BKDR_DARKOMET.CC

 Modified by: Rika Joi Gregorio

 ALIASES:

Trojan horse MSIL3.BNNC (AVG)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This backdoor 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:

1,482,752 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

29 Oct 2014

Arrival Details

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

  • %User Temp%\Minecraft.exe
  • %User Profile%\My Documents\MSDCSC\msdcsc.exe

(Note: %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.. %User Profile% is a user's profile folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %User Profile%\My Documents\MSDCSC

(Note: %User Profile% is a user's profile folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

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
MicroUpdate = "%User Profile%\My Documents\MSDCSC\msdcsc.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
MyImgur = "%User Temp%\Minecraft.exe"

It modifies the following registry entries to ensure it automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
UserInit = Userinit = "%System%\userinit.exe,%User Profile%\My Documents\MSDCSC\msdcsc.exe"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is %Windows%\system32\userinit.exe,.)

Other System Modifications

This backdoor adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\DC3_FEXEC

Other Details

This backdoor connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.83.48

NOTES:
This backdoor modifies its file attributes to Hidden after execution.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.700

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

11.244.04

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

30 Oct 2014

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

11.245.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

31 Oct 2014

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

Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.

Step 3

Identify and delete files detected as BKDR_DARKOMET.CC using either the Startup Disk or Recovery Console

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

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.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • DC3_FEXEC

Step 5

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
    • MyImgur = "%User Temp%\Minecraft.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • MicroUpdate = "%User Profile%\My Documents\MSDCSC\msdcsc.exe"

Step 6

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: Userinit = "%System%\userinit.exe,%User Profile%\My Documents\MSDCSC\msdcsc.exe"
      To: Userinit = %System%\userinit.exe,

Step 7

Search and delete this folder

[ 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.
  • %User Profile%\My Documents\MSDCSC

Step 8

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as BKDR_DARKOMET.CC. 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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