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: 45,071 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 26 Oct 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:

  • %Program Files%\Microsoft Gwguyi\Sppsnsk.exe

(Note: %Program Files% is the Program Files folder, where it usually is C:\Program Files on all Windows operating system versions; C:\Program Files (x86) for 32-bit applications running on Windows 64-bit operating systems.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Program Files%\AppPatch
  • %Program Files%\Microsoft Gwguyi

(Note: %Program Files% is the Program Files folder, where it usually is C:\Program Files on all Windows operating system versions; C:\Program Files (x86) for 32-bit applications running on Windows 64-bit operating systems.)

Autostart Technique

This backdoor registers as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\Wspstz vjzeaiii

Other System Modifications

This backdoor adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Control\MediaResources\msvideo

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup
·Ö×é = "ĬÈÏ·Ö×é"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\Wspstz vjzeaiii
MarkTime = "2015-09-07 19:18"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\Wspstz vjzeaiii
Description = "Sentinel SuperPro Server"

Dropping Routine

This backdoor drops the following files:

  • %Program Files%\AppPatch\mysqld.dll
  • %System Root%\6250.vbs

(Note: %Program Files% is the Program Files folder, where it usually is C:\Program Files on all Windows operating system versions; C:\Program Files (x86) for 32-bit applications running on Windows 64-bit operating systems.. %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.)

Other Details

This backdoor connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://m1.{BLOCKED}a.im/1ZU.jpg
  • {BLOCKED}9.209.94
  • {BLOCKED}5.4.84
  • {BLOCKED}.96.144

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
    • Wspstz vjzeaiii
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\MediaResources
    • msvideo

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\SYSTEM\Setup
    • ·Ö×é = "ĬÈÏ·Ö×é"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Wspstz vjzeaiii
    • MarkTime = "2015-09-07 19:18"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Wspstz vjzeaiii
    • Description = "Sentinel SuperPro Server"

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.
  • %Program Files%\AppPatch\mysqld.dll
  • %System Root%\6250.vbs

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.
  • %Program Files%\AppPatch
  • %Program Files%\Microsoft Gwguyi

Step 7

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