TROJ_PAKES.BLS

November 22, 2013
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 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.

It deletes itself after execution.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

998,912 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

22 Nov 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 copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %System%\ntos.exe

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

It creates the following folders:

  • %System%\wsnpoem

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

Autostart Technique

This Trojan modifies the following registry entries to ensure it automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
userinit = "%System%\userinit.exe,%System%\ntos.exe,"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is %Windows%\system32\userinit.exe,.)

Other System Modifications

This Trojan deletes the following files:

  • %System%\ntos.exe

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

It adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Account Manager\Accounts

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
pathx = "{malware path and file name}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Network
UID = "CWS08D107_0002E9AA"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Network
UID = "CWS08D107_00034334"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Network
UID = "CWS08D107_0003A171"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Network
UID = "CWS08D107_0003D62D"

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://trems.{BLOCKED}p.org/blew4/cfg.bin

It deletes itself after execution.

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 TROJ_PAKES.BLS 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\Internet Account Manager
    • Accounts

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
    • pathx = "{malware path and file name}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Network
    • UID = "CWS08D107_0002E9AA"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Network
    • UID = "CWS08D107_00034334"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Network
    • UID = "CWS08D107_0003A171"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Network
    • UID = "CWS08D107_0003D62D"

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 NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
    • From: userinit = "%System%\userinit.exe,%System%\ntos.exe,"
      To: userinit = ""%Windows%\system32\userinit.exe,""

Step 6

Search and delete this folder

[ 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.
  • %System%\wsnpoem

Step 7

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_PAKES.BLS. 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%\ntos.exe


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