Analysis by: Roland Marco Dela Paz

ALIASES:

Microsoft : Trojan:Win32/Neop; Sophos : Mal/VB-CF

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This backdoor modifies registry entries to disable various system services. This action prevents most of the system functions to be used.

It connects to a website to send and receive information.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 34,816 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 22 Dec 2010

Installation

This backdoor drops the following non-malicious files:

  • %System%\v4vribc.log - encrypted configuration file
  • %User Temp%\ka6yd1r.log - contains encrypted list of AV-related executable file names

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.. %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.)

It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %User Temp%\hpbuj8t.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.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\
Windows\CURRENTVERSION\Policies\
Explorer\Run
sra0w = %User Temp%\hpbuj8t.exe

Other System Modifications

This backdoor modifies registry entries to disable the following system services:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess
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.)

Backdoor Routine

This backdoor connects to the following websites to send and receive information:

  • http://bestkind.ru

Other Details

This backdoor does the following:

  • Executes the following commands in command line in order to disable Windows Security Center and Windows Firewall:
    • net.exe stop "Security Center"
    • net.exe stop "Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)"
    • net1 stop "Security Center"
    • net1 stop "Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)"
    • sc config SharedAccess start= DISABLED
    • sc config wscsvc start= DISABLED
    Upon execution, it will connect to the following C&C server to download an encrypted config file:
    • hxxp://{BLOCKED}nd.ru/list.php?c={encrypted MAC address of the affected system}&v=2
    The downloaded config file, when decrypted, may contain any of the following fields:
    • [{ASCII equivalent of hex value}] - this is refered as Serial Number by the malware and contains another URL to other excutable files
    • [IFEO] - this contains a list of executable that will which it targets to prevent from running
    • [DNS] - this contains a list of entries that will be added in hosts file
    • [Block] - this contains a list of security related executables which it blocks TCP connection
    • [other] - this could contain other data from C&C server
    • Download and Execute File ({ASCII equivalent of hex value}) If this field is present, it will download and execute the URLs in the list. It saves the downloaded files as {random}.exe in %User Temp% directory. As per analysis, the downloaded configuration file contains the following list of download URLs:
      • hxxp://{BLOCKED}rdomainname.in/upload/int.exe
      • hxxp://{BLOCKED}9.{BLOCKED}6.143.133/1.exe
      • hxxp://{BLOCKED}er.com/tm/bt.exe
      • hxxp://{BLOCKED}er.com/tm/cry.exe
      It then reports to its C&C server by connecting to the following site:
      • hxxp://{BLOCKED}nd.ru/sn.php?c={encoded parameters}
      As of writing, the URLs above are inaccessible.
    • Image File Execution Options (IFEO) If this field is present, it will create the following registry for each of executable name listed:
      • HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\{executable filename} debugger = %System%\svchost.exe
      *The downloaded configuration file does not contain this field during the time it was analyzed.
    • Hosts File Modification (DNS)If this field is present, it will add the entries listed in this field to the %system%\drivers\etc\hosts. *The downloaded configuration file does not contain this field during the time it was analyzed.
    • Blocking TCP Connection of AV Related Executables (Block) If this field is present, it will encode all the entries listed and write to file %temp%\ka6yd1r.log.It will then parse all the running process and when the name of the process matches one from the list, it will set the TCP state of the process to MIB_TCP_STATE_DELETE_TCB. This effectively closes the TCP connection of the process.As per analysis, the downloaded configuration file contains the following list of executable files:
      • avp.exe
      • egui.exe
      • ekrn.exe
      • ashupd.exe
      • avast.setup
      • a2service.exe
      • a2free.exe
      • avgcmgr.exe
      • avgiproxy.exe
      • avgupd.exe
      • livesrv.exe
      • drwebupw.exe
      • guardxup.exe
      • solocfg.exe
      • soloscan.exe
      • ufupdui.exe
      • tmproxy.exe
      • sfctlcom.exe
      • vsmon.exe
      • zlclient.exe
      • fpavserver.exe
      • fptrayproc.exe
      • mcupdmgr.exe
      • mcupdui.exe
      • mcupdutl.exe
      • hwupdchk.exe
      • mcujgui.exe
      • mcnasvc.exe
      • vbinsttmp.exe
      • ewido.exe
      • ccsvchst.exe
      • ccseupdt.exe
      • alupdate.exe
      • alsvc.exe
      • fortiproxy.exe
      • fortiscand.exe
      • fshdll32.exe
      • fshdll64.exe
      • fsorsp.exe
      • prevx.exe
      • avkproxy.exe
      • quickup.exe
      • mupdate2.exe
      • sbamsvc.exe
      • alive_.exe
      • niu.exe
      • avrpts.exe
      • updgui.exe
      • bullguard.exe
      • bullguardupdate.exe
      • wrconsumerservice.exe
      • ccupdate.exe
      • plasservice.exe
      • pareto_av.exe
      • pareto_update.exe
      • cdas2.exe
      • vcrupd.exe
      • avupdater.exe
      • ppinupdt.exe
      • update_tmp.exe
      • snsupd.exe
      • mks_services.exe
      • freshclam.exe
      • hupdate.exe
      • aamw_signatureupdate.exe
      • aamw_main.exe
      • tfun.exe
      • tfud.exe

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 8.900
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 7.717.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 22 Dec 2010

Step 1

For Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 users, before doing any scans, please make sure you disable System Restore to allow full scanning of your computer.

Step 2

Identify and terminate files detected as BKDR_SRAOW.A

[ Learn More ]
  1. If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
  2. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

Step 3

Search and delete this file

[ Learn More ]
There may be some component 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.  %System%\v4vribc.log
%User Temp%\ka6yd1r.log

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\Windows\CURRENTVERSION\Policies\Explorer\Run
    • sra0w = %User Temp%\hpbuj8t.exe

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\SharedAccess
    • From: Start = 4
      To: Start = 2
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wscsvc
    • From: Start = 4
      To: Start = 2

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as BKDR_SRAOW.A. 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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