BKDR_CYGATE.A
VirTool:Win32/VBInject (Microsoft)
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
![](/vinfo/imgFiles/legend.jpg)
Threat Type: Backdoor
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: Yes
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
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 logs a user's keystrokes to steal information.
However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
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 files:
- %User Temp%\UuU.uUu - contains the local time
- %User Temp%\XxX.xXx - contains the local time
(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.)
It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %System Root%\directory\cybergate\install\server.exe
(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)
It creates the following folders:
- %System Root%\directory
- %System Root%\directory\cybergate
- %System Root%\directory\cybergate\install
(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)
It injects codes into the following process(es):
- explorer.exe
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\Policies\
Explorer\Run
Policies = %System Root%\directory\cybergate\install\server.exe
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Windows Defender = %System Root%\directory\cybergate\install\server.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{WEXDK158-5378-2A21-UNMH-4O16OEXKYMT3}
StubPath = %System Root%\directory\cybergate\install\server.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer\Run
Policies = %System Root%\directory\cybergate\install\server.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Windows Defender = %System Root%\directory\cybergate\install\server.exe
Other System Modifications
This backdoor adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\gianni
It adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\gianni
FirstExecution = {values}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\gianni
NewIdentification = {values}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\gianni
NewGroup = {values}
Backdoor Routine
This backdoor connects to the following URL(s) to send and receive commands from a remote malicious user:
- {BLOCKED}y.{BLOCKED}o.org:82
Dropping Routine
This backdoor drops the following file(s), which it uses for its keylogging routine:
- %User Profile%\Application Data\cglogs.dat - log file that contains encrypted, stolen information
(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name} on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name} on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)
Information Theft
This backdoor logs a user's keystrokes to steal information.
Other Details
This backdoor connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- http://{BLOCKED}b.{BLOCKED}e4919.com/temp/www/z.php?t=
However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
NOTES:
It gathers the following information from the affected system:
- WAN/LAN IP address
- Username
- Operating System
- CPU Information
- Installed Antivirus Software
- Firewall Information
- Active Window
- Available Webcam
- Geographical Location
It opens a hidden browser window in order to establish a connection to its C&C server.
It is capable of executing the following commands:
- Alter DNS settings to redirect the user to possibly malicious site(s)
- Scan for active ports
- Manipulate files, registries, programs, and Startup manager
- List and retrieve information of processes, active windows, services, installed programs, and devices
- Steal Google Chrome credentials
- Open a remote desktop
- Capture webcam
- Capture audio
- Steal user passwords from various applications
- Open Socks proxy
- Open HTTP proxy
- Open a website
- Download and execute file(s)
- Open command shell
- Execute DOS commands
- Search files or specific words from keylogged data
- Open a remote chat client
- Prompt a message box
- Update itself
- Perform Ping request
- Rename its filename
- Connect to a site and port
- Disconnect the itself
- Uninstall itself
SOLUTION
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
Search and delete these folders
Step 4
Search and delete this file
Step 5
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
- gianni
- gianni
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components
- {WEXDK158-5378-2A21-UNMH-4O16OEXKYMT3}
- {WEXDK158-5378-2A21-UNMH-4O16OEXKYMT3}
Step 6
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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\Run
- Policies = "%System Root%\directory\cybergate\install\server.exe"
- Policies = "%System Root%\directory\cybergate\install\server.exe"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- Windows Defender = "%System Root%\directory\cybergate\install\server.exe"
- Windows Defender = "%System Root%\directory\cybergate\install\server.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer\Run
- Policies = "%System Root%\directory\cybergate\install\server.exe"
- Policies = "%System Root%\directory\cybergate\install\server.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- Windows Defender = "%System Root%\directory\cybergate\install\server.exe"
- Windows Defender = "%System Root%\directory\cybergate\install\server.exe"
Step 7
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as BKDR_CYGATE.A. 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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