TROJ_FAKEAV.SMTD
Rogue:Win32/Fakeinit (Microsoft); Generic Downloader.x!blt (McAfee); Trojan.FakeAV (Symantec); Packed.Win32.Krap.ak (Kaspersky); BehavesLike.Win32.Malware.ssc (mx-v) (Sunbelt)
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
![](/vinfo/imgFiles/legend.jpg)
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.
It disables Task Manager, Registry Editor, and Folder Options.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
24,576 bytes
EXE
Yes
24 May 2013
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 copies of itself into the affected system:
- %System%\winupdate.exe
(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.)
Autostart Technique
This Trojan adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
winupdate.exe = "%System%\winupdate.exe"
Other System Modifications
This Trojan deletes the following files:
- %System%\critical_warning.html
(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.)
It adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
ActiveDesktop
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
ActiveDesktop
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
ActiveDesktop
NoChangingWallpaper = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer
NoSetActiveDesktop = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
ActiveDesktop
NoChangingWallpaper = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer
NoActiveDesktopChanges = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
8636065b-fef0-4255-b14f-54639f7900a4 = "8636065b-fef0-4255-b14f-54639f7900a4"
It creates the following registry entry(ies) to disable Task Manager, Registry Tools and Folder Options:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
DisableTaskMgr = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer
NoSetActiveDesktop = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer
NoActiveDesktopChanges = "1"
Dropping Routine
This Trojan drops the following files:
- %System%\winhelper.dll
- %System%\AVR09.exe
- %System%\winupdate.exe
(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.)
Other Details
This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- http://{BLOCKED}scanxppro.com/loads.php?code=0001137
- http://{BLOCKED}adavr6.com/dfghfghgfj.dll
- http://{BLOCKED}adavr6.com/cgi-bin/download.pl?code=0001137
This report is generated via an automated analysis system.
SOLUTION
9.300
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
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 3
Enable Registry Editor, Task Manager, and Folder options
Step 4
Delete this registry key
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\Policies
- System
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
- ActiveDesktop
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
- Explorer
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
- ActiveDesktop
Step 5
Delete this registry value
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\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- winupdate.exe = "%System%\winupdate.exe"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop
- NoChangingWallpaper = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer
- NoSetActiveDesktop = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\ActiveDesktop
- NoChangingWallpaper = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer
- NoActiveDesktopChanges = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
- 8636065b-fef0-4255-b14f-54639f7900a4 = "8636065b-fef0-4255-b14f-54639f7900a4"
Step 6
Search and delete these components
- %System%\winhelper.dll
- %System%\AVR09.exe
- %System%\winupdate.exe
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TROJ_FAKEAV.SMTD. 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 8
Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.
- %System%\critical_warning.html
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