TROJ_FAKEAV.AJA
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
![](/vinfo/imgFiles/legend.jpg)
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.
It modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.
It deletes the initially executed copy of itself.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
221,696 bytes
EXE
Yes
02 Feb 2009
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:
- %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{Random File Name}
- %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\-{Random File Name}
- %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\-{Random File Name}r
- %Application Data%\GDIPFONTCACHEV1.DAT
- %User Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\SMART HDD\SMART HDD.lnk
- %User Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\SMART HDD\Uninstall SMART HDD.lnk
- %User Profile%\Desktop\SMART_HDD.lnk
- %User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\SMART_HDD.lnk
(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.. %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.. %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.)
It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{Random File Name}.exe
(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)
It creates the following folders:
- %User Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\SMART HDD
(Note: %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.)
Other System Modifications
This Trojan adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Use FormSuggest = "Yes"
HHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
WarnOnZoneCrossing = 0
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
WarnonBadCertRecving = 0
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
CertificateRevocation = 0
It adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
GDIPlus
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
ESENT\Process\{Malware File Name}
Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification
This Trojan modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.
Other Details
This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- http://{BLOCKED}backre.com/s.php?0Q9oBPXEN0uECUgzEJ95RQsajjnvq1aG3F/2q5oNvBGAyHya0iCsG5//bBw9iKz11e/law==
- http://{BLOCKED}ojerive.com/support/s
- http://{BLOCKED}jerive.com/support/s
- http://{BLOCKED}jerive.com/support/sr
- http://{BLOCKED}backre.com/support/s
It deletes the initially executed copy of itself
SOLUTION
9.200
5.810.06
02 Feb 2009
5.811.00
03 Feb 2009
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
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as TROJ_FAKEAV.AJA
Step 3
Terminate a process file/s detected as TROJ_FAKEAV.AJA
*Note: If the detected file/s is/are not displayed in theWindows Task Manager, continue doing the next steps.
Step 4
Delete this registry value
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
- Use FormSuggest = "Yes"
- Use FormSuggest = "Yes"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
- WarnOnZoneCrossing = 0
- WarnOnZoneCrossing = 0
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
- WarnonBadCertRecving = 0
- WarnonBadCertRecving = 0
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
- CertificateRevocation = 0
- CertificateRevocation = 0
Step 5
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. Before you could do this, you must restart in Safe Mode. For instructions on how to do this, you may refer to this page If the preceding step requires you to restart in safe mode, you may proceed to edit the system registry.
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft
- GDIPlus
- GDIPlus
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ESENT\Process
- {Malware File Name}
- {Malware File Name}
Step 6
Search and delete this folder
- %User Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\SMART HDD
Step 7
Search and delete this file
- %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{Random File Name}
- %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\-{Random File Name}
- %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\-{Random File Name}r
- %Application Data%\GDIPFONTCACHEV1.DAT
- %User Profile%\Desktop\SMART_HDD.lnk
- %User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\SMART_HDD.lnk
Step 8
Reset Internet security settings
Step 9
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_FAKEAV.AJA. 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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