PE_VIRUT.SL

July 25, 2013
 ALIASES:

Trojan:Win32/Agent.AAP (Microsoft); W32/Virut.j (McAfee); W32.IRCBot (Symantec); Backdoor.Win32.mIRC-based.o, Virus.Win32.Virut.bf (Kaspersky); Virus.Win32.Virut.a (v) (Sunbelt); Backdoor.Agent.AAPO (FSecure)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows, XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: File infector

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This file infector 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:

712,704 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

28 Nov 2011

Arrival Details

This file infector 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 file infector creates the following folders:

  • %Program Files%\mIRC
  • %Program Files%\mIRC\IRC Bot
  • %Program Files%\Microsoft Office

(Note: %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).)

Autostart Technique

This file infector registers as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\WinDefend

Other System Modifications

This file infector adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
Acha.exe

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
registry.exe

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
AmyMastura.exe

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
csrsz.exe

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
wscript.exe

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Shell = "Explorer.exe, %Program Files%\Microsoft Office\WINWORD.EXE"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
Acha.exe
Debugger = "cmd.exe /c del"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
registry.exe
Debugger = "cmd.exe /c del"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
AmyMastura.exe
Debugger = "cmd.exe /c del"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
csrsz.exe
Debugger = "cmd.exe /c del"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
wscript.exe
Debugger = "rundll32.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\wuauserv
Start = 4

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\wuauserv
Type = 4

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\wscsvc
Start = 4

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\wscsvc
Type = 4

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\WinDefend
Start = 4

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\WinDefend
Type = 4

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\SharedAccess
Start = 4

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 2.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\SharedAccess
Type = 4

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 20.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
AntiVirusDisableNotify = 1

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
AntiVirusOverride = 1

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
FirewallDisableNotify = 1

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
FirewallOverride = 1

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
FirstRunDisabled = 1

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
UpdatesDisableNotify = 1

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

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

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
    • WinDefend
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
    • Acha.exe
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
    • registry.exe
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
    • AmyMastura.exe
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
    • csrsz.exe
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
    • wscript.exe

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 NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
    • Shell="Explorer.exe, %Program Files%\Microsoft Office\WINWORD.EXE"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\Acha.exe
    • Debugger="cmd.exe /c del"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\registry.exe
    • Debugger="cmd.exe /c del"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\AmyMastura.exe
    • Debugger="cmd.exe /c del"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\csrsz.exe
    • Debugger="cmd.exe /c del"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\wscript.exe
    • Debugger="rundll32.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\wuauserv
    • Start=4
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\wuauserv
    • Type=4
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\wscsvc
    • Start=4
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\wscsvc
    • Type=4
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\WinDefend
    • Start=4
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\WinDefend
    • Type=4

Step 5

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\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess
    • From: Start=4
      To: Start=2
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess
    • From: Type=4
      To: Type=20
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
    • From: AntiVirusDisableNotify=1
      To: AntiVirusDisableNotify=0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
    • From: AntiVirusOverride=1
      To: AntiVirusOverride=0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
    • From: FirewallDisableNotify=1
      To: FirewallDisableNotify=0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
    • From: FirewallOverride=1
      To: FirewallOverride=0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
    • From: FirstRunDisabled=1
      To: FirstRunDisabled=1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
    • From: UpdatesDisableNotify=1
      To: UpdatesDisableNotify=0

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.
  • %Program Files%\mIRC
  • %Program Files%\mIRC\IRC Bot
  • %Program Files%\Microsoft Office

Step 7

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