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PTIGER

July 22, 2014
 ALIASES:

Ptiger, Pincav, PTig

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)

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

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW


PTIGER variants are backdoors that can perform various commands from remote malicious users. Some of the commands include collecting system information, logging keystrokes, and capturing screenshots. The stolen information could then be used for malicious schemes.

This malware connects to a command-and-control (C&C) server to send and receive information to a malicious user.

This backdoor executes commands from a remote malicious user, effectively compromising the affected system.

It deletes the initially executed copy of itself.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

Memory Resident:

Yes

Payload:

Connects to URLs/IPs, Downloads files

Installation

This backdoor drops the following files:

  • %System%\shell64.dll
  • %User Temp%\WinWMI.dll
  • %System%\WinWMI.dll
  • %System%\packet64.dll
  • %System%\qmgrxp.dll
  • {malware path}\{malware file name}.dat

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.. %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista and 7.)

It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %System%\smss32.exe
  • %System%\qmgrxp.exe

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

Its DLL component is injected to the following process(es):

  • explorer.exe

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

  • PittyTiger

Other System Modifications

This backdoor modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Userinit = "%System%\userinit.exe,%System%\smss32.exe,"

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

Backdoor Routine

This backdoor executes the following commands from a remote malicious user:

  • Capture screen
  • Connect to new C&C server
  • Download file from C&C server
  • Perform remote shell
  • Update C&C server and port used
  • Upload file to C&C server

Other Details

This backdoor connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.221.126:443/FC001/{computer name}-{random string}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.221.126:80/FC001/{computer name}-{random string}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.221.126:8080/FC001/{computer name}-{random string}
  • http://{BLOCKED}u.{BLOCKED}m.com.tw:443/FC001/{computer name}-{random string}
  • http://{BLOCKED}u.{BLOCKED}m.com.tw:80/FC001/{computer name}-{random string}
  • http://{BLOCKED}u.{BLOCKED}m.com.tw:8080/FC001/{computer name}-{random string}
  • http://{BLOCKED}g.{BLOCKED}m.com.tw:443/FC001/{computer name}-{random string}
  • http://{BLOCKED}g.{BLOCKED}m.com.tw:80/FC001/{computer name}-{random string}
  • http://{BLOCKED}g.{BLOCKED}m.com.tw:8080/FC001/{computer name}-{random string}
  • http://{BLOCKED}b.{BLOCKED}stnet.com.tw:443/FC001/{computer name}-{random string}
  • http://{BLOCKED}r.{BLOCKED}com.tw/FC001/{computer name}-{random string}
  • http://{BLOCKED}o.{BLOCKED}m.com.tw:443/FC001/{computer name}-{random string}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.209.18:443/FC001/{computer name}-{random string}

It deletes the initially executed copy of itself