TROJ_MONKIF.AA

 Modified by: Michael Cabel

 ALIASES:

Microsoft: TrojanDownloader:Win32/Monkif.T; Ikarus:Trojan-Downloader.Win32.Monkif

 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 may be dropped by other malware.

It may be injected into processes running in memory.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

Varies

File Type:

DLL

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

15 Feb 2011

Payload:

Downloads files, Terminates processes

Arrival Details

This Trojan may be dropped by other malware.

Installation

This Trojan adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:

  • Local\UIEI

It may be injected into processes running in memory.

Process Termination

This Trojan terminates the following processes if found running in the affected system's memory:

  • AAWService.exe
  • AAWTray.exe
  • ABregmon.exe
  • ACAAS.exe
  • ACAEGMr.exe
  • ACAIS.exe
  • ACALS.exe
  • ACASP.exe
  • ACenter.exe
  • AFMain.exe
  • AGB6.exe
  • AGBKrnl.exe
  • AGIDSUI.exe
  • ALMon.exe
  • ALive.exe
  • ALsvc.exe
  • APVXDWIN.EXE
  • ARCATA~1.EXE
  • AScheduleService.exe
  • AVGIDSAgent.exe
  • AVGIDSMonitor.exe
  • AVGIDSWatcher.exe
  • AVKProxy.exe
  • AVKService.exe
  • AVKTray.exe
  • AVKWCtl.exe
  • AVMenu.exe
  • Ad-Aware.exe
  • AhnSD.exe
  • AhnSDsv.exe
  • AluSchedulerSvc.exe
  • ApVxdWin.exe
  • ArcaBackupService.exe
  • ArcaBit.Core.Configurator2.exe
  • ArcaRemoteSvc.exe
  • Arcabit.Core.LoggingService.exe
  • BDTUpdateService.exe
  • CAGlobal.exe
  • CAGlobalLight.exe
  • CAPPActiveProtection.exe
  • CCSVCHST.EXE
  • CClaw.exe
  • CONSCTL.exe
  • CounterSpy.exe
  • EMLPROUI.EXE
  • EMLPROXY.EXE
  • FAMEH32.exe
  • FCH32.exe
  • FPAVServer.exe
  • FProtTray.exe
  • FSM32.exe
  • FSMA32.exe
  • FSMB32.exe
  • FileMonSV.exe
  • ForceField.exe
  • GDFirewallTray.exe
  • GDFwSvc.exeray.exe
  • GDSC.exe
  • GDScan.exe
  • HFACSvc.exe
  • HrRes.exe
  • IFace.exe
  • ISWSVC.exe
  • ITMRTSVC.exe
  • K7EmlPxy.exe
  • K7FWSrvc.exe
  • K7PSSrvc.exe
  • K7RTScan.exe
  • K7SysMon.exe
  • K7SysTry.exe
  • K7TSMngr.exe
  • K7TSecurity.exe
  • KVMonXp.kxpxe
  • KVSrvXP.exe
  • KVXp.kxpkxp
  • MAILDISP.EXE
  • MSASCui.exe
  • MSProxy.ahn
  • MWAGENT.exe
  • MWASER.exe
  • McNASvc.exe
  • McProxy.exe
  • McSACore.exe
  • Mcshield.exe
  • MpfSrv.exe
  • MsMpEng.exe
  • Nbrowser.exe
  • NetMonSV.exe
  • Nip.exe
  • Njeeves.exe
  • Nsesvc.exe
  • Nvcoas.exe
  • ONLINENT.EXE
  • ONLNSVC.exe
  • OPSSVC.exe
  • OcHealthMon.exe
  • PAVSRV51.EXE
  • PPCtlPriv.exe
  • PSANHost.exe
  • PSHost.exe
  • PSUNMain.exe
  • PXAgent.exe
  • PXConsole.exe
  • PavBckPT.exe
  • PavFnSvr.exe
  • PavPrSrv.exe
  • PslmSvc.exe
  • QOELoader.exe
  • QUHLPSVC.EXE
  • RavMon.exe
  • RavTask.exe
  • RsTray.exe
  • SAVAdminService.exe
  • SBAMSvc.exe
  • SBAMTray.exe
  • SBCSSvc.exe
  • SBCSTray.exe
  • SCANMSG.exe
  • SCANWSCS.exe
  • SSU.exe
  • SSU.exeperUI.exe
  • SavService.exe
  • SfCtlCom.exe
  • SpIDerAgent.exe
  • SpIDerMI.exe
  • SpySweeper.exe
  • SpySweeperUI.exe
  • SpybotSD.exe
  • TDWatch.exe
  • TFService.exe
  • THAV.exe
  • THD32.exe
  • THSM.exe
  • TMBMSRV.exe
  • TRAYSSER.EXE
  • TRYICOS.exe
  • TSCFCommander.exe
  • TSCFPlatformCOMSvr.exe
  • TeaTimer.exe
  • TmPfw.exe
  • TmProxy.exe
  • UPSCHD.exe
  • UfNai.exe
  • UfSeAgnt.exe
  • UfUpdUi.exe
  • UmxAgent.exe
  • UmxCfg.exe
  • UmxFwHlp.exe
  • UmxPol.exe
  • VMwareService.exe
  • VMwareTray.exe
  • VMwareUser.exe
  • WEBPROXY.EXE
  • WRConsumerService.exe
  • WinSSUI.exe
  • Zanda.exe
  • Zlh.exe
  • a2guard.exe
  • a2services.exe
  • a2start.exe
  • acs.exe
  • arcarvir.exe
  • ashDisp.exe
  • ashMaiSv.exe
  • ashServ.exe
  • ashWebSv.exe
  • aswUpdSv.exe
  • avas.exe
  • avcom.exe
  • avesvc.exe
  • avgam.exe
  • avgamsvr.exe
  • avgas.exe
  • avgcc.exe
  • avgcsrvx.exe
  • avgemc.exe
  • avgfws8.exe
  • avgnsx.exe
  • avgrsx.exe
  • avgtray.exe
  • avgui.exe
  • avgupd.exe
  • avgupsvc.exe
  • avgwdsvc.exe
  • avgwsvc.exe
  • avinitnt.exe
  • avmgma.exe
  • avp.exe
  • avpmapp.exe
  • avtray.exe
  • avwebgrd.exe
  • caavguiscan.exe
  • capfasem.exe
  • cappactiveprotection.exe
  • casc.exe
  • casecuritycenter.exe
  • cavrid.exe
  • ccSvcHst.exe
  • ccschedulersvc.exe
  • cctray.exe
  • cfp.exe
  • cmdagent.exe
  • drwebscd.exe
  • dvpapi.exe
  • dvprpt.exe
  • econceal.exe
  • econser.exe
  • egui.exe
  • ekrn.exe
  • elogsvc.exe
  • escanmon.exe
  • forsp.exe
  • fsaua.exe
  • fsav32.exe
  • fsavgui.exe
  • fsdfwd.exe
  • fsgk32.exe
  • fsgk32st.exe
  • fsguidll.exe
  • fspc.exe
  • fsqh.exe
  • fssm32.exe
  • fsus.exe
  • gozer.exe
  • guard.exe
  • guardxkickoff.exe
  • guardxservice.exe
  • guardxup.exe
  • hcontain.exe
  • hpcsvc.exe
  • hsvcmod.exe
  • isafe.exe
  • kavstart.exe
  • kissvc.exe
  • kmailmon.exe
  • kpfw32.exe
  • kpfwsvc.exe
  • kwatch.exe
  • livesrv.exe
  • mcagent.exe
  • mcmscsvc.exe
  • mcshell.exe
  • mcsysmon.exe
  • mcupdmgr.exe
  • mcvsmap.exe
  • mcvsshld.exe
  • mdmcls32.exe
  • msfwsvc.exe
  • msksrver.exe
  • msseces.exe
  • npcsvc32.exe
  • npfsvc32.exe
  • npfuser.exe
  • nprosec.exe
  • nuaa.exe
  • nvcsched.exe
  • nvoy.exe
  • op_mon.exe
  • pctsAuxs.exe
  • pctsGui.exe
  • pctsSvc.exe
  • pctsTray.exe
  • prevx.exe
  • psksvc.exe
  • qhfw.exe
  • rsnetsvr.exe
  • sbamui.exe
  • seccenter.exe
  • spiderml.exe
  • spidernt.exe
  • spidersgate.exe
  • spiderui.exe
  • svcprs32.exe
  • symlcsvc.exe
  • syssvcnt.exe
  • tpcfg.exe
  • tppfdmm.exe
  • tptray.exe
  • uiscan.exe
  • untray.exe
  • vba32ldr.exe
  • vbcmserv.exe
  • vbsystry.exe
  • vetmsg.exe
  • virCatch.exe
  • virusutilities.exe
  • vmacthlp.exe
  • vrfwsock.exe
  • vrfwsvc.exe
  • vrmonnt.exe
  • vrmonsvc.exe
  • vrrepair.exe
  • vrscan.exe
  • vsmon.exe
  • vsserv.exe
  • winss.exe
  • winssnotify.exe
  • xcommsvr.exe
  • zlclient.exe

Download Routine

This Trojan connects to the following website(s) to download and execute a malicious file:

  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.7.152
  • www.{BLOCKED}edia.com
  • www.{BLOCKED}ies.com

NOTES:

It creates the following registry entries to install itself as an MIME filter for Internet Explorer:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\PROTOCOLS\Filter\text/html
(Default} = "Microsoft Improved HTML MIME Filter"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\PROTOCOLS\Filter\text/html
CLSID = {Random UUID}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\CLSID\{Random UUID}\InProcServer32
(Default) = "{Malware Path and File Name}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\CLSID\{Random UUID}\InProcServer32
ThreadingModel = "Apartment"

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

8.900

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

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as TROJ_MONKIF.AA

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

Search and delete the file detected as TROJ_MONKIF.AA

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden files in the search result.

Step 5

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\Classes\PROTOCOLS\Filter\text/html
    • (Default} = "Microsoft Improved HTML MIME Filter"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\PROTOCOLS\Filter\text/html
    • CLSID = {Random UUID}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\CLSID\{Random UUID}\InProcServer32
    • (Default) = "{Malware Path and File Name}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\CLSID\{Random UUID}\InProcServer32
    • ThreadingModel = "Apartment"

Step 6

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TROJ_MONKIF.AA. 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 7

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_MONKIF.AA. 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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