TROJ_CUTWEL.SMIA

October 12, 2012
 ALIASES:

TrojanDownloader:Win32/Cutwail.BD (Microsoft); Generic Dropper!dne (McAfee); Trojan.Gen (Symantec); Trojan-Dropper.Win32.Agent.dnvu (Kaspersky); Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt); ERROR (FSecure)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, XP, 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:

38,056 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

06 Oct 2011

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 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\wcscd

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\cdfss

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\wcscd
Type = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\wcscd
Start = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\wcscd
ImagePath = "system32\drivers\wcscd.sys"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\cdfss
Type = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\cdfss
Start = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\cdfss
ImagePath = "\??\%User Temp%\cdfss"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\cdfss
ProcessId = 7b

It deletes the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Registry\Machine\
System\CurrentControlSet\Services\
cdfss

Dropping Routine

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %System%\drivers\wcscd.sys
  • %User Temp%\cdfss

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.. %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.)

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 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
    • wcscd
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
    • cdfss

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\wcscd
    • Type=1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\wcscd
    • Start=1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\wcscd
    • ImagePath="system32\drivers\wcscd.sys"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\cdfss
    • Type=1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\cdfss
    • Start=1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\cdfss
    • ImagePath="\??\%User Temp%\cdfss"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\cdfss
    • ProcessId=7b

Step 5

Search and delete these files

[ Learn More ]
There may be some component files 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.
  • %System%\drivers\wcscd.sys
  • %User Temp%\cdfss

Step 6

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


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.