HKTL_CRACKN

May 19, 2014
 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:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Hacking Tool

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This hacking tool 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:

1,250,269 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

19 May 2014

Arrival Details

This hacking tool 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 hacking tool creates the following folders:

  • %System Root%\DOCUME~1
  • %System Root%\DOCUME~1\Wilbert
  • %User Profile%\LOCALS~1
  • %User Temp%\nsj3.tmp
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\lists

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.. %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.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).)

Other System Modifications

This hacking tool deletes the following files:

  • %User Temp%\nst1.tmp
  • %User Temp%\nsj3.tmp

(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.)

It adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ncrack

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Ncrack

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Ncrack
DisplayName = "Ncrack 0.2ALPHA"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Ncrack
UninstallString = "%Program Files%\Ncrack\uninstall.exe "

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Ncrack
NoModify = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Ncrack
NoRepair = "1"

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Environment
PATH = "%Program Files%\Ncrack"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is %Program Files%\Microsoft Visual Studio\Common\Tools\WinNT;%Program Files%\Microsoft Visual Studio\Common\MSDev98\Bin;%Program Files%\Microsoft Visual Studio\Common\Tools;%Program Files%\Microsoft Visual Studio\VC98\bin.)

Dropping Routine

This hacking tool drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\nsj3.tmp\final.ini
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\COPYING
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\lists\common.usr
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\lists\default.pwd
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\lists\default.usr
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\lists\jtr.pwd
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\lists\minimal.usr
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\lists\myspace.pwd
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\lists\phpbb.pwd
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\lists\top50000.pwd
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\ncrack-services
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\ncrack.exe
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\libeay32.dll
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\ssleay32.dll
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\Uninstall.exe
  • %User Temp%\nsj3.tmp\InstallOptions.dll

(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.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).)

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  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

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
    • Ncrack
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
    • Ncrack

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\Uninstall\Ncrack
    • DisplayName = "Ncrack 0.2ALPHA"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Ncrack
    • UninstallString = "%Program Files%\Ncrack\uninstall.exe "
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Ncrack
    • NoModify = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Ncrack
    • NoRepair = "1"

Step 4

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_CURRENT_USER\Environment
    • From: PATH = "%Program Files%\Ncrack"
      To: PATH = ""%Program Files%\Microsoft Visual Studio\Common\Tools\WinNT;%Program Files%\Microsoft Visual Studio\Common\MSDev98\Bin;%Program Files%\Microsoft Visual Studio\Common\Tools;%Program Files%\Microsoft Visual Studio\VC98\bin""

Step 5

Search and delete these components

[ Learn More ]
There may be some components 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.
  • %User Temp%\nsj3.tmp\final.ini
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\COPYING
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\lists\common.usr
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\lists\default.pwd
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\lists\default.usr
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\lists\jtr.pwd
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\lists\minimal.usr
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\lists\myspace.pwd
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\lists\phpbb.pwd
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\lists\top50000.pwd
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\ncrack-services
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\ncrack.exe
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\libeay32.dll
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\ssleay32.dll
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\Uninstall.exe
  • %User Temp%\nsj3.tmp\InstallOptions.dll

Step 6

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.
  • %System Root%\DOCUME~1
  • %System Root%\DOCUME~1\Wilbert
  • %User Profile%\LOCALS~1
  • %User Temp%\nsj3.tmp
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack
  • %Program Files%\Ncrack\lists

Step 7

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as HKTL_CRACKN. 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 8

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.

  • %User Temp%\nst1.tmp
  • %User Temp%\nsj3.tmp


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.