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TROJ_FAKEAL.SMAC

June 29, 2013
 ALIASES:

Rogue:Win32/FakeRean (Microsoft); Generic PUP.z!cr. (McAfee); Packed.Vuntid!gen2 (Symantec); Virtool.Win32.Obfuscator.ha!a (v) (Sunbelt); Gen:Variant.Renos.1 (FSecure)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • 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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

151,040 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

22 Aug 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 copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Program Files%\Common Files\System\Ole DB\msdaoraMicrosoft.exe
  • %Program Files%\Internet Explorer\Connection Wizard\WindowsOperating6.00.2900.21802.0408032158.exe
  • %Program Files%\Windows NT\Accessories\WindowsOperating5.1.2600.21802.0408032158.exe
  • %Program Files%\Internet Explorer\Operatingiexplore.exe
  • %Program Files%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Speech\1033\MicrosoftSystem.exe
  • %Program Files%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\web server extensions\40\bin\FP30UTLFrontPage.exe

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).)

Autostart Technique

This Trojan adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
vcredistx86Redistributable = "{malware path and file name}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
VisualMicrosoft = "{malware path and file name}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Datamsdatt2.81.1117.0 = "%Program Files%\common files\system\ole db\msdaoramicrosoft.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
restart_run = "%System Root%\cwsandbox_manager\restart_run\run.bat"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
trialocWindows6.00.2900.2180 = "{random characters}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
wordpadMicrosoft = "{random characters}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
WindowsTMWindowsTM5.1.4111.00 = "{random characters}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
FrontPageFP30UTL = "{random characters}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
WindowsWindows = "%Program Files%\internet explorer\operatingiexplore.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan deletes the following files:

  • {malware path and file name}:zone.identifier
  • %Program Files%\Common Files\System\Ole DB\msdaoraMicrosoft.exe:Zone.Identifier
  • %Program Files%\Internet Explorer\Connection Wizard\WindowsOperating6.00.2900.21802.0408032158.exe:Zone.Identifier
  • %Program Files%\Windows NT\Accessories\WindowsOperating5.1.2600.21802.0408032158.exe:Zone.Identifier
  • %Program Files%\Internet Explorer\Operatingiexplore.exe:Zone.Identifier
  • %Program Files%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Speech\1033\MicrosoftSystem.exe:Zone.Identifier
  • %Program Files%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\web server extensions\40\bin\FP30UTLFrontPage.exe:Zone.Identifier
  • %Program Files%\internet explorer\connection wizard\windowsoperating6.00.2900.21802.0408032158.exe:Zone.Identifier
  • %Program Files%\windows nt\accessories\windowsoperating5.1.2600.21802.0408032158.exe:Zone.Identifier
  • %Program Files%\common files\microsoft shared\speech\1033\microsoftsystem.exe:Zone.Identifier
  • %Program Files%\common files\microsoft shared\web server extensions\40\bin\fp30utlfrontpage.exe:Zone.Identifier

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).)

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
MediaPlayer\Setup\Files
1 = "{random values}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
MediaPlayer\Setup\Files
2 = "{random values}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
MediaPlayer\Setup\Files
3 = "{random values}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
MediaPlayer\Setup\Files
4 = "{random values}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
MediaPlayer\Setup\Files
5 = "{random values}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
MediaPlayer\Setup\Files
6 = "{random values}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
MediaPlayer\Setup\Files
7 = "{random values}"

Dropping Routine

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\a1.tmp
  • %User Temp%\a2.tmp
  • %User Temp%\a3.tmp
  • %User Temp%\a4.tmp
  • %User Temp%\a5.tmp

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

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://windowsupdate.{BLOCKED}oft.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}etyplace.com/getfile.php?{random characters}

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

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
    • vcredistx86Redistributable = "{malware path and file name}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
    • VisualMicrosoft = "{malware path and file name}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Datamsdatt2.81.1117.0 = "%Program Files%\common files\system\ole db\msdaoramicrosoft.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • restart_run = "%System Root%\cwsandbox_manager\restart_run\run.bat"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
    • trialocWindows6.00.2900.2180 = "{random characters}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
    • wordpadMicrosoft = "{random characters}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
    • WindowsTMWindowsTM5.1.4111.00 = "{random characters}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • FrontPageFP30UTL = "{random characters}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • WindowsWindows = "%Program Files%\internet explorer\operatingiexplore.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Setup\Files
    • 1 = "{random values}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Setup\Files
    • 2 = "{random values}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Setup\Files
    • 3 = "{random values}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Setup\Files
    • 4 = "{random values}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Setup\Files
    • 5 = "{random values}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Setup\Files
    • 6 = "{random values}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Setup\Files
    • 7 = "{random values}"

Step 4

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.
  • %User Temp%\a1.tmp
  • %User Temp%\a2.tmp
  • %User Temp%\a3.tmp
  • %User Temp%\a4.tmp
  • %User Temp%\a5.tmp

Step 5

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TROJ_FAKEAL.SMAC. 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 6

Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.

  • {malware path and file name}:zone.identifier
  • %Program Files%\Common Files\System\Ole DB\msdaoraMicrosoft.exe:Zone.Identifier
  • %Program Files%\Internet Explorer\Connection Wizard\WindowsOperating6.00.2900.21802.0408032158.exe:Zone.Identifier
  • %Program Files%\Windows NT\Accessories\WindowsOperating5.1.2600.21802.0408032158.exe:Zone.Identifier
  • %Program Files%\Internet Explorer\Operatingiexplore.exe:Zone.Identifier
  • %Program Files%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Speech\1033\MicrosoftSystem.exe:Zone.Identifier
  • %Program Files%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\web server extensions\40\bin\FP30UTLFrontPage.exe:Zone.Identifier
  • %Program Files%\internet explorer\connection wizard\windowsoperating6.00.2900.21802.0408032158.exe:Zone.Identifier
  • %Program Files%\windows nt\accessories\windowsoperating5.1.2600.21802.0408032158.exe:Zone.Identifier
  • %Program Files%\common files\microsoft shared\speech\1033\microsoftsystem.exe:Zone.Identifier
  • %Program Files%\common files\microsoft shared\web server extensions\40\bin\fp30utlfrontpage.exe:Zone.Identifier


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