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: 1,260,032 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 06 Sep 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 drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Program Files%\MSUpdate\MSupdate.exe

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).)

It creates the following folders:

  • %User Profile%\Application Data\DYA_ATANJTHOHJSWUMGQC
  • %User Profile%\DYA_ATANJTHOHJSWUMGQC\1.0.0
  • %User Profile%\1.0.0\Data
  • %Program Files%\MSUpdate
  • %User Temp%\dclogs

(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.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).. %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.)

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
MSUpdate = "%Program Files%\MSUpdate\MSupdate.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,%Program Files%\MSUpdate\MSupdate.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

Dropping Routine

This backdoor drops the following files:

  • %User Profile%\Data\app.dat
  • %User Profile%\Data\updates.dat
  • %User Profile%\Data\dya.dat
  • %User Profile%\Application Data:$SS_DESCRIPTOR_SBXNV9VVGV1BFSVHKV1EB96JMXL64NJ40J0W0WJFSVF7VB4VP4GF
  • %User Profile%\DYA_ATANJTHOHJSWUMGQC\1.0.0:$SS_DESCRIPTOR_SBXNV9VVGV1BFSVHKV1EB96JMXL64NJ40J0W0WJFSVF7VB4VP4GF
  • %Desktop%:$SS_DESCRIPTOR_SBXNV9VVGV1BFSVHKV1EB96JMXL64NJ40J0W0WJFSVF7VB4VP4GF
  • %User Temp%\FUNSDOTAHACK_1.4.EXE

(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.. %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop on Windows Vista and 7.. %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.)

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_MSPOSER.B 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
    • 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\Run
    • MSUpdate = "%Program Files%\MSUpdate\MSupdate.exe"

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,%Program Files%\MSUpdate\MSupdate.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 Profile%\Data\app.dat
  • %User Profile%\Data\updates.dat
  • %User Profile%\Data\dya.dat
  • %User Profile%\Application Data:$SS_DESCRIPTOR_SBXNV9VVGV1BFSVHKV1EB96JMXL64NJ40J0W0WJFSVF7VB4VP4GF
  • %User Profile%\DYA_ATANJTHOHJSWUMGQC\1.0.0:$SS_DESCRIPTOR_SBXNV9VVGV1BFSVHKV1EB96JMXL64NJ40J0W0WJFSVF7VB4VP4GF
  • %Desktop%:$SS_DESCRIPTOR_SBXNV9VVGV1BFSVHKV1EB96JMXL64NJ40J0W0WJFSVF7VB4VP4GF
  • %User Temp%\FUNSDOTAHACK_1.4.EXE

Step 7

Search and delete these folders

[ 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%\Application Data\DYA_ATANJTHOHJSWUMGQC
  • %User Profile%\DYA_ATANJTHOHJSWUMGQC\1.0.0
  • %User Profile%\1.0.0\Data
  • %Program Files%\MSUpdate
  • %User Temp%\dclogs

Step 8

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as BKDR_MSPOSER.B. 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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