TROJ_FAKEAV.DIE

 Analysis by: Rika Joi Gregorio

 ALIASES:

Rogue:Win32/Winwebsec(Microsoft), Mal/FakeAV-OY(Sophos), 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:

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW


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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

405,504 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

06 Feb 2013

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 files:

  • %Desktop%\System Progressive Protection.lnk
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\System Progressive Protection\System Progressive Protection.lnk
  • {All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.ico
  • {All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}

(Note: %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop on Windows Vista and 7.. %Start Menu% is the current user's Start Menu folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Start Menu or C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu on Windows Vista and 7.)

It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • {All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe

It creates the following folders:

  • %Start Menu%\Programs\System Progressive Protection
  • {All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}
  • {All User's Profile}\Application Data\Help
  • %Application Data%\Help

(Note: %Start Menu% is the current user's Start Menu folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Start Menu or C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu on Windows Vista and 7.. %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.)

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Installer\Products\{random file name}

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Installer\Products\{random file name}
(Default) = "1"

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
ProxyEnable = 1

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}pay.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}gshopes.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}rketpay.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}rchant.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}illing.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}tepors.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}utbiz.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}lignpay.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}lling.com

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

9.722.06

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

12 Feb 2013

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

9.723.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

13 Feb 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.

  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Installer\Products\{random file name}

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\Installer\Products\{random file name}
    • (Default) = "1"

Step 5

Restore this modified 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\Internet Settings
    • From: ProxyEnable = 1
      To: ProxyEnable = 0

Step 6

Search and delete these folders

[ 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.
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\System Progressive Protection
  • {All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}
  • {All User's Profile}\Application Data\Help
  • %Application Data%\Help

Step 7

Search and delete these components

[ Learn More ]
There may be some components 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.
  • %Desktop%\System Progressive Protection.lnk

Step 8

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