TROJ_MENTI1.SMPH

November 24, 2012
 ALIASES:

VirTool:Win32/CeeInject.C (Microsoft); Trojan.Gen (Symantec); Trojan.Win32.Menti.iehm (Kaspersky); Trojan.Win32.Generic.pak!cobra (Sunbelt); Gen:Variant.Minggy.3 (FSecure)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Trojan 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:

632,832 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

24 Nov 2012

Arrival Details

This Trojan 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 Trojan drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %System%\fservice.exe
  • %System%\sservice.exe

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{5Y99AE78-58TT-11dW-BE53-Y67078979Y}
StubPath = "%System%\sservice.exe"

It modifies the following registry entries to ensure it automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Shell = "Explorer.exe %System%\fservice.exe"

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

Other System Modifications

This Trojan deletes the following files:

  • %System%\fservice.exe
  • %System%\sservice.exe

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.)

It adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT Script Host\Microsoft DxDiag\WinSettings

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer\Run

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{5Y99AE78-58TT-11dW-BE53-Y67078979Y}

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT Script Host\Microsoft DxDiag\WinSettings
Bulas = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT Script Host\Microsoft DxDiag\WinSettings
FW_KILL = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT Script Host\Microsoft DxDiag\WinSettings
XP_FW_Disable = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT Script Host\Microsoft DxDiag\WinSettings
XP_SYS_Recovery = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT Script Host\Microsoft DxDiag\WinSettings
ICQ_UIN = "l288,3100/on,hq/nsf"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT Script Host\Microsoft DxDiag\WinSettings
Kurban_Ismi = "whbuhl"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT Script Host\Microsoft DxDiag\WinSettings
Mail = "l288/3100Ainul`hm/bnl"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT Script Host\Microsoft DxDiag\WinSettings
Port = "4001"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT Script Host\Microsoft DxDiag\WinSettings
Sifre = "288"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT Script Host\Microsoft DxDiag\WinSettings
KSil = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer\Run
DirectX For Microsoft® Windows = "%System%\fservice.exe"

It deletes the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{5Y99AE78-58TT-11dW-BE53-Y67078979Y}

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

Step 1

For Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 users, before doing any scans, please make sure you disable System Restore to allow full scanning of your computer.

Step 2

Identify and delete files detected as TROJ_MENTI1.SMPH using either the Startup Disk or Recovery Console

[ 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_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT Script Host\Microsoft DxDiag
    • WinSettings
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer
    • Run
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components
    • {5Y99AE78-58TT-11dW-BE53-Y67078979Y}

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\{5Y99AE78-58TT-11dW-BE53-Y67078979Y}
    • StubPath = "%System%\sservice.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT Script Host\Microsoft DxDiag\WinSettings
    • Bulas = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT Script Host\Microsoft DxDiag\WinSettings
    • FW_KILL = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT Script Host\Microsoft DxDiag\WinSettings
    • XP_FW_Disable = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT Script Host\Microsoft DxDiag\WinSettings
    • XP_SYS_Recovery = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT Script Host\Microsoft DxDiag\WinSettings
    • ICQ_UIN = "l288,3100/on,hq/nsf"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT Script Host\Microsoft DxDiag\WinSettings
    • Kurban_Ismi = "whbuhl"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT Script Host\Microsoft DxDiag\WinSettings
    • Mail = "l288/3100Ainul`hm/bnl"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT Script Host\Microsoft DxDiag\WinSettings
    • Port = "4001"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT Script Host\Microsoft DxDiag\WinSettings
    • Sifre = "288"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT Script Host\Microsoft DxDiag\WinSettings
    • KSil = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer\Run
    • DirectX For Microsoft® Windows = "%System%\fservice.exe"

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
    • From: Shell = "Explorer.exe %System%\fservice.exe"
      To: Shell = ""Explorer.exe""

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_MENTI1.SMPH. 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 7

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%\fservice.exe
  • %System%\sservice.exe

Step 8

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
    • {5Y99AE78-58TT-11dW-BE53-Y67078979Y}


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