BKDR_DARKKOME.CX
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
Threat Type: Backdoor
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted:
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.
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 copies of itself into the affected system:
- %Start Menu%\MSDCSC\msdcsc.exe
(Note: %Start Menu% is the current user's Start Menu folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Start Menu or C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu on Windows Vista and 7.)
It creates the following folders:
- %Start Menu%\MSDCSC
- %User Profile%\Application Data\dclogs
(Note: %Start Menu% is the current user's Start Menu folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Start Menu or C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu 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.)
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\Run
MicroUpdate = "%Start Menu%\MSDCSC\msdcsc.exe"
It modifies the following registry entries to ensure it automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
UserInit = "%System%\userinit.exe,%Start Menu%\MSDCSC\msdcsc.exe"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is %Windows%\system32\userinit.exe,.)
Other System Modifications
This backdoor adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\DC3_FEXEC
This report is generated via an automated analysis system.
SOLUTION
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
Identify and delete files detected as BKDR_DARKKOME.CX using either the Startup Disk or Recovery Console
Step 3
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
- DC3_FEXEC
Step 4
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\Run
- MicroUpdate = "%Start Menu%\MSDCSC\msdcsc.exe"
Step 5
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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
- From: UserInit = "%System%\userinit.exe,%Start Menu%\MSDCSC\msdcsc.exe"
To: UserInit = ""%Windows%\system32\userinit.exe,""
- From: UserInit = "%System%\userinit.exe,%Start Menu%\MSDCSC\msdcsc.exe"
Step 6
Search and delete these folders
- %Start Menu%\MSDCSC
- %User Profile%\Application Data\dclogs
Step 7
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as BKDR_DARKKOME.CX. 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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