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HKTL_PRODKEY

April 05, 2013
 Analysis by: Nikko Tamana
 ALIASES:

W32/ProductKey (Fortinet), PSWTool.Win32.ProductKey.bq (Kaspersky), PSWTool.Win32.ProductKey (Sunbelt)

 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

It is an application that displays the Product ID and CD-Key of the certain software if installed on the affected system.

This hacking tool may be manually installed by a user.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

36,352 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

04 Apr 2013

Arrival Details

This hacking tool may be manually installed by a user.

Other System Modifications

This hacking tool adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\NirSoft\
ProduKey

NOTES:

It is an application that displays the Product ID and CD-Key of the following software if installed on the affected system:

  • Microsoft Windows 98/ME
  • Microsoft Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Windows NT
  • Microsoft Windows XP
  • Microsoft Windows Vista
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003
  • Microsoft Windows 7
  • Microsoft Office 2000
  • Microsoft Office 2003
  • Microsoft Office 2007
  • Microsoft Office 2010
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2000
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2005
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 2000
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 2003
  • Windows Internet Explorer

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

SSAPI PATTERN File:

1.389.00

SSAPI PATTERN Date:

04 Apr 2013

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

Identify and terminate files detected as HKTL_PRODKEY

[ Learn More ]
  1. Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
  2. If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
  3. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\NirSoft
    • ProduKey

Step 4

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as HKTL_PRODKEY 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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