BKDR_SMALL.OWS


 ALIASES:

VirTool:Win32/VBInject.gen!BP (Microsoft); PolyPatch-UPX (McAfee); Trojan Horse (Symantec); Worm.Win32.VBNA.b (Kaspersky); Trojan.Win32.Generic.pak!cobra (Sunbelt); Gen:Heur.ManBat.1 (FSecure)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW


This backdoor 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:

125,821 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

18 May 2012

Arrival Details

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

  • %System%\Microsoft\Prote\win32.exe

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %System%\Microsoft\Prote

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{4E5F1BC0-E150-E0E6-C16B-5A1425337142}
stubpath = "%System%\Microsoft\Prote\win32.exe s"

Other System Modifications

This backdoor deletes the following files:

  • %System%\Microsoft\Prote\win32.exe

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.)

It adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{4E5F1BC0-E150-E0E6-C16B-5A1425337142}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\win32xp

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\win32xp

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Control\MediaResources\msvideo

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\win32xp
nck = "{random values}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\win32xp
klg = "{random values}"

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

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\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components
    • {4E5F1BC0-E150-E0E6-C16B-5A1425337142}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • win32xp
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE
    • win32xp
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\MediaResources
    • msvideo

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{4E5F1BC0-E150-E0E6-C16B-5A1425337142}
    • stubpath = "%System%\Microsoft\Prote\win32.exe s"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\win32xp
    • nck = "{random values}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\win32xp
    • klg = "{random values}"

Step 5

Search and delete this folder

[ 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.
  • %System%\Microsoft\Prote

Step 6

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

Step 7

Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.

  • %System%\Microsoft\Prote\win32.exe


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