PE_GWAPOMI.A-O
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
Threat Type: File infector
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: Yes
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
Infects files
This file infector arrives via removable drives. It may be downloaded by other malware/grayware/spyware from remote sites. It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.
It infects by appending its code to target host files.
It drops an AUTORUN.INF file to automatically execute the copies it drops when a user accesses the drives of an affected system.
As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
89,355 bytes
PE
Yes
16 Jan 2011
Infects files of certain types, Drops files, Terminates processes/services
Arrival Details
This file infector arrives via removable drives.
It may arrive via network shares.
It may be downloaded by other malware/grayware/spyware from remote sites.
It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.
Installation
This file infector drops the following component file(s):
- %System%\{random characters}.sys - detected as RTKT_WAPOMI.A, rootkit component used by this file infector to hide its files, registry entries, and processes
- %System Root%\Documents and Settings\Infotmp.txt
- %System Root%\Users\Infotmp.txt
(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.. %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)
It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %System%\{random numbers}.tmp
(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.)
Other System Modifications
This file infector deletes the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Control\SafeBoot\Minimal
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Control\SafeBoot\Network
File Infection
This file infector infects the following file types:
- .EXE
It infects by appending its code to target host files.
It avoids infecting folders containing the following strings:
- Thunder Network
- Thunder
- WinRAR
- WindowsUpdate
- Windows NT
- Windows Media Player
- Outlook Express
- NetMeeting
- MSN Gaming Zone
- Movie Maker
- Microsoft Frontpage
- Messenger
- Internet Explorer
- InstallShield Installation Information
- ComPlus Applications
- Common Files
- RECYCLER
- System Volume Information
- Documents and Settings
- WinNT
- Windows
Propagation
This file infector creates the following folders in all removable drives:
- {drive letter}:\recycle.{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
It drops the following copy(ies) of itself in all removable drives:
- {drive letter}:\recycle.{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\uninstall.exe
It drops an AUTORUN.INF file to automatically execute the copies it drops when a user accesses the drives of an affected system.
The said .INF file contains the following strings:
[AutoRun]
OPEN=recycle.{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\uninstall.exe
shell\open={random characters}
shell\open\Command=recycle.{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\uninstall.exe Show
shell\open\Default=1
shell\explore={random characters}
shell\explore\Command=recycle.{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\uninstall.exe Show
Process Termination
This file infector terminates the following processes if found running in the affected system's memory:
- RavMonD.exe
- 360tray.exe
- MPSVC.exe
Download Routine
As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
Other Details
This file infector connects to the following URL(s) to check for an Internet connection:
- www.baidu.com
It connects to the following URL(s) to get the affected system's IP address:
- http://vbnet.{BLOCKED}ps.org/resources/tools/getpublicip.shtml
It attempts to access the following websites to download files, which are possibly malicious:
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.63.57/msdownload/update/v5/redir/wuredirts.rar
It does the following:
- Creates the following registry entries to disable applications related to security:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\
Where{application name} refers to the following:
Image File Execution Options\{application name}
Debugger = ntsd -d- ÐÞ¸´¹¤¾ß.exe
- 360hotfix.exe
- 360rp.exe
- 360rpt.exe
- 360safe.exe
- 360safebox.exe
- 360sd.exe
- 360se.exe
- 360SoftMgrSvc.exe
- 360speedld.exe
- 360tray.exe
- afwServ.exe
- ast.exe
- AvastUI.exe
- avcenter.exe
- avfwsvc.exe
- avgnt.exe
- avguard.exe
- avmailc.exe
- avp.exe
- avshadow.exe
- avwebgrd.exe
- bdagent.exe
- CCenter.exe
- ccSvcHst.exe
- dwengine.exe
- egui.exe
- ekrn.exe
- FilMsg.exe
- kavstart.exe
- kissvc.exe
- kmailmon.exe
- kpfw32.exe
- kpfwsvc.exe
- kpopserver.exe
- krnl360svc.exe
- ksmgui.exe
- ksmsvc.exe
- kswebshield.exe
- KVMonXP.exe
- KVMonXP.kxp
- KVSrvXP.exe
- kwatch.exe
- kwstray.exe
- kxedefend.exe
- kxesapp.exe
- kxescore.exe
- kxeserv.exe
- kxetray.exe
- livesrv.exe
- Mcagent.exe
- mcmscsvc.exe
- McNASvc.exe
- Mcods.exe
- McProxy.exe
- McSACore.exe
- Mcshield.exe
- mcsysmon.exe
- mcvsshld.exe
- MpfSrv.exe
- MPMon.exe
- MPSVC.exe
- MPSVC1.exe
- MPSVC2.exe
- msksrver.exe
- qutmserv.exe
- RavMonD.exe
- RavTask.exe
- RsAgent.exe
- rsnetsvr.exe
- RsTray.exe
- safeboxTray.exe
- ScanFrm.exe
- sched.exe
- seccenter.exe
- SfCtlCom.exe
- spideragent.exe
- SpIDerMl.exe
- spidernt.exe
- spiderui.exe
- TMBMSRV.exe
- TmProxy.exe
- Twister.exe
- UfSeAgnt.exe
- vsserv.exe
- zhudongfangyu.exe
NOTES:
This file infector overwrites any of the files for the following system services if they are not running on the system:
- AppMgmt - %System%\appmgmts.dll
- BITS - %System%\qmgr.dll
- Browser - %System%\browser.dll
- CryptSvc - %System%\cryptsvc.dll
- EventSystem - %System%\es.dll
- FastUserSwitchingCompatibility - %System%\shsvcs.dll
- Netman - %System%\netman.dll
- Nla - %System%\mswsock.dll
- Ntmssvc - %System%\ntmssvc.dll
- RemoteRegistry - %System%\regsvc.dll
- SSDPSRV - %System%\ssdpsrv.dll
- Schedule - %System%\schedsvc.dll
- Tapisrv - %System%\tapisrv.dll
- WmdmPmSN - %System%\mspmsnsv.dll
- helpsvc - %System%\pchsvc.dll
- upnphost - %System%\upnphost.dll
- xmlprov - %System%\xmlprov.dll
As a result of modifying the said files, it is able to automatically execute itself upon system startup. However, if all services mentioned above are running, it then enumerates all these services and uses any of their service names.
It drops a copy of itself as %System%\{service name}.dll and modifies the service settings to allow itself to execute.
This file infector creates the following registry entries to enable automatic execution of its dropped component file at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\{malware file name}It modifies the HOSTS file to delete entries.
Start = 3
Type = 1
ImagePath = %System%\{malware file name}.sys
This file infector also infects files inside .RAR archives. Trend Micro detects these files as PE_GWAPOMI.SM.
SOLUTION
8.900
7.772.02
16 Jan 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 3
Identify and delete files detected as PE_GWAPOMI.A-O using either the Startup Disk or Recovery Console
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.
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
- {application name}
- {application name}
Step 5
Search and delete these files
- %System Root%\Documents and Settings\Infotmp.txt
- %System Root%\Users\Infotmp.txt
Step 6
Search and delete this folder
- {drive letter}:\recycle.{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
Step 7
Search and delete AUTORUN.INF files created by PE_GWAPOMI.A-O that contain these strings
- [AutoRun]
OPEN=recycle.{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\uninstall.exe
shell\open={random characters}
shell\open\Command=recycle.{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\uninstall.exe Show
shell\open\Default=1
shell\explore={random characters}
shell\explore\Command=recycle.{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\uninstall.exe Show
Step 8
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as PE_GWAPOMI.A-O. 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 9
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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