HKTL_KEYGEN.GAVG

March 13, 2017
 Analysis by: Joselyn Canuela
 ALIASES:

TrojanDownloader:Win32/Quireap.B (Microsoft), Artemis!1C96C2D6F836 (McAfee), Crack.AAC (AVG), Trojan.Gen (Symantec)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Hacking Tool

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Dropped by other malware, Downloaded from the Internet, Manual Installation

This hacking tool arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites. It may be manually installed by a user.

It generates serial numbers to crack into programs that need valid serial numbers for the programs to function fully.

It uses a user interface (UI).

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

434,784 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

25 Jan 2017

Payload:

Displays graphics/image

Arrival Details

This hacking tool arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It may be manually installed by a user.

Installation

This hacking tool adds the following processes:

  • %User Temp%\ns{5 random characters}.tmp\setup.exe

(Note: %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %User Temp%\ns{5 random characters}.tmp

(Note: %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

Dropping Routine

This hacking tool drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\ns{5 random characters}.tmp\setup.exe - detected as HKTL_KEYGEN.GAVG
  • %User Temp%\ns{5 random characters}.tmp\System.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{5 random characters}.tmp\NSISdl.dll

(Note: %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

Cracker Routine

This hacking tool generates serial numbers to crack into programs that need valid serial numbers for the programs to function fully.

Other Details

This hacking tool uses the following user interface:

NOTES:

It is used to generate valid serial keys for the following AVG Software:

  • AVG Internet Security
  • AVG Internet Security 3-pack
  • AVG Internet Security Network Edition
  • AVG Internet Security SBS Edition
  • AVG Anti-Virus plus Firewall
  • AVG Email Server Edition
  • AVG File Server Edition
  • AVG Anti-Virus Network Edition
  • AVG Anti-Virus
  • AVG Anti-Virus Free
  • AVG Anti-Virus SBS Edition

    •   SOLUTION

    Minimum Scan Engine:

    9.850

    SSAPI PATTERN File:

    1.815.40

    SSAPI PATTERN Date:

    27 Feb 2017

    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

    Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.

    Step 3

    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.  
    • %User Temp%\ns{5 random characters}.tmp

    Step 4

    Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as HKTL_KEYGEN.GAVG. 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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