TSPY_AGENT.SMC
Worm:Win32/Autorun.WN (Microsoft); Generic MSIL.a (McAfee); Trojan Horse (Symantec); Trojan-Spy.MSIL.Agent.aks (Kaspersky); Worm.Win32.AutoRun (Sunbelt); Trojan.Generic.3125007 (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.
It modifies files, disabling programs and applications from properly running. It disables Task Manager, Registry Editor, and Folder Options.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
334,600 bytes
EXE
Yes
29 Nov 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 drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %Windows%\{malware file name}
(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.)
It creates the following folders:
- %Application Data%\stub
- %Application Data%\stub\3a67470cd17cac95465094a47_Url_kro2tctxnwaofxsbbc1as3c5q4aa2j4b
- %Application Data%\stub\3a67470cd17cac95465094a47_Url_kro2tctxnwaofxsbbc1as3c5q4aa2j4b\1.0.0.0
(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's 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\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.)
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
{malware file name} = "%Windows%\{malware file name}"
Other System Modifications
This spyware modifies the following files:
- %Application Data%\GDIPFONTCACHEV1.DAT
(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's 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\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.)
It adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
It modifies the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
GDIPlus
FontCachePath = "%Application Data%"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is %User Profile%\Local Settings\Application Data.)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
Hidden = "0"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 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\
System
DisableTaskMgr = "1"
Dropping Routine
This spyware drops the following files:
- %Application Data%\stub\3a67470cd17cac95465094a47_Url_kro2tctxnwaofxsbbc1as3c5q4aa2j4b\1.0.0.0\xvz8igdr.tmp
- %Application Data%\stub\3a67470cd17cac95465094a47_Url_kro2tctxnwaofxsbbc1as3c5q4aa2j4b\1.0.0.0\xvz8igdr.newcfg
(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's 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\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.)
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
Enable Registry Editor, Task Manager, and Folder options
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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
- System
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
- {malware file name} = "%Windows%\{malware file name}"
Step 6
Restore these modified registry values
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\GDIPlus
- From: FontCachePath = "%Application Data%"
To: FontCachePath = ""%User Profile%\Local Settings\Application Data""
- From: FontCachePath = "%Application Data%"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
- From: Hidden = "0"
To: Hidden = ""2""
- From: Hidden = "0"
Step 7
Search and delete these components
- %Application Data%\stub\3a67470cd17cac95465094a47_Url_kro2tctxnwaofxsbbc1as3c5q4aa2j4b\1.0.0.0\xvz8igdr.tmp
- %Application Data%\stub\3a67470cd17cac95465094a47_Url_kro2tctxnwaofxsbbc1as3c5q4aa2j4b\1.0.0.0\xvz8igdr.newcfg
Step 8
Search and delete these folders
- %Application Data%\stub
- %Application Data%\stub\3a67470cd17cac95465094a47_Url_kro2tctxnwaofxsbbc1as3c5q4aa2j4b
- %Application Data%\stub\3a67470cd17cac95465094a47_Url_kro2tctxnwaofxsbbc1as3c5q4aa2j4b\1.0.0.0
Step 9
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_AGENT.SMC. 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 deleted/modified files and/or registry entries from backup
*Note: Only Microsoft-related files/keys/values will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted registry keys/values related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on your computer.
- %Application Data%\GDIPFONTCACHEV1.DAT
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