JS_PALEVO.ARJ

 Analysis by: Jennifer Gumban

 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:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW


This Trojan may arrive bundled with malware packages as a malware component. It may be hosted on a website and run when a user accesses the said website.

It modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

2,095 bytes

File Type:

JS, Script

Initial Samples Received Date:

02 Oct 2013

Arrival Details

This Trojan may arrive bundled with malware packages as a malware component.

It may be hosted on a website and run when a user accesses the said website.

Installation

This Trojan drops the following file(s)/component(s):

  • c:\users\public\12.vbs
  • c:\users\public\t.exe

It searches for the following folders where it can drop/create files:

  • c:\users\public

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes
MJ = ""

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
Local AppWizard-Generated Applications = ""

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications
PJM = ""

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications\
PJM
Recent File List = "(Default Value)"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications\
PJM
Settings = "(Default Value)"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\ShellNoRoam\MUICache\
c:\users\public
t.exe = "Microsoft"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
MJ
CLSID = "{Random Hex Values}"

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}.150.85/update?id=000f9b48
  • http://{BLOCKED}.150.85:443/update?id=000f9b48
  • http://{BLOCKED}.150.85:54/update?id=000f9b48
  • http://{BLOCKED}.150.85:12345/update?id=000f9b48
  • http://{BLOCKED}kyotofukai.com/css/FH.rar

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

10.318.05

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

04 Oct 2013

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

10.319.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

05 Oct 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

Close all opened browser windows

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications\PJM
    • Recent File List = "(Default Value)"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications\PJM
    • Settings = "(Default Value)"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\MUICache\c:\users\public
    • t.exe = "Microsoft"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\MJ
    • CLSID = "{Random Hex Values}"

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.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • Local AppWizard-Generated Applications = ""
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications
    • PJM = ""
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes
    • MJ = ""

Step 5

Search and delete these files

[ Learn More ]
There may be some component 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.
  • c:\users\public\12.vbs
  • c:\users\public\t.exe

Step 6

Reset Internet security settings

[ Learn More ]

Step 7

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as JS_PALEVO.ARJ. 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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