BKDR_QAKBOT.MEPN
Backdoor:Win32/Qakbot.T (Microsoft)
Windows
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 connects to certain websites to send and receive information. It prevents users from visiting antivirus-related websites that contain specific strings. It deletes itself after execution.
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 component file(s):
- %User Startup%\{random}.lnk ← executes copy of itself on startup
- %Windows%\Tasks\{GUID 2}.job (for Windows XP and below) ← executes the Javascript component
- %System%\Tasks\{GUID 2} (for Windows Vista and above) ← executes the Javascript component
- %Windows%\Tasks\{GUID 1}.job (for Windows XP and below) ← executes the dropped copy
- %System%\Tasks\{GUID 1} (for Windows Vista and above) ← executes the dropped copy
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder}\{random file name}.dat ← encrypted component
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder}\{random file name}32.dll ← encrypted configuration file
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\{random file name}.wpl ← Javascript component
(Note: %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 2000 and XP, and C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.. %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.. %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.. %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)
It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- {malware path and file name}\{random file name}.exe
It adds the following processes:
- explorer.exe
It creates the following folders:
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder}
(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)
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\Run
{random name} = %Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe"
Process Termination
This Backdoor terminates the following processes if found running in the affected system's memory:
- windbg.exe
- ChromeUpdate.exe
- msdev.exe
- dbgview.exe
- ollydbg.exe
- ctfmon.exe
- Proxifier.exe
- nav.exe
Information Theft
This Backdoor monitors the Internet Explorer (IE) activities of the affected system, specifically the address bar or title bar. It recreates a legitimate website with a spoofed login page if a user visits banking sites with the following strings in the address bar or title bar:
- .hsbcnet.com
- .web-access.com
- .webcashmgmt.com
- /achupload
- /cashman/
- /cashplus/
- /clkccm/
- /cmserver/
- /corpach/
- /ibws/
- /payments/ach
- /stbcorp/
- /wcmpr/
- /wcmpw/
- /wcmtr/
- /wires/
- /wiret
- access.jpmorgan.com
- accessonline.abnamro.com
- achbatchlisting
- bankeft.com
- blilk.com
- business-eb.ibanking-services.com
- businessaccess.citibank.citigroup.com
- businessbankingcenter.synovus.com
- businessinternetbanking.synovus.com
- businessonline.huntington.com
- businessonline.tdbank.com
- cashmanageronline.bbt.com
- cashproonline.bankofamerica.com
- cbs.firstcitizensonline.com
- chsec.wellsfargo.com
- cmol.bbt.com
- cmoltp.bbt.com
- commercial.bnc.ca
- commercial.wachovia.com
- commercial2.wachovia.com
- commercial3.wachovia.com
- commercial4.wachovia.com
- corporatebanking
- cpw-achweb.bankofamerica.com
- ctm.53.com
- directline4biz.com
- directpay.wellsfargo.com
- e-facts.org
- e-moneyger.com
- each.bremer.com
- ebanking-services.com
- ebc_ebc
- express.53.com
- firstmeritib.com
- firstmeritib.com/defaultcorp.aspx
- goldleafach.com
- iachwellsprod.wellsfargo.com
- ibc.klikbca.com
- iris.sovereignbank.com
- itreasury.regions.com
- itreasurypr.regions.com
- jsp/mainWeb.jsp
- ktt.key.com
- moneymanagergps.com
- netconnect.bokf.com
- nj00-wcm
- ocm.suntrust.com
- onlineserv/CM
- otm.suntrust.com
- paylinks.cunet.org
- premierview.membersunited.org
- providentnjolb.com
- scotiaconnect.scotiabank.com
- securentrycorp.amegybank.com
- securentrycorp.zionsbank.com
- singlepoint.usbank.com
- svbconnect.com
- tcfexpressbusiness.com
- tdetreasury.tdbank.com
- tmcb.zionsbank.com
- tmconnectweb
- treas-mgt.frostbank.com
- treasury.pncbank.com
- trz.tranzact.org
- tssportal.jpmorgan.com
- wc.wachovia.com
- wcp.wachovia.com
- web-cashplus.com
- webexpress.tdbank.com
- wellsoffice.wellsfargo.com
It gathers the following data:
- GeoIP locations
- Browser cookies
- Flash cookies
- Network information
- System information
- FTP, POP3, IMAP, SMTP, HTTPMail, NNTP Passwords
- Outlook login credentials
- Private keys from system certificates
- Login credentials for certain websites
- Internet sessions
Other Details
This Backdoor connects to the following URL(s) to check for an Internet connection:
- cnn.com
- microsoft.com
- baidu.com
- facebook.com
- yahoo.com
- wikipedia.org
- qq.com
- linkedin.com
- mail.ru
It connects to the following URL(s) to get the affected system's IP address:
- www.ip-adress.com
It connects to the following website to send and receive information:
- {generated domain}.(com|net|org|info|biz|org)
It does the following:
- It connects to the following site to check for internet connection:
- http://sanjose.speedtest.comcast.net/random750x750.jpg?x={random numbers}&y=1
- http://boston.speedtest.comcast.net/random750x750.jpg?x={random numbers}&y=1
- http://jacksonville.speedtest.comcast.net/random750x750.jpg?x={random numbers}&y=1
- http://houston.speedtest.comcast.net/random750x750.jpg?x={random numbers}&y=1
- It is capable of the following:
- Download and execute component files
- Download configuration and updates
- Download updated copy of itself
- Uninstall itself
- Kill processes
- Upload files containing stolen information
- Perform FTP functionalities
- It sends the following information to its C&C server:
- ext_ip
- dnsname
- hostname
- user
- domain
- is_admin
- os
- qbot_version
- install_time
- exe
- It also steals stored passwords, cache and cookies from the following servers:
- 001e6608
- 001e6607
- HTTP Server URL
- HTTP User
- HTTPMail Server
- HTTPMail User Name
- IMAP Server
- IMAP User
- IMAP User Name
- NNTP Email Address
- NNTP Server
- NNTP User Name
- POP3 Server
- POP3 User
- POP3 User Name
- SMTP Email Address
- SMTP Server
- SMTP User
- SMTP User Name
- It also monitors the browsing activities of the infected computer and logs all information related to websites containing the following strings:
- .5min.com
- 127.0.0.1
- 180solutions.com
- .adworldmedia.com
- .amazonaws.com
- .bing.com
- .gator.com
- .microsoft.com
- .mozilla.com
- .mozilla.org
- .twimg.com
- \.king.com
- api.skype.com
- audatexsolutions.com
- auditude.com
- brightcove.com
- clients.mindbodyonline.com
- conduit-services.com
- contacts.msn.com
- digitalmediacommunications.com
- doubleclick.
- eorezo.com
- etsy.com
- facebook.com
- farmville.com
- fwmrm.net
- googleusercontent.com
- hotbar.com
- internet-optimizer.com
- kixeye.com
- localhost
- loyaltyconnect.ihg.com
- lphbs.com
- mail.google.com
- mail.services.live.com
- mapquest.com
- mendeley.com
- messenger.live.com
- mochibot.com
- mybrowserbar.com
- myshopres.com
- netflix.com
- newasp.com.cn
- owlforce.com
- phantomefx.com
- playtoga.com
- r777r.info
- radialpoint.com
- salesforce.com
- search.msn.com
- securestudies.com
- seekmo.com
- sipuku.com
- spamblockerutility.com
- storage.live.com
- tbreport.bellsouth.net
- tubemogul.com
- webhancer.com
- wildtangent.com
- wpzkq.com
- youtube.com
- zango.com
- zynga.com
- It terminates itself when executed in the following Virtual Environments:
- Virtual HD
- VirtualProtect
- VirtualBox
- CWSandbox
- VMWare
- It checks for the following running process:
- AvastSvc.exe
- avgcsrvx.exe
- ccSvcHst.exe
- coreServiceShell.exe
- egui.exe
- mcshield.exe
- vsservppl.exe
- It checks if the following anti-virus software is installed:
- norton
- AVG
- mcaffee
- kaspersky
- NOD32
- Bitdefender
- Avast
- Trend Micro
- Microsoft Security Essentials
It prevents users from visiting antivirus-related websites that contain the following strings:
- siteadvisor.com
- avgthreatlabs.com
- safeweb.norton.com
It deletes itself after execution.
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
Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.
Step 3
Restart in Safe Mode
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
- {random name} = "%Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe"
- {random name} = "%Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe"
Step 5
Search and delete these folders
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder}
Step 6
Search and delete these files
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as BKDR_QAKBOT.MEPN. 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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