TSPY_BANKER.SSS


 ALIASES:

TrojanSpy:Win32/Banker.AHJ (Microsoft); PWS-Banker!hdr (McAfee); Downloader (Symantec); PAK:UPX, Trojan-Downloader.Win32.Banload.bvzf (Kaspersky); Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt); Trojan.Generic.7585863 (FSecure)

 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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

61,952 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

29 Jul 2012

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 creates the following folders:

  • %System Root%\programsystem

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
winkav.cpl = "%System Root%\programsystem\winkav.cpl ini"

Other System Modifications

This spyware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Attachments

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Associations

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Ext

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Ext\CLSID

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
system
ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
system
PromptOnSecureDesktop = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Download
RunInvalidSignatures = "00000001"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Attachments
SaveZoneInformation = "00000001"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Associations
LowRiskFileTypes = "{random characters}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\
AU
NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\
AU
UseWUServer = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\
AU
RescheduleWaitTime = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\
AU
NoAutoUpdate = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\
AU
AUOptions = "5"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\
AU
ScheduledInstallDay = "7"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\
AU
ScheduledInstallTime = "7"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Ext
DisableAddonLoadTimePerformanceNotifications = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Ext
RestrictToList = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Ext\CLSID
{6C7056C0-D338-48A6-89A7-35C387ADB588} = "1"

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Download
CheckExeSignatures = "no"

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

Dropping Routine

This spyware drops the following files:

  • %System Root%\programsystem\reinit.vrx
  • %System Root%\programsystem\x86vsdk37.cdx
  • %System Root%\programsystem\processxxx2.vrx
  • %System Root%\programsystem\gansh.vbs
  • %System Root%\programsystem\winkav.cpl
  • %System Root%\programsystem\processxxx.vrx
  • %System Root%\programsystem\init.vrx
  • %System Root%\sys7.log

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)

Other Details

This spyware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://cdx2015.{BLOCKED}sydns.com/mod//processxxx3.html
  • http://cdx2015.{BLOCKED}sydns.com/mod//processxxx.html
  • http://cdx2015.{BLOCKED}sydns.com/mod//infect/upx/index.php?{random characters}

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

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

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
    • Attachments
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
    • Associations
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
    • Ext
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Ext
    • CLSID

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • winkav.cpl = "%System Root%\programsystem\winkav.cpl ini"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
    • ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
    • PromptOnSecureDesktop = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Download
    • RunInvalidSignatures = "00000001"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Attachments
    • SaveZoneInformation = "00000001"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Associations
    • LowRiskFileTypes = "{random characters}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
    • NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
    • UseWUServer = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
    • RescheduleWaitTime = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
    • NoAutoUpdate = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
    • AUOptions = "5"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
    • ScheduledInstallDay = "7"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
    • ScheduledInstallTime = "7"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Ext
    • DisableAddonLoadTimePerformanceNotifications = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Ext
    • RestrictToList = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Ext\CLSID
    • {6C7056C0-D338-48A6-89A7-35C387ADB588} = "1"

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\Internet Explorer\Download
    • From: CheckExeSignatures = "no"
      To: CheckExeSignatures = ""yes""

Step 6

Search and delete these files

[ Learn More ]
There may be some component 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.
  • %System Root%\programsystem\reinit.vrx
  • %System Root%\programsystem\x86vsdk37.cdx
  • %System Root%\programsystem\processxxx2.vrx
  • %System Root%\programsystem\gansh.vbs
  • %System Root%\programsystem\winkav.cpl
  • %System Root%\programsystem\processxxx.vrx
  • %System Root%\programsystem\init.vrx
  • %System Root%\sys7.log

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.
  • %System Root%\programsystem

Step 8

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