Analysis by: Jaime Benigno Reyes
ALIASES:

VirTool:Win32/Injector (Microsoft), Backdoor.Win32.Androm.prj (Kaspersky)

 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: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Dropped by other malware, Downloaded from the Internet

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 executes commands from a remote malicious user, effectively compromising the affected system. It connects to a website to send and receive information.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 57,856 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 09 Apr 2013
Payload: Compromises system security, Connects to URLs/IPs, Downloads files

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:

  • {All Users Profile}\{random}.exe
  • {All Users Profile}\svchost.exe (when running in virtual machine)

It injects threads into the following normal process(es):

  • svchost.exe

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer\Run
{random number} = "{All Users Profile}\{random}.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
SunJavaUpdateSched = "{All Users Profile}\svchost.exe" (running in virtual machine and Java update is disabled in startup)

It modifies the following registry entry(ies) to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
SunJavaUpdateSched = "%ProgramData%\svchost.exe" (running in virtual machine and Java update is enabled in startup)

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "{Java Installation Folder}\jusched.exe".)

Other System Modifications

This backdoor creates the following registry entry(ies) to bypass Windows Firewall:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\
List
{malware location}\{malware file name} = "{malware location}\{malware file name}:*:Enabled:Gys"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\
List
%System%\svchost.exe = "%System%\svchost.exe:*:Generic Host Process"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\
List
%System%\msiexec.exe = "%System%\msiexec.exe:*:Generic Host Process"

Backdoor Routine

This backdoor executes the following commands from a remote malicious user:

  • Download a file from C&C server and save it as %User Temp%\{random number}.exe
  • Download a file from C&C server and save it as %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\ms{random number}.dat and loads it
  • Start a process
  • Uninstall itself
  • Remote command prompt

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

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

  • http://{BLOCKED}t.ru/new/gate.php

NOTES:

It checks if it is being run in a VMWare environment or Emulation software. If it is being run in a VMWare environment or Emulation software, it performs another routine where in it will open Port 8000 and listen for a backdoor command for performing remote shell execution.

It also checks if there is a running network monitoring software in the affected machine. If found, it also performs its other routine.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.300
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 9.844.09
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 09 Apr 2013
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 9.845.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 09 Apr 2013

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

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as BKDR_ANDROM.DN

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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\policies\Explorer\Run
    • {random number} = "{All Users Profile}\{random}.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • SunJavaUpdateSched = "{All Users Profile}\svchost.exe" (running in virtual machine and Java update is disabled in startup)
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List
    • {malware location}\{malware file name} = "{malware location}\{malware file name}:*:Enabled:Gys"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List
    • %System%\svchost.exe = "%System%\svchost.exe:*:Generic Host Process"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List
    • %System%\msiexec.exe = "%System%\msiexec.exe:*:Generic Host Process"

Step 5

Restore these modified registry values

[ Learn More ]

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • From: SunJavaUpdateSched = "%ProgramData%\svchost.exe" (running in virtual machine and Java update is enabled in startup)
      To: SunJavaUpdateSched = "{Java Installation Folder}\jusched.exe"

Step 6

Search and delete these files

[ Learn More ]
There may be some 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.
  • %User Temp%\{random number}.exe
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\ms{random number}.dat

Step 7

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


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