TSPY_KOVTER.A

 Analysis by: Rhena Inocencio

 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: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet


This spyware 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 connects to certain URLs. It may do this to remotely inform a malicious user of its installation. It may also do this to download possibly malicious files onto the computer, which puts the computer at a greater risk of infection by other threats.

It connects to certain websites to send and receive information. It terminates itself if it detects it is being run in a virtual environment.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

217,136 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

26 Jun 2014

Payload:

Connects to URLs/IPs

Arrival Details

This spyware 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 spyware injects codes into the following process(es):

  • svchost.exe
  • default browser

Other System Modifications

This spyware adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\
FEATURE_BLOCK_INPUT_PROMPTS
{injected process} = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Ratings
(Default) = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
GlobalUserOffline = "0"

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications\Material_MIS

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\
FEATURE_BLOCK_INPUT_PROMPTS

Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification

This spyware modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

Download Routine

This spyware connects to the following malicious URLs:

  • http://{BLOCKED}get.info/5/form.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}fix.org/5/form.php

Information Theft

This spyware gathers the following data:

  • Operating system
  • Installed AV-related applications

Other Details

This spyware connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • http://{BLOCKED}x.pw/form2.php

It terminates itself if it detects it is being run in a virtual environment.

NOTES:

This spyware creates the following user account as administrator:

user name: NETWORK Service
password: KCYmap719!

It creates a temporary file TEMP.HTM to get the user's default browser. It monitors the user's default browser.

It does not perform its intended routine if the following files are found:

  • a2guard.exe
  • a2service.exe
  • avas.exe
  • avcom.exe
  • avp.exe
  • avss.exe
  • bdagent.exe
  • BullGuard.exe
  • cistray.exe
  • cmdagent.exe
  • dwengine.exe
  • dwservice.exe
  • jpf.exe
  • jpfsrv.exe
  • oasrv.exe
  • oaui.exe
  • op_mon.exe

It queries the value of the following registry entry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
InstallDate

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.700

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 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_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Ratings
    • (Default) = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
    • GlobalUserOffline = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_BLOCK_INPUT_PROMPTS
    • {injected process} = "1"

Step 4

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. 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\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl
    • FEATURE_BLOCK_INPUT_PROMPTS
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications
    • Material_MIS
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • Local AppWizard-Generated Applications

Step 5

Reset Internet security settings

[ Learn More ]

Step 6

Reset Internet privacy settings

[ Learn More ]

Step 7

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

NOTES:

To remove the added account by this malware, kindly perform the following steps:

  1. Open a command prompt window:
    • For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 users, click Start>Run, type cmd in the text box provided, and press Enter
    • For Windows Vista and Windows 7 users, click the Start button, type cmd in the Search input field, and press Enter
  2. At the command prompt, type the following:
    NET USER "NETWORK SERVICE" /DELETE
  3. Press Enter.


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