TSPY_KLOVBOT.A


 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

Infection Channel:

Dropped by other malware, Downloaded from the Internet

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:

160,112 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

04 Dec 2012

Payload:

Modifies HOSTS file, Downloads files

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:

  • %Application Data%\svchost.exe

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

It creates the following folders:

  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Crypto

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

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
Google Inc = "%Application Data%\svchost.exe"

Other System Modifications

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
UACDisableNotify = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
system
EnableLUA = "0"

HOSTS File Modification

This spyware modifies the system's HOSTS files to redirect users once the following Web site(s) are accessed:

  • {BLOCKED}.253.111 bci.cl
  • {BLOCKED}.253.111 http://www.bci.cl
  • {BLOCKED}.253.111 http://bci.cl
  • {BLOCKED}.253.111 www.bci.cl
  • {BLOCKED}.253.111 bancochile.cl
  • {BLOCKED}.253.111 http://www.bancochile.cl
  • {BLOCKED}.253.111 http://bancochile.cl
  • {BLOCKED}.253.111 www.bancochile.cl
  • {BLOCKED}.253.111 santander.cl
  • {BLOCKED}.253.111 http://www.santander.cl
  • {BLOCKED}.253.111 http://santander.cl
  • {BLOCKED}.253.111 www.santander.cl
  • {BLOCKED}.252.104 itau.cl
  • {BLOCKED}.252.104 http://www.itau.cl
  • {BLOCKED}.252.104 http://itau.cl
  • {BLOCKED}.252.104 www.itau.cl
  • {BLOCKED}.252.104 http://gmail.com
  • {BLOCKED}.252.104 http://www.gmail.com
  • {BLOCKED}.252.104 gmail.com
  • {BLOCKED}.252.104 www.gmail.com
  • {BLOCKED}.252.104 http://hotmail.com
  • {BLOCKED}.252.104 http://www.hotmail.com
  • {BLOCKED}.252.104 hotmail.com
  • {BLOCKED}.252.104 www.hotmail.com
  • {BLOCKED}.252.110 http://bancoestado.cl
  • {BLOCKED}.252.110 http://www.bancoestado.cl
  • {BLOCKED}.252.110 bancoestado.cl
  • {BLOCKED}.252.110 www.bancoestado.cl
  • {BLOCKED}.252.104 http://chilexpress.cl
  • {BLOCKED}.252.104 http://www.chilexpress.cl
  • {BLOCKED}.252.104 chilexpress.cl
  • {BLOCKED}.252.104 www.chilexpress.cl

NOTES:

It connects to the following website to download a hosts file and send the infected machine's OS version:

  • http://{BLOCKED}oo.com/priv8/bots.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}3w.ignorelist.com/priv8/bots.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}.ignorelist.com/priv8/bots.php

After modifying the system's HOSTS, it redirects user to fake websites of the following banks or financial institutions:

  • BCI
  • Banco Estado
  • Banco Itau
  • Banco Santander
  • Banco de Chile
  • Chilexpress
  • Gmail
  • Hotmail

  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

Identify and terminate files detected as TSPY_KLOVBOT.A

[ 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

Close all opened browser windows

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Google Inc = "%Application Data%\svchost.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
    • UACDisableNotify = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
    • EnableLUA = "0"

Step 5

Search and delete these folders

[ 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. %Application Data%\Microsoft\Crypto

Step 6

Remove these strings added by the malware/grayware/spyware in the HOSTS file

[ Learn More ]
    {BLOCKED}.253.111 bci.cl
    {BLOCKED}.253.111 http://www.bci.cl
    {BLOCKED}.253.111 http://bci.cl
    {BLOCKED}.253.111 www.bci.cl
    {BLOCKED}.253.111 bancochile.cl
    {BLOCKED}.253.111 http://www.bancochile.cl
    {BLOCKED}.253.111 http://bancochile.cl
    {BLOCKED}.253.111 www.bancochile.cl
    {BLOCKED}.253.111 santander.cl
    {BLOCKED}.253.111 http://www.santander.cl
    {BLOCKED}.253.111 http://santander.cl
    {BLOCKED}.253.111 www.santander.cl
    {BLOCKED}.252.104 itau.cl
    {BLOCKED}.252.104 http://www.itau.cl
    {BLOCKED}.252.104 http://itau.cl
    {BLOCKED}.252.104 www.itau.cl
    {BLOCKED}.252.104 http://gmail.com
    {BLOCKED}.252.104 http://www.gmail.com
    {BLOCKED}.252.104 gmail.com
    {BLOCKED}.252.104 www.gmail.com
    {BLOCKED}.252.104 http://hotmail.com
    {BLOCKED}.252.104 http://www.hotmail.com
    {BLOCKED}.252.104 hotmail.com
    {BLOCKED}.252.104 www.hotmail.com
    {BLOCKED}.252.110 http://bancoestado.cl
    {BLOCKED}.252.110 http://www.bancoestado.cl
    {BLOCKED}.252.110 bancoestado.cl
    {BLOCKED}.252.110 www.bancoestado.cl
    {BLOCKED}.252.104 http://chilexpress.cl
    {BLOCKED}.252.104 http://www.chilexpress.cl
    {BLOCKED}.252.104 chilexpress.cl
    {BLOCKED}.252.104 www.chilexpress.cl
"

Step 7

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TSPY_KLOVBOT.A. 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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