TROJ_AGENT_012412.TOMB

October 13, 2012
 ALIASES:

Adware:Win32/GameVance (Microsoft); GameVance.gen.g. (McAfee); Gamevance!gen6 (Symantec); GameVance (Sunbelt); Gen:Variant.Kazy.61136 (FSecure)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

351,744 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

23 Jun 2012

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.

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
plpickleu_0 = "cmd.exe /c rd /s /q %Program Files%\Play Pickle"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
plpickleu2 = "cmd.exe /c reg delete HKCU\Software\pptl /f"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
plpickleu3 = "cmd.exe /c reg delete HKCU\Software\AppDataLow\pptl /f"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
plpickleu_1 = "cmd.exe /c rd /s /q %Program Files%\Play Pickle Games"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
plpickleu_2 = "cmd.exe /c rd /s /q %Program Files%\Play Pickle Tournament"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan deletes the following files:

  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle\icon.ico
  • %Desktop%\PlayPickle.url
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle\ppun.exe
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle\playpickle32.exe
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle\playpicklelib32.dll
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle\ars.cfg
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle Games\icon.ico
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle Games\ppun.exe
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle Games\playpickle32.exe
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle Games\playpicklelib32.dll
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle Games\ars.cfg
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle Tournament\icon.ico
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle Tournament\ppun.exe
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle Tournament\playpickle32.exe
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle Tournament\playpicklelib32.dll
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle Tournament\ars.cfg

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.. %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Desktop on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Desktop on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

It deletes the following folders:

  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle Games
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle Tournament

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.)

It deletes the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Play Pickle

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\{295296CF-D474-4b2d-A3BB-9D75CC81BA06}

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

Step 1

For Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 users, before doing any scans, please make sure you disable System Restore to allow full scanning of your computer.

Step 2

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
    • plpickleu_0 = "cmd.exe /c rd /s /q %Program Files%\Play Pickle"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
    • plpickleu2 = "cmd.exe /c reg delete HKCU\Software\pptl /f"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
    • plpickleu3 = "cmd.exe /c reg delete HKCU\Software\AppDataLow\pptl /f"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
    • plpickleu_1 = "cmd.exe /c rd /s /q %Program Files%\Play Pickle Games"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
    • plpickleu_2 = "cmd.exe /c rd /s /q %Program Files%\Play Pickle Tournament"

Step 4

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TROJ_AGENT_012412.TOMB. 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.

Step 5

Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.

  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle\icon.ico
  • %Desktop%\PlayPickle.url
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle\ppun.exe
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle\playpickle32.exe
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle\playpicklelib32.dll
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle\ars.cfg
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle Games\icon.ico
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle Games\ppun.exe
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle Games\playpickle32.exe
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle Games\playpicklelib32.dll
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle Games\ars.cfg
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle Tournament\icon.ico
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle Tournament\ppun.exe
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle Tournament\playpickle32.exe
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle Tournament\playpicklelib32.dll
  • %Program Files%\Play Pickle Tournament\ars.cfg

Step 6

Restore these deleted registry keys/values from backup

*Note: Only Microsoft-related keys/values will be restored. If the malware/grayware also deleted registry keys/values related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on your computer.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
    • Play Pickle
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software
    • {295296CF-D474-4b2d-A3BB-9D75CC81BA06}


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