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WORM_KELIHOS.FM

January 23, 2014
 ALIASES:

Backdoor:Win32/Kelihos.F(Microsoft), W32/Kelihos.BQGD!tr(Fortinet), a variant of Win32/Kryptik.BQSE trojan(Eset)

 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:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This worm 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:

834,576 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

22 Jan 2014

Arrival Details

This worm 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 files:

  • {Drive Letter}:\Shortcut to {random file name}.lnk
  • {Drive Letter}:\{Folder name}.lnk - if folder exists

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{random parameter 1}{random parameter 2} = "{malware path and file name}"

Other System Modifications

This worm adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
DefaultCompressedRecord = "{random value}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
RecordModifiedMax = "{random value}=="

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\TansuTCP
ActiveModifiedTheme = "{random value}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\TansuTCP
SizeCompletedValid = "{random value}=="

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\TansuTCP
InfoPlayedCurrent = "0"

Propagation

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

  • {Drive Letter}:\{random file name}.exe

Other Details

This worm connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.21.170/login.htm
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.220.200/search.htm

NOTES:

The dropped copy, {random file name} in removable drives can be any of the following:

  • click
  • game
  • hentai
  • installer
  • password
  • porn
  • run
  • sas
  • screensaver

It drops shortcut files pointing to the copy of itself in removable drives. These dropped .LNK files use the names of the folders located on the said drives for their file names. It then sets the attributes of the original folders to Hidden to trick the user into clicking the .LNK files.

The auto-run registry, {random parameter 1} can be any of the following:

  • Updater
  • Checker
  • Notifyer
  • Saver
  • Verifyer
  • Informer

The auto-run registry, {random parameter 2} can be any of the following:

  • CrashReport
  • Database
  • Desktop
  • Icon
  • Media
  • Network
  • Time
  • Tray
  • Video

For example:

  • CrashReportUpdater
  • NetworkVerifyer
  • TrayNotifyer

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.700

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

10.558.01

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

23 Jan 2014

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

10.559.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

24 Jan 2014

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 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
    • DefaultCompressedRecord = "{random value}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    • RecordModifiedMax = "{random value}=="
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    • FlagsModifiedValid = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\TansuTCP
    • ActiveModifiedTheme = "{random value}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\TansuTCP
    • SizeCompletedValid = "{random value}=="
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\TansuTCP
    • InfoPlayedCurrent = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • {random parameter 1}{random parameter 2} = "{malware path and file name}"

Step 4

Search and delete this file

[ 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.
  • {Drive Letter}:\Shortcut to {random file name}.lnk
  • {Drive Letter}:\{Folder name}.lnk

Step 5

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