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TROJ_FAKEAL.HJA

October 09, 2012
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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

It adds certain registry entries to disable the Task Manager. This action prevents users from terminating the malware process, which can usually be done via the Task Manager.

It lowers the security setting of Internet Explorer.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

171,008 bytes

File Type:

DLL

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

17 Dec 2011

Arrival Details

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

Autostart Technique

This Trojan drops the following file(s) in the Windows User Startup folder to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

  • {malware name}.dll.lnk

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
ShowedCheckBrowser = "Yes"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Check_Associations = "no"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
http\shell\open\
ddeexec
NoActivateHandler = ""

It adds the following registry entries to disable the Task Manager:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
DisableTaskMgr = "1"

Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification

This Trojan lowers the security setting of Internet Explorer.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

8.648.06

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

17 Dec 2011

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

8.649.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

17 Dec 2011

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\Policies\System
    • DisableTaskMgr = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
    • NoProtectedModeBanner = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
    • ShowedCheckBrowser = "Yes"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
    • Check_Associations = "no"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\http\shell\open\ddeexec
    • NoActivateHandler = ""

Step 4

Reset Internet security settings

[ Learn More ]

Step 5

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TROJ_FAKEAL.HJA. 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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