WORM_MACOUTE

July 11, 2015
 ALIASES:

Worm:Win32/Macoute.A (Microsoft); W32/Worm-FTH!485EE40ED6E5 (McAfee); Trojan.Fakeavlock (Symantec); Trojan.Win32.Scar.icjq (Kaspersky); Troj/Scar-CM (Sophos); Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt); Trojan horse Generic23.AFHG (AVG)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This worm 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:

1,595,904 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

11 Jul 2015

Arrival Details

This worm 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 worm drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Program Files%\win\msn.exe

(Note: %Program Files% is the Program Files folder, where it usually is C:\Program Files on all Windows operating system versions; C:\Program Files (x86) for 32-bit applications running on Windows 64-bit operating systems.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Program Files%\win

(Note: %Program Files% is the Program Files folder, where it usually is C:\Program Files on all Windows operating system versions; C:\Program Files (x86) for 32-bit applications running on Windows 64-bit operating systems.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
apo5 = "%Program Files%\win\msn.exe"

Other System Modifications

This worm adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\IntelliForms\Storage2

Other Details

This worm connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • {BLOCKED}185.184

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.750

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

Delete this registry key

[ 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\IntelliForms
    • Storage2

Step 4

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • apo5 = "%Program Files%\win\msn.exe"

Step 5

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.
  • %Program Files%\win

Step 6

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


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.