TROJ_PPOINTER.SM
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
Threat Type: Trojan
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: No
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This Trojan may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites. It may be dropped by other malware.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
110,592 bytes
EXE
No
22 Dec 2011
Drops files
Arrival Details
This Trojan may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.
It may be dropped by the following malware:
- JAVA_DLOAD.ZZC
Installation
This Trojan drops the following files:
- %Windows%\ime\wmimachine2.dll - detected by Trend Micro as BKDR_PPOINTER.SM
(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows or C:\WINNT.)
Its DLL component is injected to the following process(es):
- svchost.exe
Autostart Technique
This Trojan registers its dropped component as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup. It does this by creating the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{first netsvcs}
Type = "dword:00000020"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{first netsvcs}
Start = "2"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{first netsvcs}
ErrorControl = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{first netsvcs}
ImagePath = "%SystemRoot%\system32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{first netsvcs}
DisplayName = ".NET Runtime Optimization Service v2.086521.BackUp_X86"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{first netsvcs}
ObjectName = "LocalSystem"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{first netsvcs}
Description = "Microsoft .NET Framework NGEN"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{first netsvcs}\Parameters
ServiceDll = "%Windows%\ime\wmimachine2.dll"
NOTES:
It queries the following registry and checks the first value that does not have a service installed:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SvcHost\netsvcs
Once found, it uses this name as its DLL component's service name. Usually, the first it finds is:
- 6to4
SOLUTION
9.200
8.664.03
24 Dec 2011
8.665.00
25 Dec 2011
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 4
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. Before you could do this, you must restart in Safe Mode. For instructions on how to do this, you may refer to this page If the preceding step requires you to restart in safe mode, you may proceed to edit the system registry.
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
- {first netsvcs}
Step 5
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_PPOINTER.SM. 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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