BKDR_CYCBOT.SME

This backdoor monitors Internet browser's activity and checks for certain strings of popular websites such as search engines and social networking sites to steal information. It acts as a proxy server to intercept requests of certain Internet browsers and points them to the proxy server on port 50370.

It also connects to certain URLs. It downloads an updated copy of itself or other malicious files from the said servers by sending a HTTP GET request. It does this by appending certain strings. It then sends requests to certain websites where non-malicious images can be downloaded to possibly prevent easy analysis.

This backdoor may be dropped by other malware. It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.

It executes the downloaded files. As a result, malicious routines of the downloaded files are exhibited on the affected system.

Arrival Details

This backdoor may be dropped by other malware.

It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.

Installation

This backdoor drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

• %User Temp%\dwm.exe

(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, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista and 7.)

Autostart Technique

This backdoor adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Shell = explorer.exe, %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\shell.exe

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
svchost = %Application Data%\Microsoft\svchost.exe

It modifies the following registry entry(ies) to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
load = %User Temp%\dwm.exe

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {blank}.)

Other System Modifications

This backdoor adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
ProxyServer = http=127.0.0.1:50370

It modifies the following registry key(s)/entry(ies) as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Hardware Profiles\0001\Software\
Microsoft\windows\CurrentVersion\
Internet Settings
ProxyEnable = 1

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Hardware Profiles\Current\Software\
Microsoft\windows\CurrentVersion\
Internet Settings
ProxyEnable = 1

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

Dropping Routine

This backdoor drops the following files wherein it saves the information it gathers:

• %Application Data%\Microsoft\stor.cfg

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.)

Download Routine

This backdoor saves the files it downloads using the following names:

• %Application Data%\Microsoft\svchost.exe
• %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\shell.exe

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.)

It then executes the downloaded files. As a result, malicious routines of the downloaded files are exhibited on the affected system.

Stolen Information

This backdoor sends the gathered information via HTTP POST to the following URL:

• http://{BLOCKED}tyourpc-11.com/cgi-bin/cycle_report.cgi

Other Details

This backdoor does the following:

• Monitors Internet browser's activity and checks for the following strings of popular websites such as search engines and social networking sites to steal information:
  • wikipedia
  • youtube
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • amazon
  • blogger
  • flickr
  • google.
  • bing.com
  • yahoo.com
  • search.aol.
  • suche.aol.
  • searcht2.aol.
  • .yimg.com
  • .bing.net
  • yahoo.
  • aolcdn.
  • scorecardresearch.com
  • brightcove.com
  • .aol.
  • aolsvc.
  • .atwola.
  • .ivwbox.
  • .google
  • .atdmt.
  • .abmr.
  • /complete/search
  • bing.com/search
  • search.yahoo.com/search
  • aol/search
  • &query=
  • ?query=
• Acts as a proxy server to intercept requests of the following Internet browsers and points them to the proxy server on port 50370:
  • Internet Explorer
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Opera
• Connects to the following URLs:
  • http://{BLOCKED}m.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}k.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}rboardstest.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}audiodevice.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}emywebconnection.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}archive.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}cdriversonline.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}wwcounter.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}memonitoring.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}ysstore.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}ffectivecasino.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}levideochanel.com
• Downloads an updated copy of itself or other malicious files from the said servers by sending a HTTP GET request. It does this by appending any of the following strings:
  • /im133.jpg?tq={parameter}
  • /im134.jpg?tq={parameter}
  • /im135.jpg?tq={parameter}
• Sends requests to the following websites where non-malicious images can be downloaded to possibly prevent easy analysis:
  • http://{BLOCKED}inedatingtips.net/images/dating1.jpg?tq={parameter}
  • http://{BLOCKED}dating.com/images/attend_for_free/attend33.jpg?tq={parameter}
  • http://{BLOCKED}dating.com/images/attend_for_free/attend34.jpg?tq={parameter}
  • http://{BLOCKED}dating.com/images/attend_for_free/attend35.jpg?tq={parameter}
  • http://{BLOCKED}dating.com/successStories.cgi?tq={parameter}
  • http://{BLOCKED}cn/2010/10/10/20101010095345843723.jpg?tq={parameter}
  • http://{BLOCKED}cn/2010/10/10/20101010095345843724.jpg?tq={parameter}
  • http://{BLOCKED}/jianfei/dier.jpg?tq={parameter}
  • http://{BLOCKED}/jianfei/dier2.jpg?tq={parameter}
  • http://{BLOCKED}o.com/images/logo-1.jpg?tq={parameter}
  • http://{BLOCKED}killerpro.com/img/eslogo.gif?tq={parameter}