Analysis by: Rika Joi Gregorio

 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:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • 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: 98,304 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 30 Aug 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 and executes them:

  • %Windows%\checkmons.exe

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

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{random}
StubPath = "%Windows%\checkmons.exe"

Other System Modifications

This backdoor adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications\
PJM

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications\
PJM\Recent File List

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications\
PJM\Settings

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{random}

Other Details

This backdoor connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • {BLOCKED}r.{BLOCKED}ectisusa.com