PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:

  • 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

File Size: 727,552 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 06 Dec 2013

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 creates the following folders:

  • %User Profile%\My Documents\MSDCSC

(Note: %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\RunOnce
Shell = "{malware path and file name}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
outlok = "%User Profile%\MSDCSC\outlook.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,%User Profile%\MSDCSC\outlook.exe"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is %Windows%\system32\userinit.exe,.)

Other System Modifications

This backdoor deletes the following files:

  • :Zone.Identifier
  • %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\config\security.config.cch.1648.112656
  • %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\config\enterprisesec.config.cch.1648.112656
  • %User Profile%\v2.0.50727.42\security.config.cch.1648.112812

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.. %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.)

It adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\DC3_FEXEC

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows Script Host\Settings
Enabled = "1"

Dropping Routine

This backdoor drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\1.vbs
  • %User Profile%\MSDCSC\outlook.exe

(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.. %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.)

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.300

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_DARKOMET.C using either the Startup Disk or Recovery Console

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

Delete this registry key

[ 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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
    • RunOnce
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • DC3_FEXEC

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
    • Shell = "{malware path and file name}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • outlok = "%User Profile%\MSDCSC\outlook.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Script Host\Settings
    • Enabled = "1"

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 NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
    • From: UserInit = "%System%\userinit.exe,%User Profile%\MSDCSC\outlook.exe"
      To: UserInit = ""%Windows%\system32\userinit.exe,""

Step 6

Search and delete these components

[ Learn More ]
There may be some components 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%\1.vbs
  • %User Profile%\MSDCSC\outlook.exe

Step 7

Search and delete this folder

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden folders in the search result.
  • %User Profile%\My Documents\MSDCSC

Step 8

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as BKDR_DARKOMET.C. 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 9

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.

  • :Zone.Identifier
  • %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\config\security.config.cch.1648.112656
  • %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\config\enterprisesec.config.cch.1648.112656
  • %User Profile%\v2.0.50727.42\security.config.cch.1648.112812


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.