TSPY_ONLINE.SMZ


 ALIASES:

PWS:Win32/Frethog.AZ, PWS:Win32/Frethog.AZ (Microsoft); Generic PWS.bd (McAfee); Infostealer.Menghuan (Symantec); Trojan-GameThief.Win32.OnLineGames.bndj (Kaspersky); Trojan horse PSW.OnlineGames3.ARVQ (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.

It deletes itself after execution.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

47,104 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

03 Jun 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:

  • %Program Files%\WLmhzx\gameclien.exe

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Program Files%\WLmhzx

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{12345678-b1gf-14d0-89bb-0090ce808666}
StubPath = "%System%\mhzx.bat"

Other System Modifications

This spyware deletes the following files:

  • %System Root%\1.bat

(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 keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Control\Keyboard Layouts\E0200804

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{12345678-b1gf-14d0-89bb-0090ce808666}

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Control\Keyboard Layouts\E0200804
Ime File = "SOUGOU.IME"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Control\Keyboard Layouts\E0200804
Layout Text = "Ó¢ÎÄ(ÃÀ¹ú)"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Control\Keyboard Layouts\E0200804
Layout File = "kbdus.dll"

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Keyboard Layout\Preload
2 = "E0200804"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is e00e0804.)

It deletes the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{12345678-b1gf-14d0-89bb-0090ce808666}

Dropping Routine

This spyware drops the following files:

  • 1.bat
  • %System%\mhzx.bat
  • %System%\mhzx.reg
  • %System%\mhzxin.bat
  • %System%\sougou.ime

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

Other Details

This spyware deletes itself after execution.

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\ControlSet001\Control\Keyboard Layouts
    • E0200804
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components
    • {12345678-b1gf-14d0-89bb-0090ce808666}

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\Active Setup\Installed Components\{12345678-b1gf-14d0-89bb-0090ce808666}
    • StubPath = "%System%\mhzx.bat"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Keyboard Layouts\E0200804
    • Ime File = "SOUGOU.IME"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Keyboard Layouts\E0200804
    • Layout Text = "Ó¢ÎÄ(ÃÀ¹ú)"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Keyboard Layouts\E0200804
    • Layout File = "kbdus.dll"

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\Keyboard Layout\Preload
    • From: 2 = "E0200804"
      To: 2 = ""e00e0804""

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.
  • 1.bat
  • %System%\mhzx.bat
  • %System%\mhzx.reg
  • %System%\mhzxin.bat
  • %System%\sougou.ime

Step 7

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.
  • %Program Files%\WLmhzx

Step 8

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_ONLINE.SMZ. 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 9

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%\1.bat

Step 10

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_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components
    • {12345678-b1gf-14d0-89bb-0090ce808666}


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