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WORM_INJECT.AZ

August 09, 2013
 ALIASES:

W32/Injector.GWQE!tr (Fortinet), Trojan-Dropper.Win32.Injector (Ikarus), Trojan-Dropper.Win32.Injector.gwqe (Kaspersky), Win32/Agent.NLQ worm (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:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:

  • Threat Type: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Propagates via flashdrives, Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware

This worm arrives via removable drives. 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:

261,838 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

09 Jan 2013

Payload:

Connects to URLs/IPs, Drops files

Arrival Details

This worm arrives via removable drives.

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 worm drops the following copies of itself into the affected system and executes them:

  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\_ZZZZCertifiededd\_E39msnmsgrskype.exe
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\_ZZZZCertifiededd\_E39msnmsgrskypess.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 drops the following file(s)/component(s):

  • %Application Data%\_E39{random values}.exe
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\_ZZZZCertifiededd\_E39winitinet32.dll
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\_ZZZZCertifiededd\_E39winitinet32ss.dll
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Libraries\bystvu.dll
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Libraries\dpupula.dll
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Libraries\dz5_65.dll
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Libraries\hkchwp65.dll
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Libraries\pwoswhwp.dll
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Libraries\rlyuls65.dll
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Libraries\uakss.dll
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Libraries\Ulahwp65.dll
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Libraries\zolss65.dll

(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\Libraries
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\_ZZZZCertifiededd

(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 worm adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
_ZZZZAdobe Flash Accelerator = "%Application Data%\Microsoft\_ZZZZCertifiededd\_E39msnmsgrskype.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
_ZZZZAdobe Flash Accelerator = "%Application Data%\Microsoft\_ZZZZCertifiededd\_E39msnmsgrskype.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Windows
Run = %Application Data%\_ZZZZCertifiededd\_E39msnmsgrskypess.exe

Other System Modifications

This worm modifies the following registry entries to hide files with Hidden attributes:

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

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

Propagation

This worm drops the following copy(ies) of itself in all removable drives:

  • {Drive Letter}:\RemovebleDrive.exe

Other Details

This worm connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}0.com/tmp/final.jpg
  • http://api.{BLOCKED}ia.com/

NOTES:

It creates .LNK files in removable drives which when opened, executes the copy of the malware in the removable drive. Then hides all the files in the root of the removable drive.

It tricks users to open the created .LNK files by using icons of a folder or a text file. The following .LNK files are dropped in removable drives:

  • Family Photos.lnk
  • Message.txt.lnk
  • My Girlfriend Images.lnk
  • My Passwords.txt.lnk
  • Sexy Photos.lnk
  • {Name of each existing folder in the root of the removable drive}.lnk
  • {Name of each existing file in the root of the removable drive}.lnk

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

9.650.03

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

11 Jan 2013

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

9.651.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

12 Jan 2013

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

Since this malware cannot be removed in normal and safe mode, it is necessary to restart using the Windows Recovery Console. To restart the system using the Windows Recovery Console:

• On Windows XP and Server 2003 systems:

  1. Click Start>Run. In the Open input box, type secpol.msc and press Enter.
  2. In the left panel, double-click Local Policies>Security Options.
  3. In the right panel, double-click Recovery Console: Allow floppy copy and access to all drives and folders.
  4. Select Enabled and click OK.
  5. Insert the Windows Installation CD into the CD drive, then restart your computer.
  6. When prompted, press any key to boot from the CD.
  7. On the main menu, type r to go to the Recovery Console.
  8. Type the number that corresponds to the drive and directory that contains Windows (usually C:\WINDOWS) and press Enter.
  9. Type the Administrator password and press Enter.
  10. In the input box, type the following then press Enter:
    SET AllowAllPaths = TRUE
    cd “%Application Data%\Microsoft\_ZZZZCertifiededd”
    del E39msnmsgrskypess.exe
    del E39msnmsgrskype.exe
    del E39winitinet32.dll
    del E39winitinet32ss.dll
  11. Type exit and press Enter to restart the system normally.

• On Windows Vista and 7 systems:

  1. Insert your Windows Installation DVD in the DVD drive, then Press the restart button.
  2. When prompted, press any key to boot from the DVD.
  3. Depending on your Windows Installation DVD, you might be required to select the installation language. Then on the Install Windows window, choose your language, locale, and keyboard layout or input method. Click Next, then click Repair your computer.
  4. Select Use recovery tools that can help fix problems starting Windows. Select your installation of Windows. Click Next.
  5. If the Startup Repair window appears, click Cancel, Yes, then Finish.
  6. In the System Recovery Options window, click Command Prompt.
  7. In the Command Prompt window, type the following then press Enter:
    cd “%Application Data%\Microsoft\_ZZZZCertifiededd”
    del E39msnmsgrskypess.exe
    del E39msnmsgrskype.exe
    del E39winitinet32.dll
    del E39winitinet32ss.dll
    (Note: In Windows 7, all local drives will be assigned one more than normal. For example, the C: drive becomes D:.)
  8. Type exit and press Enter to close the Command Prompt window.
  9. Click Restart to restart the system normally.

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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
    • _ZZZZAdobe Flash Accelerato r= %Application Data%\Microsoft\_ZZZZCertifiededd\_E39msnmsgrskypess.exe
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • _ZZZZAdobe Flash Accelerator = %Application Data%\Microsoft\_ZZZZCertifiededd\_E39msnmsgrskypess.exe
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Windows
    • Run = %Application Data%\Microsoft\_ZZZZCertifiededd\_E39msnmsgrskypess.exe
RESTORE
  • Close Registry Editor.

    • Step 5

    Restore this modified 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\Explorer\Advanced
      • From: ShowSuperHidden = "0"
        To: ShowSuperHidden = "1"

    Step 6

    Search and delete these files

    [ Learn More ]
    There may be some 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.
    • %Application Data%\_E39{random values}.exe
    • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Libraries\bystvu.dll
    • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Libraries\dpupula.dll
    • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Libraries\dz5_65.dll
    • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Libraries\hkchwp65.dll
    • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Libraries\pwoswhwp.dll
    • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Libraries\rlyuls65.dll
    • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Libraries\uakss.dll
    • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Libraries\Ulahwp65.dll
    • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Libraries\zolss65.dll

    Step 7

    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\Libraries
    • %Application Data%\Microsoft\_ZZZZCertifiededd

    Step 8

    Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as WORM_INJECT.AZ. 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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