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BKDR_BIFROS.SME

June 18, 2013
 ALIASES:

Backdoor:Win32/Bifrose.EF (Microsoft); Backdoor.Bifrose (Symantec); PAK:ASD, Backdoor.Win32.Bifrose.ccm, Backdoor.Win32.Bifrose.ccm (Kaspersky); Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt); GenPack:Trojan.VB.NQN (FSecure)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This backdoor arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

959,084 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

02 Nov 2012

Arrival Details

This backdoor 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 backdoor creates the following folders:

  • %System Root%\DOCUME~1
  • %System Root%\DOCUME~1\ADMINI~1
  • %User Profile%\LOCALS~1
  • %User Temp%\nsi3.tmp
  • %Program Files%\POL
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Ardamax Keylogger

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.. %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, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista and 7.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).. %Start Menu% is the current user's Start Menu folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Start Menu or C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu on Windows Vista and 7.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{2bf41072-b2b1-21c1-b5c1-0305f4155515}
StubPath = "%System%\Windows Media Pluggin.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Windows StartKey = "%System%\Windows Media Pluggin.exe"

Other System Modifications

This backdoor deletes the following files:

  • %System%\Windows Media Pluggin.exe
  • %User Temp%\nsn1.tmp
  • %User Temp%\nsi3.tmp

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.. %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, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista and 7.)

It adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{2bf41072-b2b1-21c1-b5c1-0305f4155515}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Ardamax Keylogger

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Ardamax Keylogger
DisplayName = "Ardamax Keylogger 3.0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Ardamax Keylogger
UninstallString = "%Program Files%\POL\Uninstall.exe"

Dropping Routine

This backdoor drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\nsc2.tmp
  • %User Temp%\nsi3.tmp\ioSpecial.ini
  • %User Temp%\nsi3.tmp\modern-wizard.bmp
  • %User Temp%\nsi3.tmp\modern-header.bmp
  • %Program Files%\POL\POL.exe
  • %Program Files%\POL\POL.003
  • %Program Files%\POL\POL.004
  • %Program Files%\POL\POL.006
  • %Program Files%\POL\POL.007
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Ardamax Keylogger\Ardamax Keylogger.lnk
  • %Program Files%\POL\AKV.exe
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Ardamax Keylogger\Log Viewer.lnk
  • %Program Files%\POL\qs.html
  • %Program Files%\POL\tray.gif
  • %Program Files%\POL\menu.gif
  • %Program Files%\POL\POL.chm
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Ardamax Keylogger\Help.lnk
  • %Program Files%\POL\Uninstall.exe
  • %User Temp%\nsi3.tmp\InstallOptions.dll
  • %Windows%\klog.dat
  • %System%\Windows Media Pluggin.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, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista and 7.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).. %Start Menu% is the current user's Start Menu folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Start Menu or C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu on Windows Vista and 7.. %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.. %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.)

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

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

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

Delete this registry key

[ 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\Active Setup\Installed Components
    • {2bf41072-b2b1-21c1-b5c1-0305f4155515}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
    • Ardamax Keylogger

Step 4

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{2bf41072-b2b1-21c1-b5c1-0305f4155515}
    • StubPath = "%System%\Windows Media Pluggin.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Windows StartKey = "%System%\Windows Media Pluggin.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Ardamax Keylogger
    • DisplayName = "Ardamax Keylogger 3.0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Ardamax Keylogger
    • UninstallString = "%Program Files%\POL\Uninstall.exe"

Step 5

Search and delete these components

[ Learn More ]
There may be some components that are hidden. Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the "More advanced options" option to include all hidden files and folders in the search result.
  • %User Temp%\nsc2.tmp
  • %User Temp%\nsi3.tmp\ioSpecial.ini
  • %User Temp%\nsi3.tmp\modern-wizard.bmp
  • %User Temp%\nsi3.tmp\modern-header.bmp
  • %Program Files%\POL\POL.exe
  • %Program Files%\POL\POL.003
  • %Program Files%\POL\POL.004
  • %Program Files%\POL\POL.006
  • %Program Files%\POL\POL.007
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Ardamax Keylogger\Ardamax Keylogger.lnk
  • %Program Files%\POL\AKV.exe
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Ardamax Keylogger\Log Viewer.lnk
  • %Program Files%\POL\qs.html
  • %Program Files%\POL\tray.gif
  • %Program Files%\POL\menu.gif
  • %Program Files%\POL\POL.chm
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Ardamax Keylogger\Help.lnk
  • %Program Files%\POL\Uninstall.exe
  • %User Temp%\nsi3.tmp\InstallOptions.dll
  • %Windows%\klog.dat
  • %System%\Windows Media Pluggin.exe

Step 6

Search and delete these folders

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden folders in the search result.
  • %System Root%\DOCUME~1
  • %System Root%\DOCUME~1\ADMINI~1
  • %User Profile%\LOCALS~1
  • %User Temp%\nsi3.tmp
  • %Program Files%\POL
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Ardamax Keylogger

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as BKDR_BIFROS.SME. 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 8

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.

  • %System%\Windows Media Pluggin.exe
  • %User Temp%\nsn1.tmp
  • %User Temp%\nsi3.tmp


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