Virus.Win32.SALITY.RT

 Analysis by: John Rainier Navato

 ALIASES:

Virus.Win32.Sality.ag (KASPERSKY)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Virus

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware, Propagates via removable drives, Propagates via shared drives


This Virus arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It creates certain registry entries to disable applications related to security.

It drops copies of itself in all removable and physical drives found in the system. It drops copies of itself into network drives. It drops an AUTORUN.INF file to automatically execute the copies it drops when a user accesses the drives of an affected system.

It modifies certain registry entries to hide Hidden files.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

17,421,824 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

26 May 2023

Payload:

Drops files, Modifies system registry, Modifies files, Terminates processes, Disables AV, Connects to URLs/IPs, Hides files and processes

Arrival Details

This Virus 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 Virus drops the following files:

  • %System%\drivers\{6 Random Characters}.sys ← Deleted afterwards
  • %User Temp%\{6 Random Characters}.exe ← Copy of %System%\ntkrnlpa.exe ← Deleted afterwards
  • %System Root%\{Random Characters}.pif/.exe
  • {Available Drive Roots Except for CD-ROM Drives}\{Random Characters}.pif/.exe
  • {Available Drive Roots Except for CD-ROM Drives}\autorun.inf

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.. %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.)

Other System Modifications

This Virus deletes the following folders:

  • %User Temp%\{Folder Name that Ends with _Rar}

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It adds the following line(s)/entry(ies) in the SYSTEM.INI file:

  • MCIDRV_VER
    • DEVICEMB = {Random Integer Value}

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\{Generated string from username}\
{Generated number from username}
{Random String 1 = 1

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\{Generated string from username}\
{Generated number from username}
{Random String 2} = 0

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\{Generated string from username}\
{Generated number from username}
{Random String 3} = 0

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\{Generated string from username}\
{Generated number from username}
{Random String 4} = 30

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\{Generated string from username}\
{Generated number from username}
{Random String 5} = 143

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\{Generated string from username}\
{Generated number from username}
{Random String 6} = {Random Value}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplication\
List
{Malware File Location}\{Malware File Name}.exe = {Malware File Location}\{Malware File Name}.exe:%s:*:Enabled:ipsec

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
AntiVirusOverride = 1

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
AntiVirusDisableNotify = 1

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
FirewallDisableNotify = 1

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
FirewallOverride = 1

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
UpdatesDisableNotify = 1

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
UpdatesDisableNotify = 1

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
GlobalUsersOffline = 0

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
system
EnableLUA = 0

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
DoNotAllowExceptions = 0

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
DisableNotifications = 1

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
EnableFirewall = 0

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

It creates the following registry entries to disable applications related to security:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center\Svc
AntiVirusOverride = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center\Svc
AntiVirusDisableNotify = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center\Svc
FirewallDisableNotify = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center\Svc
FirewallOverride = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center\Svc
UpdatesDisableNotify = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center\Svc
UacDisableNotify = 1

It deletes the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\
Control\Safeboot

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\System\CurrentControlSet\
Control\Safeboot

File Infection

This Virus infects the following file types:

  • .EXE/.exe
  • .SCR/.scr

It avoids infecting files that contain the following strings in their names:

  • AVPM
  • A2GUARD
  • A2CMD
  • A2SERVICE
  • A2FREE
  • AVAST
  • ADVCHK
  • AGB
  • AKRNL
  • AHPROCMONSERVER
  • AIRDEFENSE
  • ALERTSVC
  • AVIRA
  • AMON
  • TROJAN
  • AVZ
  • ANTIVIR
  • APVXDWIN
  • ARMOR2NET
  • ASHAVAST
  • ASHDISP
  • ASHENHCD
  • ASHMAISV
  • ASHPOPWZ
  • ASHSERV
  • ASHSIMPL
  • ASHSKPCK
  • ASHWEBSV
  • ASWUPDSV
  • ASWSCAN
  • AVCIMAN
  • AVCONSOL
  • AVENGINE
  • AVESVC
  • AVEVAL
  • AVEVL32
  • AVGAM
  • AVGCC
  • AVGCHSVX
  • AVGCSRVX
  • AVGNSX
  • AVGCC32
  • AVGCTRL
  • AVGEMC
  • AVGFWSRV
  • AVGNT
  • AVCENTER
  • AVGNTMGR
  • AVGSERV
  • AVGTRAY
  • AVGUARD
  • AVGUPSVC
  • AVGWDSVC
  • AVINITNT
  • AVKSERV
  • AVKSERVICE
  • AVKWCTL
  • AVP
  • AVP32
  • AVPCC
  • AVAST
  • AVSERVER
  • AVSCHED32
  • AVSYNMGR
  • AVWUPD32
  • AVWUPSRV
  • AVXMONITOR
  • AVXQUAR
  • BDSWITCH
  • BLACKD
  • BLACKICE
  • CAFIX
  • BITDEFENDER
  • CCEVTMGR
  • CFP
  • CFPCONFIG
  • CCSETMGR
  • CFIAUDIT
  • CLAMTRAY
  • CLAMWIN
  • CUREIT
  • DEFWATCH
  • DRVIRUS
  • DRWADINS
  • DRWEB
  • DEFENDERDAEMON
  • DWEBLLIO
  • DWEBIO
  • ESCANH95
  • ESCANHNT
  • EWIDOCTRL
  • EZANTIVIRUSREGISTRATIONCHECK
  • F-AGNT95
  • FAMEH32
  • FILEMON
  • FIREWALL
  • FORTICLIENT
  • FORTITRAY
  • FORTISCAN
  • FPAVSERVER
  • FPROTTRAY
  • FPWIN
  • FRESHCLAM
  • EKRN
  • FSAV32
  • FSAVGUI
  • FSBWSYS
  • F-SCHED
  • FSDFWD
  • FSGK32
  • FSGK32ST
  • FSGUIEXE
  • FSMA32
  • FSMB32
  • FSPEX
  • FSSM32
  • F-STOPW
  • GCASDTSERV
  • GCASSERV
  • GIANTANTISPYWARE
  • GUARDGUI
  • GUARDNT
  • GUARDXSERVICE
  • GUARDXKICKOFF
  • HREGMON
  • HRRES
  • HSOCKPE
  • HUPDATE
  • IAMAPP
  • IAMSERV
  • ICLOAD95
  • ICLOADNT
  • ICMON
  • ICSSUPPNT
  • ICSUPP95
  • ICSUPPNT
  • IPTRAY
  • INETUPD
  • INOCIT
  • INORPC
  • INORT
  • INOTASK
  • INOUPTNG
  • IOMON98
  • ISAFE
  • ISATRAY
  • KAV
  • KAVMM
  • KAVPF
  • KAVPFW
  • KAVSTART
  • KAVSVC
  • KAVSVCUI
  • KMAILMON
  • MAMUTU
  • MCAGENT
  • MCMNHDLR
  • MCREGWIZ
  • MCUPDATE
  • MCVSSHLD
  • MINILOG
  • MYAGTSVC
  • MYAGTTRY
  • NAVAPSVC
  • NAVAPW32
  • NAVLU32
  • NAVW32
  • NEOWATCHLOG
  • NEOWATCHTRAY
  • NISSERV
  • NISUM
  • NMAIN
  • NOD32
  • NORMIST
  • NOTSTART
  • NPAVTRAY
  • NPFMNTOR
  • NPFMSG
  • NPROTECT
  • NSCHED32
  • NSMDTR
  • NSSSERV
  • NSSTRAY
  • NTRTSCAN
  • NTOS
  • NTXCONFIG
  • NUPGRADE
  • NVCOD
  • NVCTE
  • NVCUT
  • NWSERVICE
  • OFCPFWSVC
  • OUTPOST
  • ONLINENT
  • OPSSVC
  • OP_MON
  • PAVFIRES
  • PAVFNSVR
  • PAVKRE
  • PAVPROT
  • PAVPROXY
  • PAVPRSRV
  • PAVSRV51
  • PAVSS
  • PCCGUIDE
  • PCCIOMON
  • PCCNTMON
  • PCCPFW
  • PCCTLCOM
  • PCTAV
  • PERSFW
  • PERTSK
  • PERVAC
  • PESTPATROL
  • PNMSRV
  • PREVSRV
  • PREVX
  • PSIMSVC
  • QUHLPSVC
  • QHONLINE
  • QHONSVC
  • QHWSCSVC
  • QHSET
  • RFWMAIN
  • RTVSCAN
  • RTVSCN95
  • SALITY
  • SAPISSVC
  • SCANWSCS
  • SAVADMINSERVICE
  • SAVMAIN
  • SAVPROGRESS
  • SAVSCAN
  • SCANNINGPROCESS
  • SDRA64
  • SDHELP
  • SHSTAT
  • SITECLI
  • SPBBCSVC
  • SPHINX
  • SPIDERCPL
  • SPIDERML
  • SPIDERNT
  • SPIDERUI
  • SPYBOTSD
  • SPYXX
  • SS3EDIT
  • STOPSIGNAV
  • SWAGENT
  • SWDOCTOR
  • SWNETSUP
  • SYMLCSVC
  • SYMPROXYSVC
  • SYMSPORT
  • SYMWSC
  • SYNMGR
  • TAUMON
  • TBMON
  • TMLISTEN
  • TMNTSRV
  • TMPROXY
  • TNBUTIL
  • TRJSCAN
  • VBA32ECM
  • VBA32IFS
  • VBA32LDR
  • VBA32PP3
  • VBSNTW
  • VCRMON
  • VPTRAY
  • VRFWSVC
  • VRMONNT
  • VRMONSVC
  • VRRW32
  • VSECOMR
  • VSHWIN32
  • VSMON
  • VSSERV
  • VSSTAT
  • WATCHDOG
  • WEBSCANX
  • WINSSNOTIFY
  • WRCTRL
  • XCOMMSVR
  • ZLCLIENT
  • ZONEALARM

It avoids infecting the following files:

  • Protected System Files
  • Files in CD-ROM drives

Propagation

This Virus drops copies of itself in all removable and physical drives found in the system.

It drops copies of itself into network drives.

It drops an AUTORUN.INF file to automatically execute the copies it drops when a user accesses the drives of an affected system.

The said .INF file contains the following strings:

*Note: The order of the strings varies and the combination of uppercase and lowercase letters also varies*

[AutoRun]

;{Random Characters 1}
ShEll\OPeN\coMMaNd ={Random File Name}.{pif/exe}
;
shELl\Open\DefAUlT=1
;{Random Characters 2}
Open={Random File Name}.{pif/exe}
;{Random Characters 3}
shelL\ExPLorE\CommanNd={Random File Name}.{pif/exe}
;{Random Characters 4}
shell\aUToplay\CoMMANd ={Random FileName}.{pif/exe}
;{Random Characters 5}

Process Termination

This Virus terminates the following services if found on the affected system:

  • AVP
  • Agnitum Client Security Service
  • ALG
  • Amon monitor
  • aswUpdSv
  • aswMon2
  • aswRdr
  • aswSP
  • aswTdi
  • aswFsBlk
  • acssrv
  • AV Engine
  • avast! iAVS4 Control Service
  • avast! Antivirus
  • avast! Mail Scanner
  • avast! Web Scanner
  • avast! Asynchronous Virus Monitor
  • avast! Self Protection
  • AVG E-mail Scanner
  • Avira AntiVir Premium Guard
  • Avira AntiVir Premium WebGuard
  • Avira AntiVir Premium MailGuard
  • BGLiveSvc
  • BlackICE
  • CAISafe
  • ccEvtMgr
  • ccProxy
  • ccSetMgr
  • COMODO Firewall Pro Sandbox Driver
  • cmdGuard
  • cmdAgent
  • Eset Service
  • Eset HTTP Server
  • Eset Personal Firewall
  • F-Prot Antivirus Update Monitor
  • fsbwsys
  • FSDFWD
  • F-Secure Gatekeeper Handler Starter
  • FSMA
  • Google Online Services
  • InoRPC
  • InoRT
  • InoTask
  • ISSVC
  • KPF4
  • KLIF
  • LavasoftFirewall
  • LIVESRV
  • McAfeeFramework
  • McShield
  • McTaskManager
  • MpsSvc
  • navapsvc
  • NOD32krn
  • NPFMntor
  • NSCService
  • Outpost Firewall main module
  • OutpostFirewall
  • PAVFIRES
  • PAVFNSVR
  • PavProt
  • PavPrSrv
  • PAVSRV
  • PcCtlCom
  • PersonalFirewal
  • PREVSRV
  • ProtoPort Firewall service
  • PSIMSVC
  • RapApp
  • SharedAccess
  • SmcService
  • SNDSrvc
  • SPBBCSvc
  • SpIDer FS Monitor for Windows NT
  • SpIDer Guard File System Monitor
  • SPIDERNT
  • Symantec Core LC
  • Symantec Password Validation
  • Symantec AntiVirus Definition Watcher
  • SavRoam
  • Symantec AntiVirus
  • Tmntsrv
  • TmPfw
  • UmxAgent
  • UmxCfg
  • UmxLU
  • UmxPol
  • vsmon
  • VSSERV
  • WebrootDesktopFirewallDataService
  • WebrootFirewall
  • wscsvc
  • XCOMM

It terminates the following processes if found running in the affected system's memory:

  • AVPM
  • A2GUARD
  • A2CMD
  • A2SERVICE
  • A2FREE
  • AVAST
  • ADVCHK
  • AGB
  • AKRNL
  • AHPROCMONSERVER
  • AIRDEFENSE
  • ALERTSVC
  • AVIRA
  • AMON
  • TROJAN
  • AVZ
  • ANTIVIR
  • APVXDWIN
  • ARMOR2NET
  • ASHAVAST
  • ASHDISP
  • ASHENHCD
  • ASHMAISV
  • ASHPOPWZ
  • ASHSERV
  • ASHSIMPL
  • ASHSKPCK
  • ASHWEBSV
  • ASWUPDSV
  • ASWSCAN
  • AVCIMAN
  • AVCONSOL
  • AVENGINE
  • AVESVC
  • AVEVAL
  • AVEVL32
  • AVGAM
  • AVGCC
  • AVGCHSVX
  • AVGCSRVX
  • AVGNSX
  • AVGCC32
  • AVGCTRL
  • AVGEMC
  • AVGFWSRV
  • AVGNT
  • AVCENTER
  • AVGNTMGR
  • AVGSERV
  • AVGTRAY
  • AVGUARD
  • AVGUPSVC
  • AVGWDSVC
  • AVINITNT
  • AVKSERV
  • AVKSERVICE
  • AVKWCTL
  • AVP
  • AVP32
  • AVPCC
  • AVAST
  • AVSERVER
  • AVSCHED32
  • AVSYNMGR
  • AVWUPD32
  • AVWUPSRV
  • AVXMONITOR
  • AVXQUAR
  • BDSWITCH
  • BLACKD
  • BLACKICE
  • CAFIX
  • BITDEFENDER
  • CCEVTMGR
  • CFP
  • CFPCONFIG
  • CCSETMGR
  • CFIAUDIT
  • CLAMTRAY
  • CLAMWIN
  • CUREIT
  • DEFWATCH
  • DRVIRUS
  • DRWADINS
  • DRWEB
  • DEFENDERDAEMON
  • DWEBLLIO
  • DWEBIO
  • ESCANH95
  • ESCANHNT
  • EWIDOCTRL
  • EZANTIVIRUSREGISTRATIONCHECK
  • F-AGNT95
  • FAMEH32
  • FILEMON
  • FIREWALL
  • FORTICLIENT
  • FORTITRAY
  • FORTISCAN
  • FPAVSERVER
  • FPROTTRAY
  • FPWIN
  • FRESHCLAM
  • EKRN
  • FSAV32
  • FSAVGUI
  • FSBWSYS
  • F-SCHED
  • FSDFWD
  • FSGK32
  • FSGK32ST
  • FSGUIEXE
  • FSMA32
  • FSMB32
  • FSPEX
  • FSSM32
  • F-STOPW
  • GCASDTSERV
  • GCASSERV
  • GIANTANTISPYWARE
  • GUARDGUI
  • GUARDNT
  • GUARDXSERVICE
  • GUARDXKICKOFF
  • HREGMON
  • HRRES
  • HSOCKPE
  • HUPDATE
  • IAMAPP
  • IAMSERV
  • ICLOAD95
  • ICLOADNT
  • ICMON
  • ICSSUPPNT
  • ICSUPP95
  • ICSUPPNT
  • IPTRAY
  • INETUPD
  • INOCIT
  • INORPC
  • INORT
  • INOTASK
  • INOUPTNG
  • IOMON98
  • ISAFE
  • ISATRAY
  • KAV
  • KAVMM
  • KAVPF
  • KAVPFW
  • KAVSTART
  • KAVSVC
  • KAVSVCUI
  • KMAILMON
  • MAMUTU
  • MCAGENT
  • MCMNHDLR
  • MCREGWIZ
  • MCUPDATE
  • MCVSSHLD
  • MINILOG
  • MYAGTSVC
  • MYAGTTRY
  • NAVAPSVC
  • NAVAPW32
  • NAVLU32
  • NAVW32
  • NEOWATCHLOG
  • NEOWATCHTRAY
  • NISSERV
  • NISUM
  • NMAIN
  • NOD32
  • NORMIST
  • NOTSTART
  • NPAVTRAY
  • NPFMNTOR
  • NPFMSG
  • NPROTECT
  • NSCHED32
  • NSMDTR
  • NSSSERV
  • NSSTRAY
  • NTRTSCAN
  • NTOS
  • NTXCONFIG
  • NUPGRADE
  • NVCOD
  • NVCTE
  • NVCUT
  • NWSERVICE
  • OFCPFWSVC
  • OUTPOST
  • ONLINENT
  • OPSSVC
  • OP_MON
  • PAVFIRES
  • PAVFNSVR
  • PAVKRE
  • PAVPROT
  • PAVPROXY
  • PAVPRSRV
  • PAVSRV51
  • PAVSS
  • PCCGUIDE
  • PCCIOMON
  • PCCNTMON
  • PCCPFW
  • PCCTLCOM
  • PCTAV
  • PERSFW
  • PERTSK
  • PERVAC
  • PESTPATROL
  • PNMSRV
  • PREVSRV
  • PREVX
  • PSIMSVC
  • QUHLPSVC
  • QHONLINE
  • QHONSVC
  • QHWSCSVC
  • QHSET
  • RFWMAIN
  • RTVSCAN
  • RTVSCN95
  • SALITY
  • SAPISSVC
  • SCANWSCS
  • SAVADMINSERVICE
  • SAVMAIN
  • SAVPROGRESS
  • SAVSCAN
  • SCANNINGPROCESS
  • SDRA64
  • SDHELP
  • SHSTAT
  • SITECLI
  • SPBBCSVC
  • SPHINX
  • SPIDERCPL
  • SPIDERML
  • SPIDERNT
  • SPIDERUI
  • SPYBOTSD
  • SPYXX
  • SS3EDIT
  • STOPSIGNAV
  • SWAGENT
  • SWDOCTOR
  • SWNETSUP
  • SYMLCSVC
  • SYMPROXYSVC
  • SYMSPORT
  • SYMWSC
  • SYNMGR
  • TAUMON
  • TBMON
  • TMLISTEN
  • TMNTSRV
  • TMPROXY
  • TNBUTIL
  • TRJSCAN
  • VBA32ECM
  • VBA32IFS
  • VBA32LDR
  • VBA32PP3
  • VBSNTW
  • VCRMON
  • VPTRAY
  • VRFWSVC
  • VRMONNT
  • VRMONSVC
  • VRRW32
  • VSECOMR
  • VSHWIN32
  • VSMON
  • VSSERV
  • VSSTAT
  • WATCHDOG
  • WEBSCANX
  • WINSSNOTIFY
  • WRCTRL
  • XCOMMSVR
  • ZLCLIENT
  • ZONEALARM

Dropping Routine

This Virus drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\{Random Characters 3}.exe ← Deleted afterwards
  • %User Temp%\{Random Characters 2}.exe ← Deleted afterwards
  • %User Temp%\{Random Characters 1}.exe ← Deleted afterwards

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

Download Routine

This Virus connects to the following website(s) to download and execute a malicious file:

  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.154/testo5/{Random Chararacters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}ustnet777.info/home.gif/{Random Chararacters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}ustnet888.info/home.gif/{Random Chararacters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}ustnet987.info/home.gif/{Random Chararacters}

Other Details

This Virus modifies the following registry entries to hide Hidden files:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
Hidden = 2

It adds and runs the following services:

IpFilterDriver
ImagePath = %System%\drivers\ipfltdrv.sys

asmint32
ImagePath = %System%\drivers\{6 Random Character}.sys

It does the following:

  • It deletes all files with .exe file extensions in %User Temp% folder

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.800

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

18.467.00

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

25 May 2023

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

18.467.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

26 May 2023

Step 1

Trend Micro Predictive Machine Learning detects and blocks malware at the first sign of its existence, before it executes on your system. When enabled, your Trend Micro product detects this malware under the following machine learning name:

     Troj.Win32.TRX.XXPE50FFF068

Step 2

Before doing any scans, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.

Step 3

Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.

Step 4

Restart in Safe Mode

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Step 5

Delete this registry value

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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\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplication\List
    • {Malware File Location}\{Malware File Name}.exe = {Malware File Location}\{Malware File Name}.exe:%s:*:Enabled:ipsec
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center\Svc
    • AntiVirusOverride = 1
    • AntiVirusDisableNotify = 1
    • FirewallDisableNotify = 1
    • FirewallOverride = 1
    • UpdatesDisableNotify = 1
    • UacDisableNotify = 1
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\{Generated string from username}\{Generated number from username}
    • {Random String 1} = 1
    • {Random String 2} = 0
    • {Random String 3} = 0
    • {Random String 4} = 30
    • {Random String 5} = 143
    • {Random String 6} = {Random value}

Step 6

Delete this registry key

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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\Security Center
    • Svc
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\{Generated string from username}
    • {Generated number from username}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE
    • {Generated string from username}

Step 7

Restore this modified registry value

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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\Security Center
    • AntiVirusOverride = 1
    • AntiVirusDisableNotify = 1
    • FirewallDisableNotify = 1
    • FirewallOverride = 1
    • UpdatesDisableNotify = 1
    • UacDisableNotify = 1
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
    • GlobalUsersOffline = 0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
    • EnableLUA = 0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
    • DoNotAllowExceptions = 0
    • DisableNotifications = 1
    • EnableFirewall = 0
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    • Hidden = 2
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control
    • Safeboot
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\System\CurrentControlSet\Control
    • Safeboot

Step 8

Disable this malware service

[ Learn More ]
  • asmint32

Step 9

Search and delete AUTORUN.INF files created by Virus.Win32.SALITY.RT that contain these strings

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Step 10

Search and delete these files

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There may be some 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.
  • %System%\drivers\{6 Random Characters}.sys
  • %User Temp%\{6 Random Characters}.exe
  • %System Root%\{Random Characters}.pif/.exe
  • {Available Drive Roots Except for CD-ROM Drives}\{Random Characters}.pif/.exe
  • %User Temp%\{Random Characters 1}.exe
  • %User Temp%\{Random Characters 2}.exe
  • %User Temp%\{Random Characters 3}.exe

Step 11

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Virus.Win32.SALITY.RT. 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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