TROJ_FAKEAV.REO

October 08, 2012

ALIASES:

Trojan.Win32.FakeAV.cvmr [Kaspersky] Rogue:Win32/FakeRean [Microsoft]

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 modifies certain registry entries to disable Security Center functions. Doing this allows this malware to execute its routines without being detected.

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.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

238,949 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

03 May 2011

Payload:

Displays fake alerts, , Connects to URLs/Ips

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 files:

%Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\2q7661e0ieqeq22yg12g
%User Profile%\Local Settings\Application Data\2q7661e0ieqeq22yg12g
%User Profile%\Local Settings\Temp\2q7661e0ieqeq22yg12g
%User Profile%\Templates\2q7661e0ieqeq22yg12g

(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 copies of itself into the affected system:

%User Profile%\Local Settings\Application Data\mcc.exe

Other System Modifications

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

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell\
runas

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

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

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

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\
open\command
(Default) = %User Profile%\Local Settings\Application Data\mcc.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\mcc.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\mcc.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\mcc.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