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PE_SALITY.EK

June 30, 2017
 Modified by: Sabrina Lei Sioting
 ALIASES:

W32/Sality-AM (Sophos), W32/Sality.AA (Fortinet), W32/Sality.AJ (FProt), Virus:Win32/Sality.AM (Microsoft), W32/Sality.gen.z (McAfee), Win32/Sality.NAO (Eset), Win32.Sality.ek (Sunbelt),

 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:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: File infector

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Infects files


This File infector disables Task Manager, Registry Editor, and Folder Options.

It does not have any backdoor routine.

It modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

It does not have any information-stealing capability.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

Varies

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

23 Apr 2014

Payload:

Downloads files, Terminates processes

Installation

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

  • Op1mutx9
  • |{malware name}.exeM_{random number}_

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Shell = "Explorer.exe {malware}.exe"

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

Other System Modifications

This File infector adds the following line(s)/entry(ies) in the SYSTEM.INI file:

  • [MCIDRV_VER]
  • DEVICEMB={random numbers}

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
GlobalUserOffline = "0"

It adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{user_name}914

It creates the following registry entry(ies) to disable Task Manager, Registry Tools and Folder Options:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
DisableTaskMgr = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
DisableRegistryTools = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer
NofolderOptions = "1"

It creates the following registry entry(ies) to bypass Windows Firewall:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\
List
{malware path}\{malware name}.exe = "{malware path}\{malware name}.exe:*:Enabled:ipsec"

It deletes the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\System\CurrentControlSet\
Control\SafeBoot

File Infection

This File infector infects the following file types:

  • EXE
  • SCR

This is the Trend Micro detection for files infected by:

  • PE_SALITY.EK-O

Backdoor Routine

This File infector does not have any backdoor routine.

Process Termination

This File infector terminates the following services if found on the affected system:

  • aswUpdSv
  • avast! Antivirus
  • avast! Mail Scanner
  • avast! Web Scanner
  • BackWeb Plug-in - 4476822
  • BGLiveSvc
  • BlackICE
  • CAISafe
  • ccEvtMgr
  • ccProxy
  • ccSetMgr
  • F-Prot Antivirus Update Monitor
  • fsbwsys
  • FSDFWD
  • F-Secure Gatekeeper Handler Starter
  • fshttps
  • InoRPC
  • InoRT
  • InoTask
  • ISSVC
  • LavasoftFirewall
  • LIVESRV
  • McAfeeFramework
  • McShield
  • McTaskManager
  • navapsvc
  • NOD32krn
  • NPFMntor
  • NSCService
  • Outpost Firewall main module
  • OutpostFirewall
  • PAVFIRES
  • PAVFNSVR
  • PavProt
  • PavPrSrv
  • PAVSRV
  • PcCtlCom
  • PersonalFirewal
  • PREVSRV
  • ProtoPort Firewall service
  • PSIMSVC
  • RapApp
  • SmcService
  • SNDSrvc
  • SPBBCSvc
  • Symantec Core LC
  • Tmntsrv
  • TmPfw
  • tmproxy
  • UmxAgent
  • UmxCfg
  • UmxLU
  • UmxPol
  • vsmon
  • VSSERV
  • WebrootDesktopFirewallDataService
  • WebrootFirewall
  • XCOMM

It terminates processes or services that contain any of the following strings if found running in the affected system's memory:

  • ALERTSVC
  • ALMON.
  • ALOGSERV
  • ALSVC.
  • AMON.
  • ANTI-TROJAN.
  • ANTIVIR
  • ANTS.
  • APVXDWIN.
  • ARMOR2NET.
  • ASHAVAST.
  • ASHDISP.
  • ASHENHCD.
  • ASHMAISV.
  • ASHPOPWZ.
  • ASHSERV.
  • ASHSIMPL.
  • ASHSKPCK.
  • ASHWEBSV.
  • ASWUPDSV.
  • ATCON.
  • ATUPDATER.
  • ATWATCH.
  • AUPDATE.
  • AUTODOWN.
  • AUTOTRACE.
  • AUTOUPDATE.
  • AVCIMAN.
  • AVCONSOL.
  • AVENGINE.
  • AVGAMSVR.
  • AVGCC.
  • AVGCC32.
  • AVGCTRL.
  • AVGEMC.
  • AVGFWSRV.
  • AVGNT.
  • AVGNTDD
  • AVGNTMGR
  • AVGSERV.
  • AVGUARD.
  • AVGUPSVC.
  • AVINITNT.
  • AVKSERV.
  • AVKSERVICE.
  • AVKWCTL.
  • AVP32.
  • AVPCC.
  • AVPM.
  • AVAST
  • AVSCHED32.
  • AVSYNMGR.
  • AVWUPD32.
  • AVWUPSRV.
  • AVXMONITOR9X.
  • AVXMONITORNT.
  • AVXQUAR.
  • BACKWEB-4476822.
  • BDMCON.
  • _AVPM.
  • A2GUARD.
  • AAVSHIELD.
  • AVAST
  • ADVCHK.
  • AHNSD.
  • AIRDEFENSE
  • CMGRDIAN.
  • CUREIT
  • DEFWATCH.
  • DOORS.
  • DRVIRUS.
  • DRWADINS.
  • DRWEB32W.
  • DRWEBSCD.
  • DRWEBUPW.
  • ESCANH95.
  • ESCANHNT.
  • EWIDOCTRL.
  • EZANTIVIRUSREGISTRATIONCHECK.
  • F-AGNT95.
  • FAMEH32.
  • FAST.
  • FCH32.
  • FILEMON
  • FIRESVC.
  • FIRETRAY.
  • FIREWALL.
  • FPAVUPDM.
  • F-PROT95.
  • FRESHCLAM.
  • FSAV32.
  • FSAVGUI.
  • FSBWSYS.
  • F-SCHED.
  • FSDFWD.
  • FSGK32.
  • FSGK32ST.
  • FSGUIEXE.
  • FSM32.
  • FSMA32.
  • FSMB32.
  • FSPEX.
  • FSSM32.
  • F-STOPW.
  • GCASDTSERV.
  • GCASSERV.
  • GIANTANTISPYWAREMAIN.
  • GIANTANTISPYWAREUPDATER.
  • GUARDGUI.
  • GUARDNT.
  • HREGMON.
  • HRRES.
  • HSOCKPE.
  • HUPDATE.
  • IAMAPP.
  • IAMSERV.
  • ICLOAD95.
  • ICLOADNT.
  • ICMON.
  • ICSSUPPNT.
  • ICSUPP95.
  • ICSUPPNT.
  • IFACE.
  • INETUPD.
  • INOCIT.
  • INORPC.
  • INORT.
  • INOTASK.
  • INOUPTNG.
  • IOMON98.
  • ISAFE.
  • ISATRAY.
  • ISRV95.
  • ISSVC.
  • KAVMM.
  • KAVPF.
  • KAVPFW.
  • KAVSTART.
  • KAVSVC.
  • KAVSVCUI.
  • KMAILMON.
  • KPFWSVC.
  • KWATCH.
  • LOCKDOWN2000.
  • LOGWATNT.
  • LUALL.
  • LUCOMSERVER.
  • LUUPDATE.
  • MCAGENT.
  • MCMNHDLR.
  • MCREGWIZ.
  • MCUPDATE.
  • MCVSSHLD.
  • MINILOG.
  • MYAGTSVC.
  • MYAGTTRY.
  • NAVAPSVC.
  • NAVAPW32.
  • NAVLU32.
  • NAVW32.
  • NOD32.
  • NEOWATCHLOG.
  • NEOWATCHTRAY.
  • NISSERV
  • NISUM.
  • NMAIN.
  • NOD32
  • NORMIST.
  • NOTSTART.
  • NPAVTRAY.
  • NPFMNTOR.
  • NPFMSG.
  • NPROTECT.
  • NSCHED32.
  • NSMDTR.
  • NSSSERV.
  • NSSTRAY.
  • NTRTSCAN.
  • NTXCONFIG.
  • NUPGRADE.
  • NVC95.
  • NVCOD.
  • NVCTE.
  • NVCUT.
  • NWSERVICE.
  • OFCPFWSVC.
  • OUTPOST.
  • PAVFIRES.
  • PAVFNSVR.
  • PAVKRE.
  • PAVPROT.
  • PAVPROXY.
  • PAVPRSRV.
  • PAVSRV51.
  • PAVSS.
  • PCCGUIDE.
  • PCCIOMON.
  • PCCNTMON.
  • PCCPFW.
  • PCCTLCOM.
  • PCTAV.
  • PERSFW.
  • PERTSK.
  • PERVAC.
  • PNMSRV.
  • POP3TRAP.
  • POPROXY.
  • PREVSRV.
  • PSIMSVC.
  • QHM32.
  • QHONLINE.
  • QHONSVC.
  • QHPF.
  • QHWSCSVC.
  • RAVMON.
  • RAVTIMER.
  • REALMON.
  • REALMON95.
  • RFWMAIN.
  • RTVSCAN.
  • RTVSCN95.
  • RULAUNCH.
  • SAVADMINSERVICE.
  • SAVMAIN.
  • SAVPROGRESS.
  • SAVSCAN.
  • SCAN32.
  • SCANNINGPROCESS.
  • CUREIT.
  • SDHELP.
  • SHSTAT.
  • SITECLI.
  • SPBBCSVC.
  • SPHINX.
  • SPIDERML.
  • SPIDERNT.
  • SPIDERUI.
  • SPYBOTSD.
  • SPYXX.
  • SS3EDIT.
  • STOPSIGNAV.
  • SWAGENT.
  • SWDOCTOR.
  • SWNETSUP.
  • SYMLCSVC.
  • SYMPROXYSVC.
  • SYMSPORT.
  • SYMWSC.
  • SYNMGR.
  • TAUMON.
  • TBMON.
  • AVAST
  • TDS-3.
  • TEATIMER.
  • TFAK.
  • THAV.
  • THSM.
  • TMAS.
  • TMLISTEN.
  • TMNTSRV.
  • TMPFW.
  • TMPROXY.
  • TNBUTIL.
  • TRJSCAN.
  • UP2DATE.
  • VBA32ECM.
  • VBA32IFS.
  • VBA32LDR.
  • VBA32PP3.
  • VBSNTW.
  • VCHK.
  • VCRMON.
  • VETTRAY.
  • VIRUSKEEPER.
  • VPTRAY.
  • VRFWSVC.
  • VRMONNT.
  • VRMONSVC.
  • VRRW32.
  • VSECOMR.
  • VSHWIN32.
  • VSMON.
  • VSSERV.
  • VSSTAT.
  • WATCHDOG.
  • WEBPROXY.
  • WEBSCANX.
  • WEBTRAP.
  • WGFE95.
  • WINAW32.
  • WINROUTE.
  • WINSS.
  • WINSSNOTIFY.
  • WRADMIN.
  • WRCTRL.
  • XCOMMSVR.
  • ZATUTOR.
  • ZAUINST.
  • ZLCLIENT.
  • ZONEALARM.
  • BDNEWS.
  • BDOESRV.
  • BDSS.
  • BDSUBMIT.
  • BDSWITCH.
  • BLACKD.
  • BLACKICE.
  • CAFIX.
  • CCAPP.
  • CCEVTMGR.
  • CCPROXY.
  • CCSETMGR.
  • CFIAUDIT.
  • CLAMTRAY.
  • CLAMWIN.
  • CLAW95.
  • CLAW95CF.
  • CLEANER.
  • CLEANER3.
  • CLISVC.

Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification

This File infector modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

Download Routine

This File infector accesses the following websites to download files:

  • http://{BLOCKED}re.net.cn/logos.gif?{random}={random}
  • http://{BLOCKED}7638dfqwieuoi.info/?{random}={random}
  • http://{BLOCKED}ustnet777.info/?{random}={random}
  • http://{BLOCKED}ustnet777.info/home.gif?{random}={random}
  • http://{BLOCKED}ustnet888.info/home.gif?{random}={random}
  • http://{BLOCKED}ustnet987.info/home.gif?{random}={random}
  • http://{BLOCKED}ru/logos.gif?{random}={random}
  • http://{BLOCKED}nia.my1.ru/mainh.gif?{random}={random}
  • http://{BLOCKED}w8w.pl/mainh.gif?{random}={random}
  • http://{BLOCKED}oy.h17.ru/mainf.gif?{random}={random}
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}fqwieluoi.info/?{random}={random}
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}org/mainf.gif?{random}={random}

Information Theft

This File infector does not have any information-stealing capability.

NOTES:

This file infector drops a rootkit component as %System%\drivers\{random name}.sys and registers it as a service by creating the following registry entry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\{random name}
ImagePath = "%System%\drivers\{Random Name}.sys"

It then deletes this dropped component.

It does not have rootkit capabilities.

It does not exploit any vulnerability.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.700

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

Remove the malware/grayware file that dropped/downloaded PE_SALITY.EK. (Note: Please skip this step if the threat(s) listed below have already been removed.)

  • PE_SALITY.EK-O

Step 3

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as PE_SALITY.EK

Step 4

Restore modified and/or deleted registry value/s using this VBScript

To restore the modified and/or deleted registry value/s:

  1. Open Notepad.
    » For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 users, click Start>Run. In the Open input box, type notepad then press Enter.
    » For Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 users, click Start, type notepad in the Search input field then press Enter.
    » For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, click Run, type notepad, then press Enter.
  2. Copy and paste the following script:
  3. Save this file as C:\RESTORE.VBS.
  4. Run C:\RESTORE.VBS.
    » For Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003 users, click Start>Run. In the Open input box, type C:\RESTORE.VBS then press Enter.
    » For Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 users, click Start, type C:\RESTORE.VBS in the Search input field then press Enter.
    » For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, click Run, type C:\RESTORE.VBS, then press Enter.

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: Shell = "Explorer.exe {malware}.exe"
      To: Shell = Explorer.exe

Step 6

Restoring Deleted Registry Keys

  1. Still in Registry Editor, in the left panel, double-click the following:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SYSTEM>CurrentControlSet>
    Control>SafeBoot>Minimal
  2. Right-click on the key and choose New>Key. Change the value of the new key to:
    {4D36E967-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
  3. Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
    DiskDrive
  4. In the left panel, double-click the following:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SYSTEM>CurrentControlSet>
    Control>SafeBoot>Network
  5. Right-click on the key and choose New>Key. Change the value of the new key to:
    {4D36E967-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
  6. Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
    DiskDrive
  7. Close Registry Editor.

Step 7

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. 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_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • {user_name}914

Step 8

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\Internet Settings
    • GlobalUserOffline = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List
    • {malware path}\{malware name}.exe = "{malware path}\{malware name}.exe:*:Enabled:ipsec"

Step 9

Remove the following string/s that this malware/grayware added to these system configuration files

[ Learn More ]
[MCIDRV_VER]
DEVICEMB={random numbers}

Step 10

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as PE_SALITY.EK. 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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