TROJ_JORIK.AKU

September 30, 2011
 Analysis by: Kathleen Notario
 ALIASES:

Trojan.FakeAV (Symantec); Trojan.Win32.Jorik.Fraud.dwi (Kaspersky); Mal/FakeAV-LS (Sophos)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Trojan arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

When users agree to buy the software, it connects to a certain URL. It deletes the initially executed copy of itself.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

342,528 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

21 Sep 2011

Arrival Details

This Trojan 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 Trojan drops the following files:

  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{random file name}
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Data Recovery.lnk
  • %Desktop%\Data Recovery.lnk
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Data Recovery\Data Recovery.lnk
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Data Recovery\Uninstall Data Recovery.lnk

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name} on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name} on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.. %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Desktop on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Desktop on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.. %Start Menu% is the current user's Start Menu folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows NT and C:\Windows\Start Menu or C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{random filename}.exe

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

It creates the following folders:

  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Data Recovery

(Note: %Start Menu% is the current user's Start Menu folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows NT and C:\Windows\Start Menu or C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Use FormSuggest = "Yes"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
WarnOnZoneCrossing = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
WarnonBadCertRecving = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
CertificateRevocation = "0"

Other Details

When users agree to buy the software, it connects to the following URL to continue the purchase:

  • {BLOCKED}low.org
  • {BLOCKED}ought.org
  • {BLOCKED}rface.org
  • {BLOCKED}ept.org
  • {BLOCKED}imming.org
  • {BLOCKED}lume.org
  • {BLOCKED}want.org
  • {BLOCKED}went.org
  • {BLOCKED}whole.org
  • {BLOCKED}wife.org
  • {BLOCKED}willing.org
  • {BLOCKED}wind.org
  • {BLOCKED}wink.org
  • {BLOCKED}woken.org
  • {BLOCKED}writer.org

It deletes the initially executed copy of itself

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

8.456.07

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

21 Sep 2011

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

8.457.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

21 Sep 2011

Step 1

For Windows ME and XP users, before doing any scans, please make sure you disable System Restore to allow full scanning of your computer.

Step 2

Identify and terminate files detected as TROJ_JORIK.AKU

[ Learn More ]
  1. For Windows 98 and ME users, Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
  2. If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
  3. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

Step 3

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\Internet Explorer\Main
    • Use FormSuggest = "Yes"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
    • WarnOnZoneCrossing = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
    • WarnonBadCertRecving = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
    • CertificateRevocation = "0"

Step 4

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.
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Data Recovery

Step 5

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%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{random file name}
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Data Recovery.lnk
  • %Desktop%\Data Recovery.lnk

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_JORIK.AKU 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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