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TROJ_PAKES.ASTK

August 06, 2014
 ALIASES:

RDN/Generic.tfr!eb (McAfee); Trojan Horse (Symantec); Trojan.Win32.Pakes.aitx (Kaspersky); Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt); Trojan horse Delf.APRF (AVG)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)

 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:

567,602 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

06 Aug 2014

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:

  • %User Profile%\sub7\host.exe

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

It creates the following folders:

  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\Wilbert
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\sub7
  • %User Profile%\Network\Downloader

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)

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
Sub7 = "%User Profile%\sub7\host.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan deletes the following files:

  • %User Temp%\cmd.dll
  • %User Temp%\~a39.log
  • %User Profile%\sub7\host.exe
  • %User Profile%\10.0\ReaderMessages-journal
  • %Application Data%\Adobe\Acrobat\10.0\SharedDataEvents-journal

(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.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.. %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\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\Adobe\
Adobe Acrobat\10.0

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Adobe Synchronizer\10.0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\Acrobatbrokerserverdispatchercpp789

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Installer\
Migrated

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Originals

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\AVGeneral

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\AdobeViewer

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\
Microsoft\BITS

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\
Microsoft\BITS\CtlGuid

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\BITS

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Installer\
Migrated
{AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-AA0000000001} = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Originals
bDisplayedSplash = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\AVGeneral
bLastExitNormal = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\AdobeViewer
EULA = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\AdobeViewer
EULA = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\
Microsoft\BITS
LogSessionName = "stdout"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\
Microsoft\BITS
Active = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\
Microsoft\BITS
ControlFlags = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\
Microsoft\BITS\CtlGuid
Guid = "4a8aaa94-cfc4-46a7-8e4e-17bc45608f0a"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\
Microsoft\BITS\CtlGuid
BitNames = "{random characters}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Control\BackupRestore\FilesNotToBackup
BITS_metadata = "%User Profile%\Downloader\*"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\BITS
StateIndex = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\BITS
StateIndex = "0"

Dropping Routine

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %User Profile%\Application Data\PO476349.pdf
  • %Application Data%\Adobe\Color\ACECache11.lst
  • %Application Data%\Adobe\Acrobat\10.0\UserCache.bin
  • %User Temp%\Temporary Internet Files
  • %User Temp%\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5
  • %User Temp%\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\9MIUKNTR
  • %User Temp%\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\83BYSXXL
  • %User Temp%\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\M7WX05C9
  • %User Temp%\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\5S7KPO2X
  • %User Temp%\Cookies
  • %User Temp%\History
  • %User Temp%\History\History.IE5
  • %User Temp%\~a21524.log
  • %User Temp%\ArmUI.ini
  • %User Profile%\Reader_10.0.0\BIT6D.tmp
  • %User Profile%\Reader_10.0.0\BIT72.tmp
  • %Windows%\Prefetch\ADOBEARM.EXE-2D1B11BF.pf

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

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://acroipm.{BLOCKED}e.com/10/rdr/ENU/win/nooem/none/message.zip
  • http://acroipm.{BLOCKED}e.com/http://trafficconverter.biz
  • {BLOCKED}0.1

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.700

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 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\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat
    • 10.0
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Adobe Synchronizer
    • 10.0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System
    • Acrobatbrokerserverdispatchercpp789
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Installer
    • Migrated
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0
    • Originals
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0
    • AVGeneral
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0
    • AdobeViewer
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\Microsoft
    • BITS
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\Microsoft\BITS
    • CtlGuid
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
    • BITS

Step 4

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
    • Sub7 = "%User Profile%\sub7\host.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Installer\Migrated
    • {AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-AA0000000001} = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Originals
    • bDisplayedSplash = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\AVGeneral
    • bLastExitNormal = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\AdobeViewer
    • EULA = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\AdobeViewer
    • EULA = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\Microsoft\BITS
    • LogSessionName = "stdout"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\Microsoft\BITS
    • Active = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\Microsoft\BITS
    • ControlFlags = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\Microsoft\BITS\CtlGuid
    • Guid = "4a8aaa94-cfc4-46a7-8e4e-17bc45608f0a"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\Microsoft\BITS\CtlGuid
    • BitNames = "{random characters}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\BackupRestore\FilesNotToBackup
    • BITS_metadata = "%User Profile%\Downloader\*"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\BITS
    • StateIndex = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\BITS
    • StateIndex = "0"

Step 5

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 Profile%\Application Data\PO476349.pdf
  • %Application Data%\Adobe\Color\ACECache11.lst
  • %Application Data%\Adobe\Acrobat\10.0\UserCache.bin
  • %User Temp%\Temporary Internet Files
  • %User Temp%\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5
  • %User Temp%\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\9MIUKNTR
  • %User Temp%\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\83BYSXXL
  • %User Temp%\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\M7WX05C9
  • %User Temp%\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\5S7KPO2X
  • %User Temp%\Cookies
  • %User Temp%\History
  • %User Temp%\History\History.IE5
  • %User Temp%\~a21524.log
  • %User Temp%\ArmUI.ini
  • %User Profile%\Reader_10.0.0\BIT6D.tmp
  • %User Profile%\Reader_10.0.0\BIT72.tmp
  • %Windows%\Prefetch\ADOBEARM.EXE-2D1B11BF.pf

Step 6

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.
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\Wilbert
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\sub7
  • %User Profile%\Network\Downloader

Step 7

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

  • %User Temp%\cmd.dll
  • %User Temp%\~a39.log
  • %User Profile%\sub7\host.exe
  • %User Profile%\10.0\ReaderMessages-journal
  • %Application Data%\Adobe\Acrobat\10.0\SharedDataEvents-journal


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