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TSPY_FRETHOG.DW

February 08, 2013
 ALIASES:

Worm:Win32/Taterf.B (Microsoft); Generic PWS.ak (McAfee); Infostealer.Gampass (Symantec); Packed.Win32.Krap.b (Kaspersky); Worm.Win32.Taterf.b (v) (Sunbelt); Trojan horse PSW.OnlineGames.2.S (AVG)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

102,626 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

08 Feb 2013

Arrival Details

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

  • %System%\ckvo.exe

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
kamsoft = "%System%\ckvo.exe"

It registers as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\
Services\KAVsys

Other System Modifications

This spyware deletes the following files:

  • %System Root%\vva0hc0p.cmd

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\KAVsys
Type = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\KAVsys
ErrorControl = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\KAVsys
Start = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\KAVsys
ImagePath = "\??\%System%\drivers\klif.sys"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
ShowSuperHidden = "0"

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
Hidden = "2"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 2.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced\Folder\Hidden\
SHOWALL
CheckedValue = "0"

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer
NoDriveTypeAutoRun = "91"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 91.)

It deletes the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\
Services\KAVsys\Enum

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\
Services\KAVsys\Security

Dropping Routine

This spyware drops the following files:

  • %System%\drivers\klif.sys
  • %System%\ckvo0.dll
  • %System Root%\autorun.inf
  • %System Root%\vva0hc0p.cmd

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.. %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)

Other Details

This spyware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}f.com/xmfx/help1.rar

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

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 key

[ 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_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services
    • KAVsys

Step 4

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
    • kamsoft = "%System%\ckvo.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\KAVsys
    • Type = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\KAVsys
    • ErrorControl = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\KAVsys
    • Start = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\KAVsys
    • ImagePath = "\??\%System%\drivers\klif.sys"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    • ShowSuperHidden = "0"

Step 5

Restore these modified registry values

[ Learn More ]

Important:Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this only if you know how to or you can seek your system administrator's help. You may also check out this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    • From: Hidden = "2"
      To: Hidden = ""2""
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Hidden\SHOWALL
    • From: CheckedValue = "0"
      To: CheckedValue = ""1""
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
    • From: NoDriveTypeAutoRun = "91"
      To: NoDriveTypeAutoRun = ""91""

Step 6

Search and delete these components

[ Learn More ]
There may be some components that are hidden. Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the "More advanced options" option to include all hidden files and folders in the search result.
  • %System%\drivers\klif.sys
  • %System%\ckvo0.dll
  • %System Root%\autorun.inf
  • %System Root%\vva0hc0p.cmd

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_FRETHOG.DW. 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 8

Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.

  • %System Root%\vva0hc0p.cmd

Step 9

Restore these deleted registry keys/values from backup

*Note: Only Microsoft-related keys/values will be restored. If the malware/grayware also deleted registry keys/values related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on your computer.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\KAVsys
    • Enum
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\KAVsys
    • Security


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