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TSPY_KEYLOG.NX

January 07, 2013
 ALIASES:

Troj/VB-GIJ (Sophos), W32/Pex.IX!tr.bdr (Fortinet), Worm.Win32.AutoRun (Ikarus), Backdoor.Win32.Pex.ix (Kaspersky), a variant of Win32/Spy.VB.NPD trojan (NOD32)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)

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

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This spyware arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users. It 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:

1,351,680 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

30 Dec 2012

Arrival Details

This spyware arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users.

It 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 and executes them:

  • %User Startup%\donx.exe (Windows Vista and 7 only)
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Common Files\donx.exe (versions other than Windows Vista and 7)

(Note: %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.. %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)

It drops the following non-malicious files:

  • %User Profile%\AppData\Machine.jpg (Windows Vista and 7 only)
  • %User Temp%\Machine.jpg (versions other than Windows Vista and 7)

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.. %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, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista and 7.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Common Files (versions other than Windows Vista and 7)

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

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
donx = "%System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Common Files\donx.exe" (versions other than Windows Vista and 7)

It enables its automatic execution at every system startup by dropping the following copies of itself into the Windows Common Startup folder:

  • %User Startup%\donx.exe (Windows Vista and 7 only)

(Note: %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.)

Other System Modifications

This spyware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Users (Windows Vista and 7 only)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Users\{user name} (Windows Vista and 7 only)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Users\{user name}\
AppData (Windows Vista and 7 only)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Users\{user name}\
AppData\Roaming (Windows Vista and 7 only)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Users\{user name}\
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft (Windows Vista and 7 only)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Users\{user name}\
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\
Windows (Windows Vista and 7 only)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Users\{user name}\
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\
Windows\Start Menu (Windows Vista and 7 only)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Users\{user name}\
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\
Windows\Start Menu\Programs (Windows Vista and 7 only)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Users\{user name}\
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\
Windows\Start Menu\Programs\
Startup (Windows Vista and 7 only)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Users\{user name}\
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\
Windows\Start Menu\Programs\
Startup\babag (Windows Vista and 7 only)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Users\{user name}\
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\
Windows\Start Menu\Programs\
Startup\htt (Windows Vista and 7 only)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Users\{user name}\
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\
Windows\Start Menu\Programs\
Startup\logss (Windows Vista and 7 only)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Users\{user name}\
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\
Windows\Start Menu\Programs\
Startup\note (Windows Vista and 7 only)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Users\{user name}\
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\
Windows\Start Menu\Programs\
Startup\Settimess (Windows Vista and 7 only)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Users\{user name}\
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\
Windows\Start Menu\Programs\
Startup\textlogsss (Windows Vista and 7 only)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Users\{user name}\
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\
Windows\Start Menu\Programs\
Startup\Timess (Windows Vista and 7 only)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Documents and Settings (versions other than Windows Vista and 7)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Documents and Settings\All Users (versions other than Windows Vista and 7)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Documents and Settings\All Users\
Common Files (versions other than Windows Vista and 7)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Documents and Settings\All Users\
Common Files\babag (versions other than Windows Vista and 7)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Documents and Settings\All Users\
Common Files\htt (versions other than Windows Vista and 7)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Documents and Settings\All Users\
Common Files\logss (versions other than Windows Vista and 7)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Documents and Settings\All Users\
Common Files\note (versions other than Windows Vista and 7)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Documents and Settings\All Users\
Common Files\Settimess (versions other than Windows Vista and 7)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Documents and Settings\All Users\
Common Files\textlogsss (versions other than Windows Vista and 7)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Documents and Settings\All Users\
Common Files\Timess (versions other than Windows Vista and 7)

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Users\{user name}\
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\
Windows\Start Menu\Programs\
Startup\babag
babag = "" (Windows Vista and 7 only)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Users\{user name}\
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\
Windows\Start Menu\Programs\
Startup\htt
htt = "http://easyrecharge.info/aboutus.php" (Windows Vista and 7 only)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Users\{user name}\
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\
Windows\Start Menu\Programs\
Startup\logss
logss = "{log}" (Windows Vista and 7 only)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Users\{user name}\
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\
Windows\Start Menu\Programs\
Startup\note
note = "ikogb10.5" (Windows Vista and 7 only)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Users\{user name}\
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\
Windows\Start Menu\Programs\
Startup\Settimess
Settimess = "60" (Windows Vista and 7 only)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Users\{user name}\
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\
Windows\Start Menu\Programs\
Startup\textlogsss
textlogsss = "ikogb" (Windows Vista and 7 only)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Users\{user name}\
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\
Windows\Start Menu\Programs\
Startup\Timess
Timess = "{number]" (Windows Vista and 7 only)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Documents and Settings\All Users\
Common Files\babag
babag = "" (versions other than Windows Vista and 7)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Documents and Settings\All Users\
Common Files\htt
htt = "http://easyrecharge.info/aboutus.php" (versions other than Windows Vista and 7)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Documents and Settings\All Users\
Common Files\logss
logss = "{log}" (versions other than Windows Vista and 7)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Documents and Settings\All Users\
Common Files\note
note = "ikogb10.5" (versions other than Windows Vista and 7)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Documents and Settings\All Users\
Common Files\Settimess
Settimess = "60" (versions other than Windows Vista and 7)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Documents and Settings\All Users\
Common Files\textlogsss
textlogsss = "ikogb" (versions other than Windows Vista and 7)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
{System Root}\Documents and Settings\All Users\
Common Files\Timess
Timess = "{number}" (versions other than Windows Vista and 7)

Other Details

This spyware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://www.{BLOCKED}.ru/proxy/proxychecker/country.htm
  • http://{BLOCKED}ddy.info/include/new.txt
  • http://{BLOCKED}charge.info/aboutus.php

NOTES:

It opens the non-malicious image Machine.jpg, which contains an image of a machine, to trick users into thinking that it is a normal image file.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

9.626.03

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

30 Dec 2012

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

9.627.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

31 Dec 2012

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

Identify and terminate files detected as TSPY_KEYLOG.NX

[ Learn More ]
  1. Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
  2. If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
  3. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

Step 3

Search and delete this folder

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden folders in the search result.
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Common Files (versions other than Windows Vista and 7)

Step 4

Search and delete these files

[ Learn More ]
There may be some component files 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.
  • %User Profile%\AppData\Machine.jpg (Windows Vista and 7 only)
  • %User Temp%\Machine.jpg (versions other than Windows Vista and 7)

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • donx = "%System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Common Files\donx.exe" (versions other than Windows Vista and 7)

Step 6

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings
    • {System Root}

Step 7

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TSPY_KEYLOG.NX. 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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