BKDR_PROXY.OPS

May 23, 2014
 Analysis by: Adrian Cofreros
 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: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware

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 enables its automatic execution at every system startup by dropping copies of itself into the Windows Common Startup folder.

It does not have any propagation routine.

It executes commands from a remote malicious user, effectively compromising the affected system.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

223,232 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

13 May 2014

Payload:

Connects to URLs/IPs, Compromises system security

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.

Autostart Technique

This backdoor enables its automatic execution at every system startup by dropping the following copies of itself into the Windows Common Startup folder:

  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Startup\nvvscv.exe

(Note: %Start Menu% is the current user's Start Menu folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Start Menu or C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu on Windows Vista and 7.)

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Userinit = "%System%\userinit.exe,{malware path}\{malware file name},"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "%System%\userinit.exe,".)

Propagation

This backdoor does not have any propagation routine.

Backdoor Routine

This backdoor executes the following commands from a remote malicious user:

  • Download and execute arbitrary files
  • Use proxy server settings of current user

It connects to the following URL(s) to send and receive commands from a remote malicious user:

  • http://www.{BLOCKED}n.info/blog/local/index.php
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}dye.com/blog/index.php

As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

Other Details

This backdoor connects to the following URL(s) to check for an Internet connection:

  • http://www.microsoft.com
  • http://www.msftncsi.com
  • http://www.yahoo.co.jp

NOTES:

It does not have rootkit capabilities.

It does not exploit any vulnerability.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.700

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

10.794.07

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

15 May 2014

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

10.795.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

15 May 2014

Step 1

Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.

Step 2

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

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: Userinit = "%System%\userinit.exe,{malware path}\{malware file name},"
      To: Userinit = %System%\userinit.exe,

Step 4

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