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BKDR_PLUGX.QT

May 11, 2015
 Analysis by: David John Agni
 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Dropped by other malware, Downloaded from the Internet


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

It does not have any propagation routine.

It executes commands from a remote malicious user, effectively compromising the affected system.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

431,616 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

28 Apr 2015

Payload:

Drops files, Terminates processes, Compromises system security,

Arrival Details

This backdoor 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 backdoor drops the following files:

  • %All Users Profile%\XS\{random filename} - (for Windows Vista and above)
  • %All Users Profile%\DRM\XS\{random filename} – (for Windows XP and below)
  • %All Users Profile%\XS\{random filename 1} - (for Windows Vista and above)
  • %All Users Profile%\DRM\XS\{random filename 1} – (for Windows XP and below)

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\ProgramData on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

It adds the following processes:

  • svchost.exe

It creates the following folders:

  • %All Users Profile%\DRM\XS – (for Windows XP and below)
  • %All Users Profile%\XS - (for Windows Vista and above)

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\ProgramData on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:

  • `g+px2V2lt;KD1zvM-D
  • Global\{random}

It injects codes into the following process(es):

  • created svchost.exe

Other System Modifications

This backdoor deletes the following files:

  • {path and filename of deleted files}.jpg ← deletes all .jpg files found

Propagation

This backdoor does not have any propagation routine.

Backdoor Routine

This backdoor executes the following commands from a remote malicious user:

  • Copy, move, rename, delete files
  • Create directories
  • Create files
  • Enumerate files
  • Execute files
  • Get drive information
  • Get file information
  • Open and modify files
  • Log keystrokes and active window
  • Enumerate TCP and UDP connections
  • Enumerate network resources
  • Set TCP connection state
  • Lock workstation
  • Log off user
  • Restart/Reboot/Shutdown system
  • Display a message box
  • Perform port mapping
  • Enumerate processes
  • Get process information
  • Terminate processes
  • Enumerate registry keys
  • Create registry keys
  • Delete registry keys
  • Copy registry keys
  • Enumerate registry entries
  • Modify registry entries
  • Delete registry values
  • Screen capture
  • Delete services
  • Enumerate services
  • Get service information
  • Modify services
  • Start services
  • Perform remote shell
  • Host Telnet server
  • Connect to a database server and execute SQL statement

It connects to the following URL(s) to send and receive commands from a remote malicious user:

  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.123.29:443

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.750

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

11.656.06

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

08 May 2015

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

11.657.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

09 May 2015

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

Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

Search and delete these folders

[ 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.
  • %All Users Profile%\XS - (for Windows Vista and above)
  • %All Users Profile%\DRM\XS - (for Windows XP and below)

Step 5

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

Step 6

Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.


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