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TROJ_AGENT.GQ

October 09, 2012
 Analysis by: kathleenno
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • 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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

289,096 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

27 May 2011

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.

Installation

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %Program Files%\Winsudate\gibcom.dll
  • %Program Files%\Winsudate\gibidl.dll
  • %Program Files%\Winsudate\gibsvc.exe - also detected as TROJ_AGENT.GQ
  • %Program Files%\Winsudate\gibupt.exe
  • %Program Files%\Winsudate\gibusr.exe - detected as ADW_GIBMED
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Pages Annuaire.lnk
  • %Desktop%\Pages Annuaire.lnk
  • %Start Menu%\Pages Annuaire.lnk

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name} on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name} on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.. %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Desktop on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Desktop on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.. %Start Menu% is the current user's Start Menu folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows NT and C:\Windows\Start Menu or C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Program Files%\Winsudate

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.)

Autostart Technique

This Trojan registers itself as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\WinSvc
ImagePath = %Program Files%\Winsudate\gibsvc.exe

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Winsudate

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\SearchScopes

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Winsudate

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Start Page = http://www.wibeez.com/annuaire

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {user-defined}.)

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

8.900

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

8.186.01

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

27 May 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 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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
    • WinSvc
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • Winsudate
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer
    • SearchScopes
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • Winsudate

Step 4

Restore this modified 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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
    • From: Start Page = http://www.wibeez.com/annuaire
      To: {user-defined}

Step 5

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. %Program Files%\Winsudate

Step 6

Search and delete this file

[ Learn More ]
There may be some component files that are hidden. Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden files and folders in the search result.
%User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Pages Annuaire.lnk
%Desktop%\Pages Annuaire.lnk
%Start Menu%\Pages Annuaire.lnk

Step 7

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_AGENT.GQ. 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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