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TROJ_FAKEAV.MZA

July 16, 2013
 Modified by: Rika Joi Gregorio
 ALIASES:

Rogue:Win32/FakeRean(Microsoft), Trojan.FakeAV(Norton), RDN/Generic FakeAlert!dz(McAfee), Trojan.Win32.FakeAV(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:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware


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 does not have any propagation routine.

It does not have any backdoor routine.

It does not have any downloading capability.

When users agree to buy the software, it connects to a certain URL. It displays a window where users can purchase this fake antivirus program.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

882,176 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

28 Jun 2013

Payload:

Connects to URLs/IPs, Terminates processes, Displays message/message boxes

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 copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\tdefender.exe

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users or Common profile folder, which is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users in Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, and C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista and 7.)

It drops the following files:

  • %All Users Profile%\Desktop\Internet Security Pro.lnk

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users or Common profile folder, which is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users in Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, and C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista and 7.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Internet Security = "%All Users Profile%\Application Data\tdefender.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{random value}

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{random value}
FRun = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{random value}
O`ld = "Houdsodu!Rdbtshux"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{random value}
Q`ui = "{random}"

Propagation

This Trojan does not have any propagation routine.

Backdoor Routine

This Trojan does not have any backdoor routine.

Download Routine

This Trojan does not have any downloading capability.

Rogue Antivirus Routine

This Trojan displays the following fake alerts:

When users agree to buy the software, it connects to the following URL to continue the purchase:

  • http://{BLOCKED}echeck24.com/activate/activate.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}ersecurityauto.com/support.html
  • http://{BLOCKED}ownloadgroup.com/405.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}ersecurityauto.com/buynow.php?bid=214
  • http://{BLOCKED}tyhelpsupport.com/open.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}reinternational.com/info.php

The following window is displayed for users to purchase the fake antivirus program:

It displays the following window and pretends to scan the system:

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

10.128.04

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

01 Jul 2013

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

10.129.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

02 Jul 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 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_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • {random value}

Step 4

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Internet Security = "%All Users Profile%\Application Data\tdefender.exe"

Step 5

Search and delete this file

[ Learn More ]
There may be some 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.
  • %All Users Profile%\Desktop\Internet Security Pro.lnk

Step 6

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