Worm.JS.BONDAT.AA

 Analysis by: Noel Anthony Llimos

 ALIASES:

JS/Bondat.l (McAfee)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW


This Worm arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users. It 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 user's Internet Explorer home page into a certain website. This action allows the malware to point to a website which may contain malware, putting the affected computer at greater risk of malware infection. It modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

31,369 bytes

File Type:

JS

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

08 Oct 2018

Arrival Details

This Worm arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users.

It 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 Worm drops the following files:

  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\{Random Numbers}
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\explorer.exe

(Note: %AppDataLocal% is the Local 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\Local on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

Autostart Technique

This Worm modifies the following registry entry(ies) to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Shell = "%AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\explorer.exe" "%AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\{Random Numbers}" //E:JScript //B

Other System Modifications

This Worm adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
JSEFile\DefaultIcon
{Default} = "%System%\imageres.dll,-72"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
JSEFile
FriendlyTypeName = "@%SystemRoot%\System32\shell32.dll,-30596"

HKEY_USERS\{Computer SID}\JSEFile\
DefaultIcon
{Default} = "%SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll,-72"

HKEY_USERS\{Computer SID\JSEFile
FriendlyTypeName = "@%SystemRoot%\System32\shell32.dll,-30596"

Propagation

This Worm drops the following copy(ies) of itself in all removable drives:

  • {Drive Letter}:\{Random File Name}.JPG.jse

Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification

This Worm modifies the user's Internet Explorer home page to the following websites:

  • https://www.go{BLOCKED}es/#output=sear{BLOCKED}nt=psy-ab&q=fiverdolly+31369

It modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

14.552.07

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

08 Oct 2018

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

14.553.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

09 Oct 2018

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

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

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\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
    • Shell = "%AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\explorer.exe" "%AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\{Random Numbers}" //E:JScript //B

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\Classes\JSEFile\DefaultIcon
    • {Default} = "%System%\imageres.dll,-72"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\JSEFile
    • FriendlyTypeName = "@%SystemRoot%\System32\shell32.dll,-30596"
  • In HKEY_USERS\{Computer SID}\JSEFile\DefaultIcon
    • {Default} = "%SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll,-72"
  • In HKEY_USERS\{Computer SID\JSEFile
    • FriendlyTypeName = "@%SystemRoot%\System32\shell32.dll,-30596"

Step 6

Search and delete these files

[ Learn More ]
There may be some 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.
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\{Random Numbers}
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\explorer.exe
  • {Drive Letter}:\{Random File Name}.JPG.jse

Step 7

Reset the Internet Explorer Home and Search pages

[ Learn More ]

Step 8

Reset Internet privacy settings

[ Learn More ]

Step 9

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Worm.JS.BONDAT.AA. 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.


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.