BKDR_VAWTRAK.F


 ALIASES:

Mal/Vawtrak-H (Sophos); Trojan.Win32.Reveton (Ikarus); Gen:Variant.Symmi.48301 (BitDefender)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware

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.

It is injected into all running processes to remain memory resident.

It does not have any propagation routine.

It executes commands from a remote malicious user, effectively compromising the affected system. However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

284,623 bytes

File Type:

DLL

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

03 Feb 2015

Payload:

Steals information

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 is injected into all running processes to remain memory resident.

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{malware filename} = "regsvr32.exe "{malware path}\{malware filename}.{malware extension name}""

Other System Modifications

This backdoor adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{GUID 1}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{GUID 2}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
CLSID\{GUID 1}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
CLSID\{GUID 2}

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
NoProtectedModeBanner = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
TabProcGrowth = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\3
2500 = "3"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{GUID 1}
#cert = "{hex value}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
CLSID\{GUID 1}
#cert = "{hex value}"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{GUID 2}
{GUID 3} = "{hex value}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
CLSID\{GUID 2}
{GUID 3} = "{hex value}"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{GUID 2}
{GUID 4} = "{encrypted form of config data}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
CLSID\{GUID 2}
{GUID 4} = "{encrypted form of config data}"

Propagation

This backdoor does not have any propagation routine.

Backdoor Routine

This backdoor executes the following commands from a remote malicious user:

  • Update itself
  • Download and execute files
  • List active processes
  • Perform remote shell
  • Execute file
  • Keylog
  • Capture Screenshot
  • Monitor sound
  • Start/Stop process (iexplore.exe, firefox.exe, outlook.exe, explorer.exe, cmd.exe, taskmgr.exe)
  • Inject to process
  • Get clipboard data
  • Receive config data which is saved on registry

It connects to the following URL(s) to send and receive commands from a remote malicious user:

  • http://blubadar.com/param/{number1}/data/{number2}/{hex values}f?a={number3}
  • http://dukeregi.com/param/{number1}/data/{number2}/{hex values}f?a={number3}
  • http://lorseda.com/param/{number1}/data/{number2}/{hex values}f?a={number3}
  • http://pinello.net/param/{number1}/data/{number2}/{hex values}f?a={number3}
  • http://kidrion.pw/param/{number1}/data/{number2}/{hex values}f?a={number3}
  • http://seflida.com/param/{number1}/data/{number2}/{hex values}f?a={number3}
  • http://dinklip.com/param/{number1}/data/{number2}/{hex values}f?a={number3}
  • http://perdonik.com/param/{number1}/data/{number2}/{hex values}f?a={number3}

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

Information Theft

This backdoor attempts to steal stored account information used in the following installed File Transfer Protocol (FTP) clients or file manager software:

  • 3D-FTP
  • AceBIT
  • AceFTP
  • ALFTP
  • BitKinex
  • BlazeFtp
  • BulletProof FTP
  • ClassicFTP
  • CoffeeCup Software
  • Cyberduck
  • DeluxeFTP
  • Directory Opus
  • EasyFTP
  • ExpanDrive
  • FarManager
  • FFFTP
  • FileZilla
  • FlashFXP
  • Fling FTP
  • FreshFTP
  • FTP Commander
  • FTP Explorer
  • FTP Navigator
  • FTPGetter
  • FTPNow
  • FTPRush
  • FTPShell
  • FTPVoyager
  • FTPWare
  • GlobalSCAPE CuteFTP 6 Home
  • GlobalSCAPE CuteFTP 7 Home
  • GlobalSCAPE CuteFTP 8 Home
  • GlobalSCAPE CuteFTP
  • GlobalSCAPE CuteFTP 8 Professional
  • GlobalSCAPE CuteFTP 6 Professional
  • GlobalSCAPE CuteFTP 7 Professional
  • GlobalSCAPE CuteFTP Lite
  • GlobalSCAPE CuteFTP Pro
  • GoFTP
  • LeapFTP
  • LeechFTP
  • LinasFTP
  • My FTP
  • NetDrive
  • NetSarang
  • NexusFile
  • NovaFTP
  • PuTTY
  • RhinoSoft
  • Robo-FTP
  • SecureFX
  • SmartFTP
  • SoftX FTP
  • Staff-FTP
  • Titan FTP
  • Total Commander
  • TurboFTP
  • UltraFXP
  • WinFTP
  • WinSCP
  • WS_FTP

It attempts to steal stored email credentials from the following:

  • IncrediMail
  • Outlook
  • PocoMail
  • The Bat!
  • Thunderbird
  • Windows Live Mail
  • Windows Mail

It attempts to get stored information such as user names, passwords, and hostnames from the following browsers:

  • Epic Browser
  • Flock
  • K-Meleon
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • SeaMonkey

NOTES:

It does not have rootkit capabilities.

It does not exploit any vulnerability.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.700

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

11.462.05

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

06 Feb 2015

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

11.463.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

07 Feb 2015

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 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
    • {malware filename} = "regsvr32.exe "{malware path}\{malware filename}.{malware extension name}""
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
    • NoProtectedModeBanner = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
    • TabProcGrowth = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\3
    • 2500 = "3"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Safer\CodeIdentifiers\0\Paths\{generated GUID for the AV software}
    • ItemData = "{AV software path}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Safer\CodeIdentifiers\0\Paths\ \{generated GUID for the AV software}
    • SaferFlags = "0"

Step 4

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as BKDR_VAWTRAK.F. 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 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as BKDR_VAWTRAK.F. 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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