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WORM_AUTORUN.DHS

October 12, 2012
 ALIASES:

Worm:Win32/Taterf.B (Microsoft); Generic PWS.ak (McAfee); W32.Gammima.AG (Symantec); Worm.Win32.AutoRun.esg (Kaspersky); Worm.Win32.Taterf.b (v) (Sunbelt); Packer.Malware.NSAnti.DD (FSecure)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW


This worm arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It disables Task Manager, Registry Editor, and Folder Options.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

122,271 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

03 Jan 2012

Arrival Details

This worm 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 copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %System%\vamsoft.exe

(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.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
vamsoft = "%System%\vamsoft.exe"

It registers as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\
Services\KAVsys

Other System Modifications

This worm deletes the following files:

  • %System Root%\r8.bat

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\KAVsys
Type = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\KAVsys
ErrorControl = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\KAVsys
Start = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\KAVsys
ImagePath = "\??\%System%\drivers\klif.sys"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
Hidden = 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\
Explorer
NoDriveTypeAutoRun = 91

It deletes the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\
Services\KAVsys\Enum

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\
Services\KAVsys\Security

Dropping Routine

This worm drops the following files:

  • %System%\drivers\klif.sys
  • %System%\ciuytr0.dll
  • %System Root%\autorun.inf
  • %System Root%\r8.bat

(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.. %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)

Other Details

This worm connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}z.com/xxc/ddr.rar
  • http://{BLOCKED}r.com/xmfx/help1.rar

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

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.

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services
    • KAVsys

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • vamsoft="%System%\vamsoft.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\KAVsys
    • Type=1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\KAVsys
    • ErrorControl=1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\KAVsys
    • Start=1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\KAVsys
    • ImagePath="\??\%System%\drivers\klif.sys"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    • Hidden=2

Step 6

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%\drivers\klif.sys
  • %System%\ciuytr0.dll
  • %System Root%\autorun.inf
  • %System Root%\r8.bat

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as WORM_AUTORUN.DHS. 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 8

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. %System Root%\r8.bat

Step 9

Restore these deleted registry keys/values 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.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\KAVsys
    • Enum
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\KAVsys
    • Security


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