TROJ_ARTIEF

October 09, 2012
 Analysis by: Dianne Lagrimas
 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 description is based on a compiled analysis of several variants of TROJ_ARTIEF. Note that specific data such as file names and registry values may vary for each variant.

This Trojan arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users. It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.

It executes the dropped file(s). As a result, malicious routines of the dropped files are exhibited on the affected system.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

Varies

File Type:

DOC, RTF

Initial Samples Received Date:

19 Sep 2007

Payload:

Drops files

Arrival Details

This Trojan arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users.

It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.

Installation

This Trojan drops the following non-malicious file:

  • %User Temp%\{random}.doc - opened by the malware to trick users into thinking that the document is non-malicious

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

Dropping Routine

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\{random}.exe

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

It takes advantage of the following software vulnerabilities to drop malicious files:

  • (MS10-087) Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office Could Allow Remote Code Execution (2423930)
  • RTF Stack Buffer Overflow Vulnerability (CVE-2010-3333)

It executes the dropped file(s). As a result, malicious routines of the dropped files are exhibited on the affected system.

NOTES:
This description is based on a compiled analysis of several variants of TROJ_ARTIEF. Note that specific data such as file names and registry values may vary for each variant.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

4.730.01

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

19 Sep 2007

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

8.493.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

13 Oct 2011

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