WORM_QQPASS.AQC


 ALIASES:

Worm:Win32/Emerleox.gen!A (Microsoft); [0000bd10.EXE]:PWS-QQRob.dll (McAfee); Infostealer.QQRob.A (Symantec); Trojan-PSW.Win32.Delf.nx (Kaspersky); BehavesLike.Win32.Malware.dss (mx-v) (Sunbelt); Trojan horse PSW.Generic2.PPY (AVG)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 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:

88,180 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

17 May 2013

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%\QQhx.dat
  • %System%\jwlqpl.exe

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.)

Autostart Technique

This worm 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 %System%\jwlqpl.exe"

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

Other System Modifications

This worm deletes the following files:

  • %System%\kakatool.dll
  • %System%\dqhx1.txt
  • %System%\dqhx2.txt
  • %System%\dqhx3.txt
  • %System%\@#$#.htm
  • d:\sxs.exe
  • d:\autorun.inf
  • e:\sxs.exe
  • e:\autorun.inf
  • f:\sxs.exe
  • f:\autorun.inf
  • g:\sxs.exe
  • g:\autorun.inf
  • h:\sxs.exe
  • h:\autorun.inf
  • i:\sxs.exe
  • i:\autorun.inf
  • j:\sxs.exe
  • j:\autorun.inf
  • %System%\QQhx.dat

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.)

It adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\New Windows
PopupMgr = "no"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer
hx-1 = "1"

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced\Folder\Hidden\
SHOWALL
CheckedValue = "0"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

Dropping Routine

This worm drops the following files:

  • %System%\jwlqpl.dll
  • %System%\noruns.reg
  • %System%\QQhx.dat
  • %System%\jwlqpl.exe

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.)

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

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_QQPASS.AQC 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\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies
    • Explorer

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\Internet Explorer\New Windows
    • PopupMgr = "no"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer
    • hx-1 = "1"

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\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Hidden\SHOWALL
    • From: CheckedValue = "0"
      To: CheckedValue = ""1""
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
    • From: Shell = "Explorer.exe %System%\jwlqpl.exe"
      To: Shell = ""Explorer.exe""

Step 6

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.
  • %System%\jwlqpl.dll
  • %System%\noruns.reg
  • %System%\QQhx.dat
  • %System%\jwlqpl.exe

Step 7

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as WORM_QQPASS.AQC. 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 8

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%\kakatool.dll
  • %System%\dqhx1.txt
  • %System%\dqhx2.txt
  • %System%\dqhx3.txt
  • %System%\@#$#.htm
  • d:\sxs.exe
  • d:\autorun.inf
  • e:\sxs.exe
  • e:\autorun.inf
  • f:\sxs.exe
  • f:\autorun.inf
  • g:\sxs.exe
  • g:\autorun.inf
  • h:\sxs.exe
  • h:\autorun.inf
  • i:\sxs.exe
  • i:\autorun.inf
  • j:\sxs.exe
  • j:\autorun.inf
  • %System%\QQhx.dat


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