WORM_NUQEL.CL


 ALIASES:

Worm:Win32/Nuqel.AT (Microsoft); [.au3]:W32/Yahlover.worm.gen.k (McAfee); W32.Imaut!gen1 (Symantec); Worm.Win32.AutoIt.ru (Kaspersky); W32/AutoIt-IN (Sophos); Trojan.Win32.Generic!SB.0 (Sunbelt); Worm/AutoRun.KE (AVG)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW


This worm 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:

815,473 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

19 Dec 2014

Arrival Details

This worm 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 worm drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %System%\SICHOST.exe
  • %Windows%\SICHOST.exe

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.. %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Yahoo Messengger = "%System%\SICHOST.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
google = "http://advgoogle.{BLOCKED}ot.com"

It modifies the following registry entries to ensure it automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Shell = "Explorer.exe SICHOST.exe"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is Explorer.exe.)

Other System Modifications

This worm adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\
Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\
Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
WorkgroupCrawler\Shares

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\Schedule
AtTaskMaxHours = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
WorkgroupCrawler\Shares
shared = "\New Folder.exe"

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Default_Page_URL = "http://www.{BLOCKED}heta.blogspot.com"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&pver=6&ar=msnhome.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Default_Search_URL = "http://www.{BLOCKED}heta.blogspot.com"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&ar=iesearch.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Search Page = "http://www.{BLOCKED}heta.blogspot.com"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&ar=iesearch.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Start Page = "http://www.{BLOCKED}heta.blogspot.com"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd={SUB_PRD}&clcid={SUB_CLSID}&pver={SUB_PVER}&ar=home.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Start Page = "http://www.{BLOCKED}heta.blogspot.com"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&pver=6&ar=msnhome.)

Other Details

This worm connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://lotusspring3.{BLOCKED}5.com/setting.ini

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  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

Identify and delete files detected as WORM_NUQEL.CL using either the Startup Disk or Recovery Console

[ 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\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer
    • Control Panel
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer
    • Control Panel
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\WorkgroupCrawler
    • Shares

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
    • Yahoo Messengger = "%System%\SICHOST.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • google = "http://advgoogle.{BLOCKED}ot.com"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Schedule
    • AtTaskMaxHours = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\WorkgroupCrawler\Shares
    • shared = "\New Folder.exe"

Step 5

Restore these modified registry values

[ Learn More ]

Important:Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this only if you know how to or you can seek your system administrator's help. You may also check out this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
    • From: Default_Page_URL = "http://www.{BLOCKED}heta.blogspot.com"
      To: Default_Page_URL = ""http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&pver=6&ar=msnhome""
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
    • From: Default_Search_URL = "http://www.{BLOCKED}heta.blogspot.com"
      To: Default_Search_URL = ""http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&ar=iesearch""
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
    • From: Search Page = "http://www.{BLOCKED}heta.blogspot.com"
      To: Search Page = ""http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&ar=iesearch""
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
    • From: Start Page = "http://www.{BLOCKED}heta.blogspot.com"
      To: Start Page = ""http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd={SUB_PRD}&clcid={SUB_CLSID}&pver={SUB_PVER}&ar=home""
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
    • From: Start Page = "http://www.{BLOCKED}heta.blogspot.com"
      To: Start Page = ""http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&pver=6&ar=msnhome""
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
    • From: Shell = "Explorer.exe SICHOST.exe"
      To: Shell = ""Explorer.exe""

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as WORM_NUQEL.CL. 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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