Analysis by: Sammy Chua

ALIASES:

Virus:Win32/Ramnit.AH (Microsoft); Virus.Win32.Nimnul.e (Kaspersky); Virus.Win32.Nimnul.ea (Sunbelt)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Trojan 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: 441,856 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 21 Dec 2015

Arrival Details

This Trojan 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 Trojan drops the following files:

  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random}.log
  • %AppDataLocal%\{random folder name}\{random}.tmp
  • %AppDataLocal%\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe - copy of itself
  • %AppDataLocal%\{random}.log
  • %User Temp%\{random}.exe - copy of itself
  • %User Startup%\{random file name}.exe

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\ProgramData 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.. %AppDataLocal% is the Application Data folder found in Local Settings, where it is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local 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.. %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp 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.. %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.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{random file name} = "%AppDataLocal%\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
AntiVirusDisableNotify = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
AntiVirusOverride = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
FirewallDisableNotify = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
FirewallOverride = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
UacDisableNotify = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
UpdatesDisableNotify = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
system
EnableLUA = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
DisableNotifications = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
DoNotAllowExceptions = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
EnableFirewall = "0"

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\MpsSvc
Start = "4"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "2".)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\WinDefend
Start = "4"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "2".)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\wscsvc
Start = "4"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "2".)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\wuauserv
Start = "4"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "2".)

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • {BLOCKED}tst.ru

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 12.224.03
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 21 Dec 2015
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 12.225.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 22 Dec 2015

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

[ Learn More ]

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
    • {random file name} = "%AppDataLocal%\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
    • AntiVirusDisableNotify = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
    • AntiVirusOverride = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
    • FirewallDisableNotify = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
    • FirewallOverride = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
    • UacDisableNotify = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
    • UpdatesDisableNotify = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
    • EnableLUA = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
    • DisableNotifications = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
    • DoNotAllowExceptions = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
    • EnableFirewall = "0"

Step 5

Restore this modified 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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\MpsSvc
    • From: Start = "4"
      To: Start = "2"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\WinDefend
    • From: Start = "4"
      To: Start = "2"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\wscsvc
    • From: Start = "4"
      To: Start = "2"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\wuauserv
    • From: Start = "4"
      To: Start = "2"

Step 6

Search and delete this file

[ Learn More ]
There may be some files 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.
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random}.log
  • %AppDataLocal%\{random folder name}\{random}.tmp
  • %AppDataLocal%\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe
  • %AppDataLocal%\{random}.log
  • %User Temp%\{random}.exe
  • %User Startup%\{random file name}.exe

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as BKDR_RAMNIT.KL. 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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