BKDR_DARKMOON.DO
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
Threat Type: Backdoor
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: Yes
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
Spammed via email
This backdoor arrives as attachment to mass-mailed email messages.
It does not have any propagation routine.
It does not have any downloading capability.
It does not have any information-stealing capability.
It deletes the initially executed copy of itself.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
430,080 bytes
EXE
Yes
30 Aug 2012
Compromises system security
Arrival Details
This backdoor arrives as attachment to mass-mailed email messages.
Installation
This backdoor drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %System%\Kexlivemx.exe (if not logged in as an administrator)
- %System%:Kexlivemx.exe (if logged in as an administrator)
(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.)
It injects itself into the following processes running in the affected system's memory:
- explorer.exe
It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:
- b77v77d28
Autostart Technique
This backdoor adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Kexlive Uplivefile = "%System%:Kexlivemx.exe" or "%System%\Kexlivemx.exe"
Propagation
This backdoor does not have any propagation routine.
Download Routine
This backdoor does not have any downloading capability.
Information Theft
This backdoor does not have any information-stealing capability.
Other Details
This backdoor deletes the initially executed copy of itself
NOTES:
This backdoor starts a hidden default browser. It injects codes in the hidden default browser to perform its backdoor routines.
It connects to send.{BLOCKED}00.com or hk.{BLOCKED}00.com at port 443 to receive binary instructions. It then executes the binary instructions.
SOLUTION
9.200
9.360.05
30 Aug 2012
9.361.00
31 Aug 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
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 3
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
- Kexlive Uplivefile = "%System%:Kexlivemx.exe" or "%System%\Kexlivemx.exe"
- Kexlive Uplivefile = "%System%:Kexlivemx.exe" or "%System%\Kexlivemx.exe"
Step 4
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as BKDR_DARKMOON.DO. 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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