BKDR_PONTOEB.CDF
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
![](/vinfo/imgFiles/legend.jpg)
Threat Type: Backdoor
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted:
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This backdoor 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
39,936 bytes
EXE
Yes
11 Jul 2012
Arrival Details
This backdoor 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 the following copies of itself into the affected system and executes them:
- %System Root%\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\ALL USERS\APPLICATION DATA\wscntfy.exe
- %Program Files%\COMMON FILES\lsmass.exe
(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.)
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
Windows-Audio Driver = "%System Root%\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\ALL USERS\APPLICATION DATA\wscntfy.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer\Run
Windows-Network Component = "%Program Files%\COMMON FILES\lsmass.exe"
Other System Modifications
This backdoor adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
Hidden = "2"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
EnableBalloonTips = "0"
It adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{e3a9f10b-80e5-11de-952d-806d6172696f}
It creates the following registry entry(ies) to bypass Windows Firewall:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\DomainProfile\AuthorizedApplications\
List\C:\Documents and Settings\
All Users\Application Data
wscntfy.exe = ""
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\
List\C:\Documents and Settings\
All Users\Application Data
wscntfy.exe = ""
SOLUTION
9.200
9.266.03
17 Jul 2012
9.267.00
18 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
Step 3
Delete this registry key
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. Before you could do this, you must restart in Safe Mode. For instructions on how to do this, you may refer to this page If the preceding step requires you to restart in safe mode, you may proceed to edit the system registry.
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components
- {e3a9f10b-80e5-11de-952d-806d6172696f}
- {e3a9f10b-80e5-11de-952d-806d6172696f}
Step 4
Delete this registry value
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
- Windows-Audio Driver = "%System Root%\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\ALL USERS\APPLICATION DATA\wscntfy.exe"
- Windows-Audio Driver = "%System Root%\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\ALL USERS\APPLICATION DATA\wscntfy.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer\Run
- Windows-Network Component = "%Program Files%\COMMON FILES\lsmass.exe"
- Windows-Network Component = "%Program Files%\COMMON FILES\lsmass.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\DomainProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List\C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data
- wscntfy.exe = ""
- wscntfy.exe = ""
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List\C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data
- wscntfy.exe = ""
- wscntfy.exe = ""
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
- Hidden = "2"
- Hidden = "2"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
- EnableBalloonTips = "0"
- EnableBalloonTips = "0"
Step 5
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as BKDR_PONTOEB.CDF. 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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