Backdoor.Win32.PLUGX.DUKTA
a variant of Win32/Korplug.CG trojan (NOD32); TR/Crypt.XPACK.Gen7 (ANTIVIR)
Windows
Threat Type: Backdoor
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: Yes
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
Downloaded from the Internet
This Backdoor arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
It does not have any propagation routine.
It executes commands from a remote malicious user, effectively compromising the affected system. It connects to a website to send and receive information.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
155,648 bytes
EXE
Yes
21 Feb 2020
Connects to URLs/IPs
Arrival Details
This Backdoor 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 Backdoor drops the following files:
- %All Users Profile%\xs\{Characters based on volume serial number} (if OS version is higher than or equal to Windows Vista)
- %All Users Profile%\DRM\xs\{Characters based on volume serial number} (if OS version is lower than or equal to Windows Server 2003 R2)
(Note: %All Users Profile% is the common user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\ProgramData on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit). )
It adds the following processes:
- "%System%\rundll32.exe" "%System%\wininet.DLL",DispatchAPICall 1
(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)
It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:
- !@)*#()!@*#)(@!*#)(@!*#()@!&%$*(@#&Y*($@YHR*(IUYH*(!Y$@&*&Y@GRH&*@!YR*@&$R(*@!&U!@!@#@!#@!#@!#@#@!#@#@*U$()!@U$Y#H*(!$Y*&@!$Y#
- Global\{Characters based on process ID}
Autostart Technique
This Backdoor creates the following registry entries to enable automatic execution of dropped component at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HelpPanes = %Windows%\HelpPanes.exe
Propagation
This Backdoor does not have any propagation routine.
Backdoor Routine
This Backdoor executes the following commands from a remote malicious user:
- Copy, move, rename, delete files
- Create directories
- Create files
- Enumerate files
- Execute files
- Get drive information
- Get file information
- Open and modify files
- Log keystrokes and active window
- Enumerate TCP and UDP connections
- Enumerate network resources
- Set TCP connection state
- Lock workstation
- Log off user
- Restart/Reboot/Shutdown system
- Display a message box
- Perfrom port mapping
- Enumerate processes
- Get process information
- Terminate processes
- Enumerate registry keys
- Create registry keys
- Delete registry keys
- Copy registry keys
- Enumerate registry entries
- Modify registry entries
- Delete registry values
- Screen capture
- Delete services
- Enumerate services
- Get service information
- Modify services
- Start services
- Perform remote shell
- Host Telnet server
- Connect to a database server and execute SQL statement
It connects to the following websites to send and receive information:
- http://active.{BLOCKED}app.com:53/{Random characters}
As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
Rootkit Capabilities
This Backdoor does not have rootkit capabilities.
Other Details
This Backdoor does the following:
- It renames itself to %Windows\HelpPanes.exe.
It does not exploit any vulnerability.
SOLUTION
9.850
15.706.04
25 Feb 2020
15.707.00
26 Feb 2020
Step 1
Trend Micro Predictive Machine Learning detects and blocks malware at the first sign of its existence, before it executes on your system. When enabled, your Trend Micro product detects this malware under the following machine learning name:
- Troj.Win32.TRX.XXPE50FFF033
Step 2
Before doing any scans, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.
Step 3
Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.
Step 4
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 5
Delete this registry value
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
- HelpPanes = %Windows%\HelpPanes.exe
- HelpPanes = %Windows%\HelpPanes.exe
Step 6
Search and delete these files
- %All Users Profile%\xs\{Characters based on volume serial number} (if OS version is higher than or equal to Windows Vista)
- %All Users Profile%\DRM\xs\{Characters based on volume serial number} (if OS version is lower than or equal to Windows Server 2003 R2)
- %Windows\HelpPanes.exe
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Backdoor.Win32.PLUGX.DUKTA. 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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