BKDR_QAKBOT.NM

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

It propagates via shared networks and drops copies of itself into available networks.

It connects to certain websites to send and receive information. It prevents users from visiting antivirus-related websites that contain specific strings. It deletes itself after execution.

Arrival Details

This Backdoor 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 Backdoor drops the following copies of itself into the affected system and executes them:

• %Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder}\{random file name}.exe

(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

It drops the following component file(s):

• %Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder}\{random file name}.dat ← encrypted component

(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

It creates the following folders:

• %Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder}

(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{random name} = %Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe"

Propagation

This Backdoor propagates via shared networks and drops copies of itself into available networks.

Process Termination

This Backdoor terminates the following processes if found running in the affected system's memory:

• windbg.exe
• ChromeUpdate.exe
• msdev.exe
• dbgview.exe
• ollydbg.exe
• ctfmon.exe
• Proxifier.exe
• nav.exe

Information Theft

This Backdoor monitors the Internet Explorer (IE) activities of the affected system, specifically the address bar or title bar. It recreates a legitimate website with a spoofed login page if a user visits banking sites with the following strings in the address bar or title bar:

• .hsbcnet.com
• .web-access.com
• .webcashmgmt.com
• /achupload
• /cashman/
• /cashplus/
• /clkccm/
• /cmserver/
• /corpach/
• /ibws/
• /payments/ach
• /stbcorp/
• /wcmpr/
• /wcmpw/
• /wcmtr/
• /wires/
• /wiret
• access.jpmorgan.com
• accessonline.abnamro.com
• achbatchlisting
• bankeft.com
• blilk.com
• business-eb.ibanking-services.com
• businessaccess.citibank.citigroup.com
• businessbankingcenter.synovus.com
• businessinternetbanking.synovus.com
• businessonline.huntington.com
• businessonline.tdbank.com
• cashmanageronline.bbt.com
• cashproonline.bankofamerica.com
• cbs.firstcitizensonline.com
• chsec.wellsfargo.com
• cmol.bbt.com
• cmoltp.bbt.com
• commercial.bnc.ca
• commercial.wachovia.com
• commercial2.wachovia.com
• commercial3.wachovia.com
• commercial4.wachovia.com
• corporatebanking
• cpw-achweb.bankofamerica.com
• ctm.53.com
• directline4biz.com
• directpay.wellsfargo.com
• e-facts.org
• e-moneyger.com
• each.bremer.com
• ebanking-services.com
• express.53.com
• firstmeritib.com
• firstmeritib.com/defaultcorp.aspx
• goldleafach.com
• iachwellsprod.wellsfargo.com
• ibc.klikbca.com
• intellix.capitalonebank.com
• iris.sovereignbank.com
• itreasury.regions.com
• itreasurypr.regions.com
• jsp/mainWeb.jsp
• ktt.key.com
• moneymanagergps.com
• netconnect.bokf.com
• nj00-wcm
• ocm.suntrust.com
• onlineserv/CM
• otm.suntrust.com
• paylinks.cunet.org
• premierview.membersunited.org
• providentnjolb.com
• schwabinstitutional.com
• scotiaconnect.scotiabank.com
• securentrycorp.amegybank.com
• securentrycorp.zionsbank.com
• singlepoint.usbank.com
• svbconnect.com
• tcfexpressbusiness.com
• tdetreasury.tdbank.com
• tmcb.zionsbank.com
• tmconnectweb
• treas-mgt.frostbank.com
• treasury.pncbank.com
• trz.tranzact.org
• tssportal.jpmorgan.com
• wc.wachovia.com
• wcp.wachovia.com
• web-cashplus.com
• webexpress.tdbank.com
• wellsoffice.wellsfargo.com

It gathers the following data:

• GeoIP locations
• Browser cookies
• Flash cookies
• Network information
• System information
• FTP, POP3, IMAP, SMTP, HTTPMail, NNTP Passwords
• Outlook login credentials
• Private keys from system certificates
• Login credentials for certain websites
• Internet sessions

Other Details

This Backdoor connects to the following URL(s) to check for an Internet connection:

• cnn.com
• microsoft.com
• baidu.com
• facebook.com
• yahoo.com
• wikipedia.org
• qq.com
• linkedin.com
• mail.ru

It connects to the following website to send and receive information:

• {generated domain}.(com|net|org|info|biz|org)

It does the following:

• It connects to the following site to check for internet connection:
  • http://sanjose.speedtest.comcast.net/random750x750.jpg?x={random numbers}&y=1
  • http://boston.speedtest.comcast.net/random750x750.jpg?x={random numbers}&y=1
  • http://jacksonville.speedtest.comcast.net/random750x750.jpg?x={random numbers}&y=1
  • http://houston.speedtest.comcast.net/random750x750.jpg?x={random numbers}&y=1
• It is capable of the following:
  • Download and execute component files
  • Download configuration and updates
  • Download updated copy of itself
  • Uninstall itself
  • Kill processes
  • Upload files containing stolen information
  • Perform FTP functionalities
• It sends the following information to its C&C server:
  • ext_ip
  • dnsname
  • hostname
  • user
  • domain
  • is_admin
  • os
  • qbot_version
  • install_time
  • exe
• It also steals stored passwords, cache and cookies from the following servers:
  • 001e6608
  • 001e6607
  • Email
  • HTTP Server URL
  • HTTP User
  • HTTPMail Server
  • HTTPMail User Name
  • IMAP Server
  • IMAP User
  • IMAP User Name
  • NNTP Email Address
  • NNTP Server
  • NNTP User Name
  • POP3 Server
  • POP3 User
  • POP3 User Name
  • SMTP Email Address
  • SMTP Server
  • SMTP User
  • SMTP User Name
• It also monitors the browsing activities of the infected computer and logs all information related to websites containing the following strings:
  • .5min.com
  • .adworldmedia.com
  • .amazonaws.com
  • .bing.com
  • .gator.com
  • .hiro.tv
  • .king.com
  • .microsoft.com
  • .mozilla.com
  • .mozilla.org
  • .twimg.com
  • 127.0.0.1
  • 180solutions.com
  • api.skype.com
  • audatexsolutions.com
  • auditude.com
  • brightcove.com
  • clients.mindbodyonline.com
  • conduit-services.com
  • contacts.msn.com
  • digitalmediacommunications.com
  • doubleclick.
  • eorezo.com
  • etsy.com
  • facebook.com
  • farmville.com
  • fwmrm.net
  • geo.query.yahoo.com
  • googleusercontent.com
  • hotbar.com
  • internet-optimizer.com
  • kixeye.com
  • localhost
  • loyaltyconnect.ihg.com
  • lphbs.com
  • mail.google.com
  • mail.services.live.com
  • mapquest.com
  • messenger.live.com
  • mochibot.com
  • mybrowserbar.com
  • myshopres.com
  • netflix.com
  • newasp.com.cn
  • officeapps.live.com
  • owlforce.com
  • phantomefx.com
  • playtoga.com
  • r777r.info
  • radialpoint.com
  • safebrowsing.google.com
  • salesforce.com
  • search.msn.com
  • securestudies.com
  • seekmo.com
  • sipuku.com
  • spamblockerutility.com
  • storage.live.com
  • tbreport.bellsouth.net
  • tubemogul.com
  • webhancer.com
  • wildtangent.com
  • wpzkq.com
  • youtube.com
  • zango.com
  • zynga.com
• It terminates itself when executed in the following Virtual Environments:
  • Virtual HD
  • VirtualProtect
  • VirtualBox
  • CWSandbox
  • VMWare
  • RedHat
  • QEMU
• It checks for the following running process:
  • VBoxTray.exe
  • vmtoolsd.exe
  • vmacthlp.exe
  • metsvc-server.exe
  • VBoxService.exe
  • windump.exe
  • ivm-inject.dll
  • SbieDll.dll
• It checks if the following anti-virus software is installed:
  • norton
  • AVG
  • mcafee
  • kaspersky
  • NOD32
  • Bitdefender
  • Avast
  • Trend Micro
  • Microsoft Security Essentials
• It checks if the malware filename contains the following strings:
  • sample
  • mlwr_smpl
  • artifact.exe

It prevents users from visiting antivirus-related websites that contain the following strings:

• siteadvisor.com
• avgthreatlabs.com
• safeweb.norton.com

It deletes itself after execution.