Analysis by: Adrianne Chester Camat
 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

Infection Channel: 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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 106,496 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 04 Apr 2013
Payload: Compromises system security

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.

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Google Services = %Program Files%\Google\GoogleUpdate.exe

Other System Modifications

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes\
Apps\Explorer\Navigating\
.Current
@ = ""

Other Details

This backdoor connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}8.com
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}bo.org
  • http://{BLOCKED}d.net
  • http://{BLOCKED}t24h.net
  • http://{BLOCKED}h.net

NOTES:
It monitors mouse behavior to continue its malicious routines. It continually connects to the given URLs to mimic a site visit thus adding to the websites' advertisement view count.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.300
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 9.836.01
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 04 Apr 2013
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 9.837.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 04 Apr 2013

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

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as TROJ_CLICKER.CSU

Step 3

Terminate a malware/grayware process

[ Learn More ]

*Note: If the detected process is not displayed in theWindows Task Manager, continue doing the next steps.

    • GoogleUpdate.exe

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Google Services = %Program Files%\Google\GoogleUpdate.exe

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_CLICKER.CSU. 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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