TROJ_FAKEAV.NIO

 Analysis by: Rhena Inocencio

 ALIASES:

Mal/EncPk-AEJ (Sophos), a variant of Win32/Kryptik.AJCV trojan (ESET)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware


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:

393,216 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

30 Jul 2012

Payload:

Terminates processes, Connects to URLs/IPs, 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 files:

  • %Desktop%\Live Security Platinum.lnk
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Live Security Platinum\Live Security Platinum.lnk
  • {All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}
  • {All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.ico

(Note: %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Desktop on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Desktop on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.. %Start Menu% is the current user's Start Menu folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows NT and C:\Windows\Start Menu or C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

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

  • {All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe

It creates the following folders:

  • {All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Live Security Platinum

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

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
{random file name} = "{All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Installer

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Installer\Products

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Installer\Products\{random key name}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Live Security Platinum

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Installer\Products\{random key name}
(Default) = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Live Security Platinum
DisplayName = "Live Security Platinum"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Live Security Platinum
ShortcutPath = ""{All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe" -u"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Live Security Platinum
UninstallString = ""{All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe" -u"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Live Security Platinum
DisplayIcon = "{All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.ico,0"

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.178.189/api/stats/install/?ts={number}&affid={number}&ver={number}&group=liv

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

9.294.02

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

30 Jul 2012

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

9.295.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

31 Jul 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

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as TROJ_FAKEAV.NIO

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
    • {random file name} = "{All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Installer\Products\{random key name}
    • (Default) = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Live Security Platinum
    • DisplayName = "Live Security Platinum"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Live Security Platinum
    • ShortcutPath = ""{All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe" -u"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Live Security Platinum
    • UninstallString = ""{All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe" -u"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Live Security Platinum
    • DisplayIcon = "{All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.ico,0"

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.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft
    • Installer
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
    • Live Security Platinum

Step 6

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.
  • %Desktop%\Live Security Platinum.lnk
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Live Security Platinum\Live Security Platinum.lnk
  • {All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}
  • {All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.ico

Step 7

Search and delete these folders

[ 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.
  • {All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Live Security Platinum

Step 8

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