folder path:
- adaptec
- adinf
- agnitum
- ahead
- aladdin
- alarm
- alwil
- armor
- aspack
- assemble
- astonsoft
- avast
- avwin
- aware
- backdoor
- barracuda
- blackice
- blindwrite
- cillin
- clean
- clonecd
- common
- copystar
- csrss
- ctfmon
- debug
- defender
- dfrgntfs
- disasm
- doctor
- drwatson
- drweb
- drwtsn32
- dumprep
- dwwin
- elaborate
- eliashim
- esafe
- etrust
- firewall
- forti
- f-prot
- frisk
- gear software
- gladiator
- grisoft
- guard
- hijack
- hunter
- imapi
- infosystems
- inoculate
- intermute
- kaspersky
- kerio
- kernel32.dll
- lavasoft
- mcafee
- neolite
- newtech
- nod32
- norman
- norton
- numega
- ort expl
- ositis
- outpost
- panda
- pebundle
- pecompact
- personal
- pklite
- pkware
- principal
- process
- protect
- proxy
- qualys
- rescue
- retina
- route
- roxio
- safe'n'sec
- sateira
- savedump
- secure
- security
- setup
- shield
- slysoft
- softice
- softwin
- sonique
- sophos
- spider
- spoolsv
- spyware
- sqstart
- starforce
- steganos
- swift sound
- sygate
- symantec
- tenable
- trend micro
- trojan
- virus
- watch
- webroot
- zone labs
This malware will search and delete the following antivirus checksum files and integrity checker databases in the same folder as the file that will be infected:
- drwebase.vdb
- avg.avi
- vs.vsn
- anti-vir.dat
- avp.crc
- chklist.ms
- ivb.ntz
- ivp.ntz
- chklist.cps
- smartchk.ms
- smartchk.cps
- aguard.dat
- avgqt.dat
- lguard.vps
This malware sends and shares a copy of itself named as pdmckaziejdntbJ to connected clients using built-in Gnutella P2P network protocol. It uses the following predefined catalogue of server nodes (GWebCaches) to retrieve a list of connected clients:
- {BLOCKED}che.{BLOCKED}r.com:8080/gwc
- {BLOCKED}technology.net:8000
- {BLOCKED}c2.{BLOCKED}e.nu:3333
- {BLOCKED}-c-41-d1-94-ce.cpe.quickclic.net:8088
- {BLOCKED}loset.com/gwebcache/gcache.cgi
- {BLOCKED}c2.{BLOCKED}dle.us:3559/gwc2
- {BLOCKED}ab2.{BLOCKED}s.org:8002/gwc
- {BLOCKED}c1c.{BLOCKED}n.ch.3557.nyud.net:8090/gwc
- {BLOCKED}wc.{BLOCKED}0.net/ygwc.php
- {BLOCKED}c.{BLOCKED}e.nu:3333
- {BLOCKED}s.{BLOCKED}oolley.co.uk/GWebCache/gcache.php
- {BLOCKED}che.{BLOCKED}ass.net:8000
- {BLOCKED}de04.{BLOCKED}n.cns.ufl.edu:8080/pwc.cgi
- {BLOCKED}c.{BLOCKED}z.net:8010/gwc
- {BLOCKED}de02.{BLOCKED}n.cns.ufl.edu:8080/pwc.cgi
- {BLOCKED}ache.{BLOCKED}y.net
- {BLOCKED}ot.{BLOCKED}group.org
- {BLOCKED}cake.{BLOCKED}as.net:9627
- {BLOCKED}c1.{BLOCKED}z.org/servlet/GWebCache/req
- {BLOCKED}rface.{BLOCKED}ston.net:3558
- {BLOCKED}ab2.{BLOCKED}s.org:30002/gwc
- {BLOCKED}sama.{BLOCKED}h.cx:8080
- {BLOCKED}cream.{BLOCKED}as.com
- {BLOCKED}adface.{BLOCKED}ton.net:3558
- {BLOCKED}de00.{BLOCKED}n.cns.ufl.edu:8080/pwc.cgi
- {BLOCKED}cache.{BLOCKED}2.net/gwcache/lynnx.asp
- {BLOCKED}lvatron.{BLOCKED}s.org:59009/gwcache
- {BLOCKED}crab.{BLOCKED}tro.com:8001
- {BLOCKED}che.{BLOCKED}k.ath.cx:8000
- {BLOCKED}c.{BLOCKED}er.ath.cx:8080
- {BLOCKED}ill.{BLOCKED}et.nu:20095/gwc
- {BLOCKED}ebcache.{BLOCKED}nly.nl
- {BLOCKED}erbeer.{BLOCKED}itecrab.de
- {BLOCKED}mm.{BLOCKED}eer.com/gwebcache/gcache.cgi
- {BLOCKED}ebcache.{BLOCKED}y.com.au/cgi-bin/perlgcache.cgi
- {BLOCKED}ebcache.{BLOCKED}are.net/gcache.Php
The said nodes are now inaccessible.
It does not have rootkit capabilities.
It does not exploit any vulnerability.
SOLUTION
9.700
7.266.13
25 Jun 2010
7.267.00
26 Jun 2010
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
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 3
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.
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
- From: Userinit = "userinit.exe,%Windows%\system\svchost.exe"
To: Userinit = "%System%\userinit.exe,"
- From: Userinit = "userinit.exe,%Windows%\system\svchost.exe"
Step 4
Search and delete these folders
- %Windows%\system\_sv_CMD_
- {Removable Drive Letter}:\RECYCLER
Step 5
Search and delete AUTORUN.INF files created by PE_POLIP.A that contain these strings
- [autorun]
- open=
- shell\open\Command=RECYCLER\INFO.exe
- shell\open\Default=1
- shell\explore\Command=RECYCLER\INFO.exe
Step 6
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.
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as PE_POLIP.A. 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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