TSPY_KOVTER.SMA
Trojan:Win32/Kovter.E(Microsoft), a variant of Win32/Injector.BSVC trojan(Eset)
Windows
Threat Type: Spyware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: Yes
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware
This spyware arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
It modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.
It connects to certain websites to send and receive information. It deletes itself after execution.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
428,461 bytes
EXE
Yes
15 Jan 2015
Connects to URLs/IPs
Arrival Details
This spyware 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 spyware drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{GUID}\{GUID}.exe
(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\ProgramData 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 adds the following processes:
- svchost.exe
It creates the following folders:
- %All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{GUID}
(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\ProgramData 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 injects codes into the following process(es):
- created svchost.exe
- explorer.exe
Autostart Technique
This spyware adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer\Run
{GUID} = "%All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{GUID}\{GUID}.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{GUID} = "%All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{GUID}\{GUID}.exe"
Other System Modifications
This spyware adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{random}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\
FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\
FEATURE_AJAX_CONNECTIONEVENTS
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{random}
1 = "%All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{GUID}\{GUID}.exe"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{random}
2 = "{digit}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{random}
3 = "{value}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{random}
4 = "{value}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\
FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION
svchost.exe = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\
FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION
explorer.exe = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\
FEATURE_AJAX_CONNECTIONEVENTS
svchost.exe = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Ratings
(Default) = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Ratings
(Default) = "1"
Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification
This spyware modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.
Information Theft
This spyware gathers the following data:
- Operating system
- Product key
- Installed antivirus, firewall, and anti-spyware product
- GUID
Other Details
This spyware connects to the following website to send and receive information:
- http://{BLOCKED}nks.ru/form2.php
- http://{BLOCKED}rket.net/w1/form.php
- http://{BLOCKED}ter1.su/w1/form.php
- http://{BLOCKED}lc.biz/w1/form.php
It deletes itself after execution.
NOTES:
This malware is capable of performing click fraud by visiting sites without the user's consent. It is also capable of terminating certain antivirus software. It creates the following registry entries to force the antivirus installation to run under restricted user privileges:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\
Windows\Safer\CodeIdentifiers\0\Paths\{generated GUID for the antivirus software}
ItemData = "{antivirus software path}"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\
Windows\Safer\CodeIdentifiers\0\Paths\{generated GUID for the antivirus software}
SaferFlags = "0"
It does not perform its intended routine if any of the following is present:
- Joebox
- Qemu
- Sandboxie
- Sunbelt
- VirtualBox
- VirtualPC
- VMWare
- Wine
- Wireshark
SOLUTION
9.700
11.448.05
30 Jan 2015
11.449.00
31 Jan 2015
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
Restart in Safe Mode
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
- {random}
- {random}
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
- FeatureControl
- FeatureControl
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.
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Safer\CodeIdentifiers\0\Paths\{generated GUID for the AV software}
- ItemData = "{AV software path}"
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Safer\CodeIdentifiers\0\Paths\{generated GUID for the AV software}
- SaferFlags = "0"
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer\Run
- {GUID} = "%All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{GUID}\{GUID}.exe"
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- {GUID} = "%All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{GUID}\{GUID}.exe"
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Ratings
- (Default) = "1"
Step 6
Search and delete these folders
- %All Users Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{GUID}
Step 7
Reset Internet security settings
Step 8
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_KOVTER.SMA. 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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