This Trojan arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
It disables Task Manager, Registry Editor, and Folder Options.
Arrival Details
This Trojan 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 Trojan drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %System Root%\ProgramData\ctfmonm.exe
(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)
It creates the following folders:
- %System Root%\ProgramData
(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)
Autostart Technique
This Trojan adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Microsoft Update 2.5 = "%System Root%\ProgramData\ctfmonm.exe"
Other System Modifications
This Trojan creates the following registry entry(ies) to disable Task Manager, Registry Tools and Folder Options:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer
TaskbarNoThumbnail = "1"
Dropping Routine
This Trojan drops the following files:
(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.)
This report is generated via an automated analysis system.
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
Restart in Safe Mode
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To restart in Safe Mode:
• For Windows 2000 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 when you see the Starting Windows bar at the bottom of the screen.
- Choose the Safe Mode option from the Windows Advanced Options menu then press Enter.
• For Windows XP users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after the Power-On Self Test (POST) routine is done. If the Windows Advanced Options menu does not appear, try restarting then pressing F8 several times when the POST screen appears.
- Choose the Safe Mode option from the Windows Advanced Options menu then press Enter.
• For Windows Server 2003 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after Windows starts up. If the Windows Advanced Options menu does not appear, try restarting again and pressing F8 several times afterward.
- On the Windows Advanced Option menu, use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode then press Enter.
• For Windows Vista and Windows 7 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after the Power-On Self Test (POST) routine is done. If the Advanced Boot Options menu does not appear, try restarting and then pressing F8 several times after the POST screen is displayed.
- On the Advanced Boot Options menu, use the arrow keys to select the Safe Mode option, and then press Enter.
Step 3
Enable Registry Editor, Task Manager, and Folder options
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By doing this step, you also enable other applications/programs disabled by this malware/grayware/spyware.
To enable Registry Editor, Task Manager, and Folder options:
- Open Notepad. To do this:
- For Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003 users:
Click Start>Run, type Notepad in the text box provided, then press Enter. - For Windows Vista and 7 users:
Click start. Type Notepad , then press Enter.
- Copy and paste the following script:
- Save this file as C:\RESTORE.VBS.
- Click Start>Run again, type C:\RESTORE.VBS in the text box provided, then press Enter.
- Click Yes at the prompt of the message box to execute the .VBS file.
Step 4
Delete this registry value
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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
- Microsoft Update 2.5 = "%System Root%\ProgramData\ctfmonm.exe"
To delete the registry value this malware/grayware created:
- Open Registry Editor. Click Start>Run, type REGEDIT, then press Enter.
- In the left panel, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Run - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
Microsoft Update 2.5 = "%System Root%\ProgramData\ctfmonm.exe" - Close Registry Editor.
Step 5
Search and delete this file
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There may be some files that are hidden. Please make sure you check the
Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the "More advanced options" option to include all hidden files and folders in the search result.
To manually delete a malware/grayware file from an affected system:
• For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:
- Right-click Start then click Search....
- In the left panel, click All Files.
- In the Named input box, type the following:
- In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer then press Enter.
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
• For Windows Vista and Windows 7 users:
- Click Start>Computer.
- In the Search input box, type the following:
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
*Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7.
Step 6
Search and delete this folder
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Please make sure you check the
Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden folders in the search result.
- %System Root%\ProgramData
To delete the malware/grayware folder:
- Right-click Start then click Search... or Find..., depending on the version of Windows you are running.
- In the Named input box, type:
- %System Root%\ProgramData
- In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer, then press Enter.
- Once located, select the folder then press SHIFT+DELETE to permanently delete the folder.
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TROJ_DROPPER.ZCQ. 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.
