TROJ_FAKEAV.MIR

 Analysis by: Anthony Joe Melgarejo

 ALIASES:

PUA.Win32.Packer.Armadillo-59 (ClamAV)

 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: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Dropped by other malware


This Trojan may be dropped by other malware.

It poses as an antispyware application that uses pop-up messages displayed on the System Tray to make users think that their systems are infected. This tricks users to purchase the complete version of the said application. When users agree to buy the software, it connects to a certain URL. It displays a window where users can purchase this fake antivirus program.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

458,752 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

19 Mar 2013

Payload:

Connects to URLs/IPs

Arrival Details

This Trojan may be dropped by the following malware:

  • TSPY_FAREIT.MIR

Installation

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

  • {All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random name}\{random name}.exe

It drops the following files:

  • {All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random name}\{random name}.ico
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\AVASoft Professional Antivirus\AVASoft Professional Antivirus.lnk
  • %Desktop%\AVASoft Professional Antivirus.lnk
  • {All Users' Profile}\Application Data\{random name}\{random name}

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

It creates the following folders:

  • %Start Menu%\Programs\AVASoft Professional Antivirus
  • {All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random name}

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

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\RunOnce
{random name} = "{All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random name}\{random name}.exe"

Rogue Antivirus Routine

This Trojan poses as an antispyware application that uses pop-up messages on the System Tray to make users think that their systems are infected. This tricks users to purchase the complete version of the said application.

When users agree to buy the software, it connects to the following URL to continue the purchase:

  • http://{BLOCKED}ersec.com/p
  • http://{BLOCKED}me.com/p
  • http://{BLOCKED}payme.com/p
  • http://{BLOCKED}e-bill.com/p
  • http://{BLOCKED}rketpay.com/p
  • http://{BLOCKED}ysafe.com/p
  • http://{BLOCKED}va-soft.org/p

The following window is displayed for users to purchase the fake antivirus program:

It displays the following window and pretends to scan the system:

NOTES:

It connects to the following URL to notify the malicious user that the FAKEAV is installed:

  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.29.181/api/stats/install/?ts=94ad74262c96e18686cb9435b9d812703ec86dd4&token=fya14oiYU
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.29.181/api/stats/install/ts=94ad74262c96e18686cb9435b9d812703ec86dd4&token=fya14oiYU&affid=46700&ver=3070030&;group=ava

It connects to the following URL to notify the malicious user where the malware sent the credit card information entered by the victim:

  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.29.181/api/urls/?ts=94ad74262c96e18686cb9435b9d812703ec86dd4
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.29.181/api/urls/?ts=94ad74262c96e18686cb9435b9d812703ec86dd4&affid=46700

This Trojan terminates processes except the following:

  • alg.exe
  • csrss.exe
  • ctfmon.exe
  • iexplore.exe
  • lsass.exe
  • services.exe
  • smss.exe
  • svchost.exe
  • winlogon.exe

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

9.798.02

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

19 Mar 2013

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

9.799.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

20 Mar 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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

Remove the malware/grayware file that dropped/downloaded TROJ_FAKEAV.MIR

     TSPY_FAREIT.MIR

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\RunOnce
    • {random name} = "{All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random name}\{random name}.exe"

Step 5

Search and delete these folders

[ Learn More ]
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.
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\AVASoft Professional Antivirus
  • {All Users' Profile}\Application Data\{random name}

Step 6

Search and delete this file

[ Learn More ]
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.
  • %Desktop%\AVASoft Professional Antivirus.lnk

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TROJ_FAKEAV.MIR. 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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