TROJ_FAKEMS.SMCA

January 16, 2013
 Analysis by: Rika Joi Gregorio
 ALIASES:

Trojan:Win32/Zawat.A(Microsoft), Trojan.Win32.FakeMS(Ikarus)

 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:

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • 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. It may be dropped by other malware.

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible. It deletes the initially executed copy of itself.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

5,249,931 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

11 Jan 2012

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.

It may be dropped by other malware.

Installation

This Trojan drops the following copies of itself into the affected system and executes them:

  • %Program Files%\Windows NT\Accessories\Microsoft\mslives.exe

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).)

Autostart Technique

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

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
msliveupdate = "%Program Files%\Windows NT\Accessories\Microsoft\mslives.exe"

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}p.{BLOCKED}ap.com/trapintro/flashview.html

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

It deletes the initially executed copy of itself

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

9.651.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

12 Jan 2013

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 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
    • msliveupdate = "%Program Files%\Windows NT\Accessories\Microsoft\mslives.exe"

Step 4

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