BKDR_PLUGX.DB

October 01, 2013
 Analysis by: Rika Joi Gregorio
 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: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

262,144 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

26 Sep 2013

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%\SxS\bug.log

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users or Common profile folder, which is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users in Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, and C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista and 7.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %All Users Profile%\SxS

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users or Common profile folder, which is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users in Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, and C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista and 7.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
iTurnsPlatform service = ""{malware path and file name}""

Other System Modifications

This backdoor adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\MJ

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications\
Master Jobs

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications\
Master Jobs\Recent File List

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications\
Master Jobs\Settings

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
User Agent

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
User Agent\Post Platform

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
5.0\User Agent

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
5.0\User Agent\Post Platform

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\MJ
CLSID = "{random value}"

Other Details

This backdoor connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}b.{BLOCKED}y.com/update?id=001a30f0
  • http://{BLOCKED}b.{BLOCKED}y.com:8080/update?id=001a30f0
  • http://{BLOCKED}b.{BLOCKED}y.com:3128/update?id=001a30f0