BKDR_AGENT.AM

 Analysis by: Kathleen Notario
 Modified by: Michael Cabel

 ALIASES:

Backdoor.Beasty (Symantec); BackDoor-AMQ.dr (McAfee)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Dropped by other malware

This backdoor may be dropped by other malware.

It does not have any propagation routine.

It connects to a website to send and receive information. However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

It does not drop any other file.

It does not have any downloading capability.

It does not have any information-stealing capability.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

57,248 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

19 Mar 2012

Arrival Details

This backdoor may be dropped by the following malware:

  • TROJ_DRPR.AS

Installation

This backdoor drops the following non-malicious file:

  • %System Root%\asf

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %System Root%\dfed

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)

It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:

  • DK#FKAIRD

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{6068A328-3774-1EEB-471C-E9AB2A6941DA}
StubPath = "{malware path and filename}"

Other System Modifications

This backdoor adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{6068A328-3774-1EEB-471C-E9AB2A6941DA}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Put FilePath-Crete Applications

Propagation

This backdoor does not have any propagation routine.

Backdoor Routine

This backdoor connects to the following websites to send and receive information:

  • looktest.{BLOCKED}-free.com

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

Dropping Routine

This backdoor does not drop any other file.

Download Routine

This backdoor does not have any downloading capability.

Information Theft

This backdoor does not have any information-stealing capability.

NOTES:

This backdoor does not have rootkit capabilities.

This backdoor does not exploit any vulnerability.

This backdoor does not communicate through proxy server.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

8.850.05

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

19 Mar 2012

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

8.851.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

20 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 the malware/grayware file that dropped/downloaded BKDR_AGENT.AM

Step 3

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as BKDR_AGENT.AM

Step 4

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 5

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. Before you could do this, you must restart in Safe Mode. For instructions on how to do this, you may refer to this page If the preceding step requires you to restart in safe mode, you may proceed to edit the system registry.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components
    • {6068A328-3774-1EEB-471C-E9AB2A6941DA}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • Put FilePath-Crete Applications

Step 6

Search and delete this folder

[ 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%\dfed

Step 7

Search and delete this file

[ 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 Root%\asf

Step 8

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as BKDR_AGENT.AM. 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 9

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as BKDR_AGENT.AM. 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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