TSPY_QHOST.JWE
Trojan:MSIL/Sofra.A (Microsoft); Generic Dropper!1g3 (McAfee); Trojan.Gen (Symantec); Trojan-Dropper.Win32.Daws.cny (Kaspersky); Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt); Gen:Heur.Bodegun.1 (FSecure)
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
![](/vinfo/imgFiles/legend.jpg)
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.
It modifies files, disabling programs and applications from properly running.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
56,832 bytes
EXE
Yes
25 May 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 drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Quarantine\svchost.exe
(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)
It creates the following folders:
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows Defender
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Quarantine
(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)
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
Windows Defender = "%Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Quarantine\svchost.exe"
Other System Modifications
This spyware modifies the following files:
- %Application Data%\GDIPFONTCACHEV1.DAT
(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)
It adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows NT\SystemRestore
hkey_local_machine\software\microsoft\
esent\process\{malware file name}
hkey_local_machine\software\microsoft\
esent\process\{malware file name}\
debug
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows NT\SystemRestore
DisableConfig = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows NT\SystemRestore
DisableSR = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
AntiSpyWareDisableNotify = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
AutoUpdateDisableNotify = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
InternetSettingsDisableNotify = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
UacDisableNotify = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
system
ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin = "0"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
system
EnableInstallerDetection = "0"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
system
EnableLUA = "0"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
system
EnableSecureUIAPaths = "0"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
system
FilterAdministratorToken = "0"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
system
ValidateAdminCodeSignatures = "0"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
system
EnableUIADesktopToggle = "0"
It modifies the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
GDIPlus
FontCachePath = "%Application Data%"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is %User Profile%\Local Settings\Application Data.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
AntiVirusDisableNotify = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
FirewallDisableNotify = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\Eventlog\Application\
ESENT
EventMessageFile = "%System%\ESENT.dll"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {random values}.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\Eventlog\Application\
ESENT
CategoryMessageFile = "%System%\ESENT.dll"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {random values}.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\Eventlog\Application\
ESENT
CategoryCount = "1"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 10.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\Eventlog\Application\
ESENT
TypesSupported = "7"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 7.)
It deletes the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
This report is generated via an automated analysis system.
SOLUTION
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
Step 3
Delete this registry key
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\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT
- SystemRestore
- In hkey_local_machine\software\microsoft\esent\process
- {malware file name}
- In hkey_local_machine\software\microsoft\esent\process\{malware file name}
- debug
Step 4
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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- Windows Defender = "%Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Quarantine\svchost.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\SystemRestore
- DisableConfig = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\SystemRestore
- DisableSR = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
- AntiSpyWareDisableNotify = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
- AutoUpdateDisableNotify = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
- InternetSettingsDisableNotify = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
- UacDisableNotify = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
- ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin = "0"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
- EnableInstallerDetection = "0"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
- EnableLUA = "0"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
- EnableSecureUIAPaths = "0"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
- FilterAdministratorToken = "0"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
- ValidateAdminCodeSignatures = "0"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
- EnableUIADesktopToggle = "0"
Step 5
Restore this modified 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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\GDIPlus
- From: FontCachePath = "%Application Data%"
To: FontCachePath = ""%User Profile%\Local Settings\Application Data""
- From: FontCachePath = "%Application Data%"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
- AntiVirusDisableNotify = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
- FirewallDisableNotify = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Eventlog\Application\ESENT
- From: EventMessageFile = "%System%\ESENT.dll"
To: EventMessageFile = ""{random values}""
- From: EventMessageFile = "%System%\ESENT.dll"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Eventlog\Application\ESENT
- From: CategoryMessageFile = "%System%\ESENT.dll"
To: CategoryMessageFile = ""{random values}""
- From: CategoryMessageFile = "%System%\ESENT.dll"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Eventlog\Application\ESENT
- From: CategoryCount = "1"
To: CategoryCount = ""10""
- From: CategoryCount = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Eventlog\Application\ESENT
- From: TypesSupported = "7"
To: TypesSupported = ""7""
- From: TypesSupported = "7"
Step 6
Search and delete these folders
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows Defender
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Quarantine
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_QHOST.JWE. 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 8
Restore deleted/modified files and/or registry entries from backup
*Note: Only Microsoft-related files/keys/values will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted registry keys/values related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on your computer.
- %Application Data%\GDIPFONTCACHEV1.DAT
Step 9
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\Windows\CurrentVersion
- Run
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