TROJ_ARTIEF.LN

February 29, 2012
 Analysis by: Roland Marco Dela Paz
 ALIASES:

Exploit:Win32/CVE-2010-3333 (Microsoft); Trojan.Mdropper (Symantec)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This malware is involved in socially-engineered attacks that feature a popular celebrity. It is also part of the LURID malware campaign.

To get a one-glance comprehensive view of the behavior of this Trojan, refer to the Threat Diagram shown below.

This Trojan arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users.

It executes the dropped file(s). As a result, malicious routines of the dropped files are exhibited on the affected system.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

Varies

File Type:

RTF

Initial Samples Received Date:

25 Feb 2012

Payload:

Drops files

Arrival Details

This Trojan arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users.

Installation

This Trojan drops the following non-malicious files:

  • %User Temp%\word.exe
  • %User Temp%\document.doc

(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.)

Dropping Routine

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\alg.exe - detected as BKDR_MECIV.LN
  • %User Temp%\kernel32.exe - detected as BKDR_MECIV.LN

(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.)

It takes advantage of the following software vulnerabilities to drop malicious files:

It executes the dropped file(s). As a result, malicious routines of the dropped files are exhibited on the affected system.

NOTES:
Upon execution, it opens its dropped non-malicious DOC files to hide its malicious routines from the user.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

8.808.09

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

01 Mar 2012

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

8.809.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

01 Mar 2012

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

Remove malware files dropped/downloaded by TROJ_ARTIEF.LN

Step 3

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_ARTIEF.LN. 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 4

Download and apply these security patches Refrain from using these products until the appropriate patches have been installed. Trend Micro advises users to download critical patches upon release by vendors.


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