TSPY_AGENT.AKEO
VirTool:WinNT/Rootkitdrv.DJ (Microsoft); Generic PWS.y (McAfee); Trojan.Zlob (Symantec); PAK:PE_Patch.PECompact, PAK:PecBundle, PAK:PECompact, Trojan-PSW.Win32.Agent.knc (Kaspersky); Trojan-PSW.Win32.Agent.knc (fs) (Sunbelt); Trojan.Zlob.36016 (FSecure)
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
Threat Type: Spyware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted:
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This spyware 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
182,784 bytes
EXE
Yes
26 Oct 2012
Arrival Details
This spyware 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 spyware creates the following folders:
- %System%\webmin
(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 spyware adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Windows Help Service = "%System%\winhelp32.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
Windows Help Service = "%System%\winhelp32.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServicesOnce
Windows Help Service = "%System%\winhelp32.exe"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Windows Help Service = "%System%\winhelp32.exe"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
Windows Help Service = "%System%\winhelp32.exe"
It registers itself as a BHO to ensure its automatic execution every time Internet Explorer is used by adding the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Browser Helper Objects\{7C6E1044-DBF1-EDB3-57BB-D40A130EA5BD}
Other System Modifications
This spyware deletes the following files:
- %System%\bootcats.sys
(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.)
It adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Connections
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
AppID\{A7DD26FD-C8E3-4FC3-EFC1-A22A105C1407}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
AppID\vmmreg32.DLL
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\IEBHO.myiebho.1
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
IEBHO.myiebho.1\CLSID
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\IEBHO.myiebho
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
IEBHO.myiebho\CLSID
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
IEBHO.myiebho\CurVer
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{7C6E1044-DBF1-EDB3-57BB-D40A130EA5BD}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{7C6E1044-DBF1-EDB3-57BB-D40A130EA5BD}\ProgID
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{7C6E1044-DBF1-EDB3-57BB-D40A130EA5BD}\VersionIndependentProgID
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{7C6E1044-DBF1-EDB3-57BB-D40A130EA5BD}\Programmable
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{7C6E1044-DBF1-EDB3-57BB-D40A130EA5BD}\InprocServer32
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{7C6E1044-DBF1-EDB3-57BB-D40A130EA5BD}\TypeLib
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
TypeLib\{E1451945-AE2E-C356-B18F-6FDD0B100081}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
TypeLib\{E1451945-AE2E-C356-B18F-6FDD0B100081}\1.0
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
TypeLib\{E1451945-AE2E-C356-B18F-6FDD0B100081}\1.0\
FLAGS
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
TypeLib\{E1451945-AE2E-C356-B18F-6FDD0B100081}\1.0\
0
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
TypeLib\{E1451945-AE2E-C356-B18F-6FDD0B100081}\1.0\
0\win32
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
TypeLib\{E1451945-AE2E-C356-B18F-6FDD0B100081}\1.0\
HELPDIR
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Interface\{403538F6-2E9B-8125-6803-A744610BC3AC}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Interface\{403538F6-2E9B-8125-6803-A744610BC3AC}\ProxyStubClsid
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Interface\{403538F6-2E9B-8125-6803-A744610BC3AC}\ProxyStubClsid32
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Interface\{403538F6-2E9B-8125-6803-A744610BC3AC}\TypeLib
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServicesOnce
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\SearchScopes
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\
Settings\{18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3}
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Connections
WinHttpSettings = "{random values}"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
AppID\vmmreg32.DLL
AppID = "{A7DD26FD-C8E3-4FC3-EFC1-A22A105C1407}"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Browser Helper Objects\{7C6E1044-DBF1-EDB3-57BB-D40A130EA5BD}
NoExplorer = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{7C6E1044-DBF1-EDB3-57BB-D40A130EA5BD}\InprocServer32
ThreadingModel = "Apartment"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{7C6E1044-DBF1-EDB3-57BB-D40A130EA5BD}
AppID = "{A7DD26FD-C8E3-4FC3-EFC1-A22A105C1407}"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Interface\{403538F6-2E9B-8125-6803-A744610BC3AC}\TypeLib
Version = "1.0"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer\Run
1 = "%System%\winhelp32.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
load = "%System%\winhelp32.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
run = "%System%\winhelp32.exe"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\
Settings\{18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3}
Flags = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\
Settings\{18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3}
Version = "*"
It modifies the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
AppInit_Dlls = "%System%\vmmreg32.dll"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
User Shell Folders
Common Startup = "%System%\webmin"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {random values}.)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
User Shell Folders
Startup = "%System%\webmin"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {random values}.)
Dropping Routine
This spyware drops the following files:
- %System%\vmmreg32.dll
- %System%\webmin\vmmreg32.bkp
- %System%\VIDEO.sys
- bootcats.sys
- tmp.zip
- %System%\webmin\VIDEO.bkp
(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.)
This report is generated via an automated analysis system.
SOLUTION
9.300
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
Step 3
Close all opened browser windows
Step 4
Delete this registry key
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\Internet Settings
- Connections
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\AppID
- {A7DD26FD-C8E3-4FC3-EFC1-A22A105C1407}
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\AppID
- vmmreg32.DLL
- In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
- IEBHO.myiebho.1
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\IEBHO.myiebho.1
- CLSID
- In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
- IEBHO.myiebho
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\IEBHO.myiebho
- CLSID
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\IEBHO.myiebho
- CurVer
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID
- {7C6E1044-DBF1-EDB3-57BB-D40A130EA5BD}
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{7C6E1044-DBF1-EDB3-57BB-D40A130EA5BD}
- ProgID
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{7C6E1044-DBF1-EDB3-57BB-D40A130EA5BD}
- VersionIndependentProgID
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{7C6E1044-DBF1-EDB3-57BB-D40A130EA5BD}
- Programmable
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{7C6E1044-DBF1-EDB3-57BB-D40A130EA5BD}
- InprocServer32
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{7C6E1044-DBF1-EDB3-57BB-D40A130EA5BD}
- TypeLib
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib
- {E1451945-AE2E-C356-B18F-6FDD0B100081}
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{E1451945-AE2E-C356-B18F-6FDD0B100081}
- 1.0
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{E1451945-AE2E-C356-B18F-6FDD0B100081}\1.0
- FLAGS
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{E1451945-AE2E-C356-B18F-6FDD0B100081}\1.0
- 0
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{E1451945-AE2E-C356-B18F-6FDD0B100081}\1.0\0
- win32
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{E1451945-AE2E-C356-B18F-6FDD0B100081}\1.0
- HELPDIR
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface
- {403538F6-2E9B-8125-6803-A744610BC3AC}
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{403538F6-2E9B-8125-6803-A744610BC3AC}
- ProxyStubClsid
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{403538F6-2E9B-8125-6803-A744610BC3AC}
- ProxyStubClsid32
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{403538F6-2E9B-8125-6803-A744610BC3AC}
- TypeLib
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
- RunServices
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
- RunServicesOnce
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
- RunOnce
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer
- Run
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer
- SearchScopes
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings
- {18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3}
Step 5
Delete this registry value
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
- Windows Help Service = "%System%\winhelp32.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
- Windows Help Service = "%System%\winhelp32.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServicesOnce
- Windows Help Service = "%System%\winhelp32.exe"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- Windows Help Service = "%System%\winhelp32.exe"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- Windows Help Service = "%System%\winhelp32.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Connections
- WinHttpSettings = "{random values}"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\AppID\vmmreg32.DLL
- AppID = "{A7DD26FD-C8E3-4FC3-EFC1-A22A105C1407}"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{7C6E1044-DBF1-EDB3-57BB-D40A130EA5BD}
- NoExplorer = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{7C6E1044-DBF1-EDB3-57BB-D40A130EA5BD}\InprocServer32
- ThreadingModel = "Apartment"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{7C6E1044-DBF1-EDB3-57BB-D40A130EA5BD}
- AppID = "{A7DD26FD-C8E3-4FC3-EFC1-A22A105C1407}"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{403538F6-2E9B-8125-6803-A744610BC3AC}\TypeLib
- Version = "1.0"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer\Run
- 1 = "%System%\winhelp32.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
- load = "%System%\winhelp32.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
- run = "%System%\winhelp32.exe"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\{18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3}
- Flags = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\{18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3}
- Version = "*"
Step 6
Restore this modified registry value
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 NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
- AppInit_Dlls = "%System%\vmmreg32.dll"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
- From: Common Startup = "%System%\webmin"
To: Common Startup = ""{random values}""
- From: Common Startup = "%System%\webmin"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
- From: Startup = "%System%\webmin"
To: Startup = ""{random values}""
- From: Startup = "%System%\webmin"
Step 7
Search and delete these files
- %System%\vmmreg32.dll
- %System%\webmin\vmmreg32.bkp
- %System%\VIDEO.sys
- bootcats.sys
- tmp.zip
- %System%\webmin\VIDEO.bkp
Step 8
Search and delete this folder
- %System%\webmin
Step 9
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_AGENT.AKEO. 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 10
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%\bootcats.sys
Did this description help? Tell us how we did.