BKDR_GENTA.TR

 Analysis by: Mark Joseph Manahan

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware, Spammed via email

This backdoor arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users. It arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It does not have any propagation routine.

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

It does not have any downloading capability.

It does not have any information-stealing capability.

It deletes itself after execution.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

Ports:

TCP Port 443

File Size:

733,184 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

16 Jul 2012

Payload:

Connects to URLs/IPs

Arrival Details

This backdoor arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users.

It 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 and executes the following files:

  • %Desktop%\nvsvc.exe - also detected as BKDR_GENTA.TR

(Note: %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Desktop on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Desktop on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:

  • 85214sss4

Autostart Technique

This backdoor creates the following registry entries to enable automatic execution of dropped component at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
JavaReal kallyer = "%Desktop%\nvsvc.exe"

Propagation

This backdoor does not have any propagation routine.

Backdoor Routine

This backdoor connects to the following URL(s) to send and receive commands from a remote malicious user:

  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.138.162

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

Download Routine

This backdoor does not have any downloading capability.

Information Theft

This backdoor does not have any information-stealing capability.

Other Details

This backdoor deletes itself after execution.

NOTES:

Upon execution, this backdoor checks if the currently logged on user of the affected system has administrator rights. If it does, it copies %Desktop%\nvsvc.exe to an alternate data stream (ADS) and saves as %System%:mskallyer.exe.

It then adds/modifies the following registry entry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
JavaReal kallyer = "%System%:mskallyer.exe"

This backdoor queries the default web browser by accessing the following registry key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\http\shell\open\command

It then launches a hidden web browser process where it injects its code in the said process. The injected code contains its backdoor routines.

Remote malicious user may send commands such as the following:

  • download/copy files
  • List directories

It does not have rootkit capabilities.

It does not exploit any vulnerability.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

9.269.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

19 Jul 2012

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 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\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • JavaReal kallyer = "%Desktop%\nvsvc.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • JavaReal kallyer = "%System%:mskallyer.exe"

Step 4

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

NOTES:

Note:For accounts configured with administrator rights, please perform this step after restarting in normal mode (step 4).

Remove the Alternate Data Stream from this file

To remove the Alternate Data Stream:

  1. Download Streams.exe from this Microsoft page. Extract the contents of this file to a location of your choice
  2. Open a command prompt window.Click Start>Run, type CMD, then press Enter.
  3. In the command prompt, type the following, then press Enter:
    CD {Path where contents of downloaded file was extracted}
  4. Still in the command prompt type the following then press Enter:
    Streams.exe -d %System%
  5. Type exit then press Enter.


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