TROJ_TACMENG.USR

 Analysis by: Alvin Bacani

 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:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • 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 deletes itself after execution.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

61,440 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

24 Jun 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 files:

  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\Burn\{Random Filename 1}.dll
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\LiveUpdata_Mem\{Random Filename 2}.dll
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\LiveUpdata_Mem\{Random Filename 3}.dll

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users or Common profile folder, which is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users in Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, and C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista and 7.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\Burn
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\LiveUpdata_Mem
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\Burn\{Random}

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users or Common profile folder, which is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users in Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, and C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista and 7.)

Autostart Technique

This Trojan creates the following registry entries to enable automatic execution of dropped component at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer\Run
{Random} = "%System%\rundll32.exe %All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\Burn\{Random} ServiceMain"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows Media
XC = {Random Strings}

Other Details

This Trojan deletes itself after execution.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

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

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 Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\Burn
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\LiveUpdata_Mem
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\Burn\{Random}

Step 3

Search and delete this file

[ Learn More ]
There may be some 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.
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\Burn\{Random Filename 1}.dll
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\LiveUpdata_Mem\{Random Filename 2}.dll
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\LiveUpdata_Mem\{Random Filename 3}.dll

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\Policies\Explorer\run
    • {Random} = "%System%\rundll32.exe %All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\Burn\{Random} ServiceMain"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Media
    • XC = {Random Strings}

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_TACMENG.USR. 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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