TSPY_AGENT.SMC


 ALIASES:

Worm:Win32/Autorun.WN (Microsoft); Generic MSIL.a (McAfee); Trojan Horse (Symantec); Trojan-Spy.MSIL.Agent.aks (Kaspersky); Worm.Win32.AutoRun (Sunbelt); Trojan.Generic.3125007 (FSecure)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW


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 files, disabling programs and applications from properly running. It disables Task Manager, Registry Editor, and Folder Options.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

334,600 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

29 Nov 2012

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:

  • %Windows%\{malware file name}

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Application Data%\stub
  • %Application Data%\stub\3a67470cd17cac95465094a47_Url_kro2tctxnwaofxsbbc1as3c5q4aa2j4b
  • %Application Data%\stub\3a67470cd17cac95465094a47_Url_kro2tctxnwaofxsbbc1as3c5q4aa2j4b\1.0.0.0

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.)

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\Run
{malware file name} = "%Windows%\{malware file name}"

Other System Modifications

This spyware modifies the following files:

  • %Application Data%\GDIPFONTCACHEV1.DAT

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.)

It adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
GDIPlus
FontCachePath = "%Application Data%"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is %User Profile%\Local Settings\Application Data.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
Hidden = "0"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 2.)

It creates the following registry entry(ies) to disable Task Manager, Registry Tools and Folder Options:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
DisableTaskMgr = "1"

Dropping Routine

This spyware drops the following files:

  • %Application Data%\stub\3a67470cd17cac95465094a47_Url_kro2tctxnwaofxsbbc1as3c5q4aa2j4b\1.0.0.0\xvz8igdr.tmp
  • %Application Data%\stub\3a67470cd17cac95465094a47_Url_kro2tctxnwaofxsbbc1as3c5q4aa2j4b\1.0.0.0\xvz8igdr.newcfg

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.)

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

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

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

Enable Registry Editor, Task Manager, and Folder options

[ Learn More ]
By doing this step, you also enable other applications/programs disabled by this malware/grayware/spyware.

Step 4

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.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
    • System

Step 5

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • {malware file name} = "%Windows%\{malware file name}"

Step 6

Restore these modified registry values

[ Learn More ]

Important:Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this only if you know how to or you can seek your system administrator's help. You may also check out this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\GDIPlus
    • From: FontCachePath = "%Application Data%"
      To: FontCachePath = ""%User Profile%\Local Settings\Application Data""
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    • From: Hidden = "0"
      To: Hidden = ""2""

Step 7

Search and delete these components

[ Learn More ]
There may be some components 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.
  • %Application Data%\stub\3a67470cd17cac95465094a47_Url_kro2tctxnwaofxsbbc1as3c5q4aa2j4b\1.0.0.0\xvz8igdr.tmp
  • %Application Data%\stub\3a67470cd17cac95465094a47_Url_kro2tctxnwaofxsbbc1as3c5q4aa2j4b\1.0.0.0\xvz8igdr.newcfg

Step 8

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.
  • %Application Data%\stub
  • %Application Data%\stub\3a67470cd17cac95465094a47_Url_kro2tctxnwaofxsbbc1as3c5q4aa2j4b
  • %Application Data%\stub\3a67470cd17cac95465094a47_Url_kro2tctxnwaofxsbbc1as3c5q4aa2j4b\1.0.0.0

Step 9

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_AGENT.SMC. 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.

Step 10

Restore deleted/modified files and/or registry entries from backup

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

    • %Application Data%\GDIPFONTCACHEV1.DAT


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