TROJ_FAKEAV.FOT

 Analysis by: Kathleen Notario

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows 7

 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.

When users agree to buy the software, it connects to a certain URL.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

385,024 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

01 Feb 2012

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:

  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\7a68be6d
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\dc6c4e37
  • %Application Data%\fab10521
  • %User Profile%\Templates\df78dadd
  • %Windows%\Resources\237b4536

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name} on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name} on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.. %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.. %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows or C:\WINNT.)

It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Application Data%\qkm.exe

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mdaw\shell\
open\command
(default) = ""%Application Data%\qkm.exe" -a "%1" %*"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows
Version = "42cf0c78"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows
Version = "42cf0c78"

It adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mdaw

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe
(default) = "mdaw"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is exefile.)

It deletes the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\wuauserv

Rogue Antivirus Routine

When users agree to buy the software, it connects to the following URL to continue the purchase:

  • {BLOCKED}kymyje.com
  • {BLOCKED}jak.com
  • {BLOCKED}gaden.com
  • {BLOCKED}hejeluw.com
  • {BLOCKED}gylov.com
  • {BLOCKED}nunisiwu.com
  • {BLOCKED}fugeb.com
  • {BLOCKED}lew.com
  • {BLOCKED}vih.com
  • {BLOCKED}satum.com
  • {BLOCKED}bevyjydu.com
  • {BLOCKED}mygyjo.com
  • {BLOCKED}xadytyn.com
  • {BLOCKED}vys.com
  • {BLOCKED}mozoha.com
  • {BLOCKED}cugefel.com
  • {BLOCKED}tef.com
  • {BLOCKED}cuci.com
  • {BLOCKED}cekem.com
  • {BLOCKED}kas.com
  • {BLOCKED}xumo.com
  • {BLOCKED}xoki.com
  • {BLOCKED}vesu.com
  • {BLOCKED}butiqy.com
  • {BLOCKED}wylabep.com
  • {BLOCKED}nycerev.com
  • {BLOCKED}jobu.com

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

8.746.06

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

01 Feb 2012

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

8.747.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

01 Feb 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

Identify and terminate files detected as TROJ_FAKEAV.FOT

[ Learn More ]
  1. If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
  2. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

Step 3

Restore this modified 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.

 
  • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mdaw\shell\open\command

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
    • Version = "42cf0c78"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
    • Version = "42cf0c78"

Step 5

Delete this registry key

[ 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. Before you could do this, you must restart in Safe Mode. For instructions on how to do this, you may refer to this page If the preceding step requires you to restart in safe mode, you may proceed to edit the system registry.

  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
    • mdaw

Step 6

Restore this modified 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_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe
    • From: (default) = "mdaw"
      To: (default) = "exefile"

Step 7

Search and delete these files

[ Learn More ]
There may be some component 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.
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\7a68be6d
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\dc6c4e37
  • %Application Data%\fab10521
  • %User Profile%\Templates\df78dadd
  • %Windows%\Resources\237b4536

Step 8

Restore this deleted registry key/value from backup

*Note: Only Microsoft-related keys/values will be restored. If the malware/grayware also deleted registry keys/values related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on your computer.

  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wuauserv

Step 9

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_FAKEAV.FOT. 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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