PLATFORM:

Windows

 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.

It deletes itself after execution.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 689,664 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 04 Sep 2015

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:

  • %Windows%\InstallDir\Server.exe

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %User Profile%\Windows\dQ3or6MWqmeNX
  • %Windows%\InstallDir

(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.. %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.)

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\Run
HKLM = "%Windows%\InstallDir\Server.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKCU = "%Windows%\InstallDir\Server.exe"

Other System Modifications

This backdoor adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\dQ3or6MWqmeNX

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\1268

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\dQ3or6MWqmeNX
ServerStarted = "8/20/2015 20:17:48 PM"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\dQ3or6MWqmeNX
InstalledServer = "%Windows%\InstallDir\Server.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\dQ3or6MWqmeNX
ServerStarted = "8/20/2015 20:18:04 PM"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\1268
Mutex = "dQ3or6MWqmeNX"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\dQ3or6MWqmeNX
ServerStarted = "8/20/2015 20:18:06 PM"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\dQ3or6MWqmeNX
ServerStarted = "8/20/2015 20:18:14 PM"

Dropping Routine

This backdoor drops the following files:

  • %User Profile%\dQ3or6MWqmeNX\dQ3or6MWqmeNX.nfo
  • %User Temp%\x.html
  • %User Profile%\dQ3or6MWqmeNX\dQ3or6MWqmeNX.svr

(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.. %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.)

Other Details

This backdoor connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • {BLOCKED}200.188

It deletes itself after execution.

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.750

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ 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
    • dQ3or6MWqmeNX
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE
    • 1268

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\Run
    • HKLM = "%Windows%\InstallDir\Server.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • HKCU = "%Windows%\InstallDir\Server.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\dQ3or6MWqmeNX
    • ServerStarted = "8/20/2015 20:17:48 PM"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\dQ3or6MWqmeNX
    • InstalledServer = "%Windows%\InstallDir\Server.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\dQ3or6MWqmeNX
    • ServerStarted = "8/20/2015 20:18:04 PM"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\1268
    • Mutex = "dQ3or6MWqmeNX"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\dQ3or6MWqmeNX
    • ServerStarted = "8/20/2015 20:18:06 PM"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\dQ3or6MWqmeNX
    • ServerStarted = "8/20/2015 20:18:14 PM"

Step 5

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%\dQ3or6MWqmeNX\dQ3or6MWqmeNX.nfo
  • %User Temp%\x.html
  • %User Profile%\dQ3or6MWqmeNX\dQ3or6MWqmeNX.svr

Step 6

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%\Windows\dQ3or6MWqmeNX
  • %Windows%\InstallDir

Step 7

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


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.