Analysis by: Kiyoshi Obuchi
ALIASES:

HackTool.Win32.KMSAuto.z (Kaspersky); HackTool:Win32/AutoKMS (Microsoft)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Hacking Tool

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Hacking Tool arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It requires being executed with a specific argument/parameter, an additional component, or in a specific environment in order to proceed with its intended routine.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 3,727,360 bytes
File Type: EXE
Initial Samples Received Date: 17 Dec 2013

Arrival Details

This Hacking Tool 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 Hacking Tool drops the following files:

  • %All Users Profile%\Microsoft Toolkit\Settings.xml
  • {Malware Path}\AutoKMS.log

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the common user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\ProgramData on Windows Vista, 7, and 8. )

Other Details

This Hacking Tool requires being executed with a specific argument/parameter, an additional component, or in a specific environment in order to proceed with its intended routine.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
SSAPI PATTERN File: 1.991.00
SSAPI PATTERN Date: 16 Aug 2018

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

Identify and terminate files detected as HKTL_AUTOKMS.GA

[ Learn More ]
  1. Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
  2. 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.
  3. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

Step 4

Search and delete these files

[ 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%\Microsoft Toolkit\Settings.xml
  • {Malware Path}\AutoKMS.log

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as HKTL_AUTOKMS.GA. 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 the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.