TROJ_FAKEAV.WTC

This Trojan may install itself on the affected system as a rogue antivirus using certain names.

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.

It employs registry shell spawning by adding certain registry entries. This allows this malware to execute even when other applications are opened.

It displays fake alerts that warn users of infection. It also displays fake scanning results of the affected system. It then asks for users to purchase it once scanning is completed. If users decide to purchase the rogue product, users are directed to a certain website asking for sensitive information, such as credit card numbers.

File Size:

225,485 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

08 Apr 2011

Payload:

Displays fake alerts

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.

Installation

This Trojan drops the following non-malicious files:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{random filename}
%Application Data%\{random filename}
%User Profile%\Templates\{random filename}
%User Temp%\{random filename}

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name} on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name} on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, 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.)

It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

%Application Data%\{random filename}.exe

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

Autostart Technique

This Trojan employs registry shell spawning to ensure its execution when certain file types are accessed by adding the following entries:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell\
open\command
(default) = "{malware path and filename}" -a "%1" %*

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\
open\command
(default) = "{malware path and filename}" -a "%1" %*

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
.exe\shell\open\
command
(default) = "{malware path and filename}" -a "%1" %*

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
exefile\shell\open\
command
(default) = "{malware path and filename}" -a "%1" %*

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\DomainProfile
EnableFirewall = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\DomainProfile
DoNotAllowExceptions = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\DomainProfile
DisableNotifications = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
EnableFirewall = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
DoNotAllowExceptions = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
DisableNotifications = 1

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\
StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\
open\command
(default) = "{malware path and filename}" -a "%Program Files%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is %Program Files%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\
StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\
safemode\command
(default) = "{malware path and filename}" -a "%Program Files%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -safe-mode

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "%Program Files%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -safe-mode.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\
StartMenuInternet\IEXPLORE.EXE\shell\
open\command
(default) = "{malware path and filename}" -a "%Program Files%\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "%Program Files%\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe".)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
AntiVirusDisableNotify = 1