TROJ_FAKEAV.BXD

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 employs registry shell spawning by adding certain registry entries. This allows this malware to execute even when other applications are opened.

It modifies certain registry entries to disable Security Center functions. Doing this allows this malware to execute its routines without being detected. It bypasses the Windows firewall. This allows the malware to perform its intended routine without being detected by an installed firewall.

It deletes itself after execution.

It installs a fake antivirus/antispyware software. It displays fake alerts that warn users of infection. It also displays fake scanning results of the affected system. It then asks for users to purchase it once scanning is completed. If users decide to purchase the rogue product, users are directed to a certain website asking for sensitive information, such as credit card numbers.

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.

Installation

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

• %User Profile%\Local Settings\Application Data\{random 3 letters}.exe

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name} on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name} on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

It drops the following non-malicious files:

• %system root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\83bvc4b4gl0k850us
• %User Profile%\Local Settings\Application Data\83bvc4b4gl0k850us
• %User Temp%\83bvc4b4gl0k850us
• %User Profile%\Templates\83bvc4b4gl0k850us

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name} on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name} on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.. %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.)

Autostart Technique

This Trojan employs registry shell spawning to ensure its execution when certain file types are accessed by adding the following entries:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\DefaultIcon
(Default) = "%1"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell\
open\command
(Default) = ""%User Profile%\Local Settings\Application Data\{random 3 letters}.exe" -a "%1" %*"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell\
open\command
IsolatedCommand = ""%1" %*"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell\
runas\command
(Default) = ""%1" %*"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell\
runas\command
IsolatedCommand = ""%1" %*"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\
open\command
IsolatedCommand = ""%1" %*"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\
runas\command
IsolatedCommand = ""%1" %*"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
.exe
(Default) = "exefile"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
.exe\DefaultIcon
(Default) = "%1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
.exe\shell\open\
command
(Default) = ""%User Profile%\Local Settings\Application Data\{random 3 letters}.exe" -a "%1" %*"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
.exe\shell\open\
command
IsolatedCommand = ""%1" %*"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
.exe\shell\runas\
command
(Default) = ""%1" %*"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
.exe\shell\runas\
command
IsolatedCommand = ""%1" %*"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
exefile
(Default) = "Application"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
exefile\DefaultIcon
(Default) = "%1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
exefile\shell\open\
command
(Default) = ""%User Profile%\Local Settings\Application Data\{random 3 letters}.exe" -a "%1" %*"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
exefile\shell\open\
command
IsolatedCommand = ""%1" %*"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
exefile\shell\runas\
command
(Default) = ""%1" %*"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
exefile\shell\runas\
command
IsolatedCommand = ""%1" %*"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\DefaultIcon

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell\
open

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell\
open\command

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell\
runas

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell\
runas\command

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
.exe

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
.exe\DefaultIcon

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
.exe\shell

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
.exe\shell\open

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
.exe\shell\open\
command

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
.exe\shell\runas

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
.exe\shell\runas\
command

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
exefile

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
exefile\DefaultIcon

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
exefile\shell

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
exefile\shell\open

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
exefile\shell\open\
command

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
exefile\shell\runas

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
exefile\shell\runas\
command

It modifies the following registry key(s)/entry(ies) as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\
open\command
(Default) = ""%User Profile%\Local Settings\Application Data\{random 3 letters}.exe" -a "%1" %*"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "%1" %*.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\
StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\
open\command
(Default) = ""%User Profile%\Local Settings\Application Data\{random 3 letters}.exe" -a "%Program Files%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe""

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is %Program Files%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\
StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\
safemode\command
(Default) = ""%User Profile%\Local Settings\Application Data\{random 3 letters}.exe" -a "%Program Files%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -safe-mode"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "%Program Files%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -safe-mode.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\
StartMenuInternet\IEXPLORE.EXE\shell\
open\command
(Default) = ""%User Profile%\Local Settings\Application Data\{random 3 letters}.exe" -a "%Program Files%\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe""

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is %Program Files%\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe.)

It modifies the following registry entries to disable Security Center functions:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
AntiVirusDisableNotify = "1"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
FirewallDisableNotify = "1"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
UpdatesDisableNotify = "1"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
AntiVirusOverride = "1"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
FirewallOverride = "1"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

It modifies the following registry entries to disable the Windows Firewall settings:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
EnableFirewall = "0"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
DisableNotifications = "1"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

It creates the following registry entry(ies) to bypass Windows Firewall:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\DomainProfile
EnableFirewall = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\DomainProfile
DoNotAllowExceptions = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\DomainProfile
DisableNotifications = "1"

Other Details

This Trojan does the following:

• Displays the following window:

  

• Displays the following window and pretends to scan the system:

  

  Once the user agrees to activate the software, the user is redirected to the following page:
  • http://{BLOCKED}kyhosu.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}wyfiv.com/

It deletes itself after execution.

Rogue Antivirus Routine

This Trojan displays the following fake alerts:

It installs a fake antivirus/antispyware software.

It displays fake alerts that warn users of infection. It also displays fake scanning results of the affected system. It then asks for users to purchase it once scanning is completed. If users decide to purchase the rogue product, users are directed to a certain website asking for sensitive information, such as credit card numbers.