PE_EXPIRO.AR
Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)
Threat Type: File infector
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted:
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This file infector arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
It modifies registry entries to disable various system services. This action prevents most of the system functions to be used.
It does not have any propagation routine.
It connects to a website to send and receive information.
It modifies Internet Explorer security settings. This puts the affected computer at greater risk, as it allows malicious URLs to be accessed by the computer.
It does not have any downloading capability.
It steals certain information from the system and/or the user.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Arrival Details
This file infector 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 file infector drops the following file(s)/component(s):
- %Application Data%\{Volume serial of system folder}{number}.nls - non-malicious
(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming 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.)
It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:
- kkq-vx-mtx{number}
Other System Modifications
This file infector adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows\System
EnableSmartScreen = "0"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer
HideSCAHealth = "1"
It modifies registry entries to disable the following system services:
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.)
File Infection
This file infector infects the following file types:
- EXE
Propagation
This file infector does not have any propagation routine.
Backdoor Routine
This file infector connects to the following websites to send and receive information:
- hxxp://www1.{BLOCKED}c.ca
- http://{BLOCKED}seevers.net
- http://{BLOCKED}promarenda.ru
- http://{BLOCKED}vostok.ws
- http://www.{BLOCKED}usb33bit.com
- http://{BLOCKED}nuran237.com
- http://{BLOCKED}beavis.ru
- http://{BLOCKED}estores.cc
- http://{BLOCKED}plutonium.com
- http://{BLOCKED}policy2011.ru
- http://{BLOCKED}jopa2018.org
- http://{BLOCKED}-testlist.biz
- http://{BLOCKED}-casting.ru
- http://{BLOCKED}ed.ru
- http://{BLOCKED}blardoegp.com
- http://{BLOCKED}bank.ru
- http://{BLOCKED}isnotlexus.com
- http://{BLOCKED}micfailz.com
- http://{BLOCKED}ka-ww2.ru
- http://{BLOCKED}latker.ru
- http://{BLOCKED}axxlub.ru
- http://{BLOCKED}gay-formula.in
Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification
This file infector modifies Internet Explorer zone settings.
Download Routine
This file infector does not have any downloading capability.
Information Theft
This file infector steals the following information:
- Certificates
- User credentials
- Information from Filezilla
- Windows Product ID
- Drive Volume Serial Number
- OS Version
Stolen Information
This file infector saves the stolen information in the following file:
- %Application Data%\kf{random number}z32.dl
- %Application Data%\dfl{random number}z32.dll
- %Application Data%\wsr{number}zt32.dll
(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming 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.)
NOTES:
This malware infects files of shortcuts in the following locations:
- %Desktop%
- %Start Menu%\Programs
Since it infects startup programs, it also serves as the auto-start mechanism of PE_EXPIRO.AR
It also monitors the presence of removable drives. If found, it infects .EXE files in the present removable drive. This serves as its propagation method.
It also searches drives from C to Z which it also infects if it finds .EXE files in these locations. In this way, the drives shared through network are infected. This also serves as its propagation method.
It also looks for .EXE files in registered services and infects the target files related to the services.
It also modifies the infected services' Start and Type registry values.
It terminates the following security programs:
- Avast
- avg_i
- COMODO
- bitdefender
- avira
- Titanium_
- eav_
- ess_
- Outpost
- Emisoft
- _FUL_
- _sfx.exe
- SetupWeb_
- MSASCui.exe
- msseces.exe
- mseinstall.exe
- Tcpview.exe
- cav_installer.exe
- cfw_installer.exe
- cispremium_installer.exe
- PandaCloudAntivirus.exe
- 60Second.exe
- Antivirus_Free_Edition.exe
- OnlineArmorSetup.exe
- McAfeeSetup.exe
- Vba32.NT.T.exe
- Vba32.P.exe
- Vba32.S.exe
- Vba.Vista.exe
- Vba.W.exe
- Vba32Check.exe
- Vba32RCSInstallTuner.exe
- avgmfapx.exe
It disables the following services:
- wscsvc
- WinDefend
- MsMpSvc
- NisServ
- gupdate
- gupdatem
- wuauserv
It installs Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome add-ons/extensions to monitor browser activity and redirect users to the following URLs:
- {BLOCKED}c-sunholder.net
- {BLOCKED}portal-2013.ru
- {BLOCKED}jhop-ultraz.org
- {BLOCKED}lan-dagestan.net
- {BLOCKED}sia-gvtsvc.ru
- {BLOCKED}h-gunfactory.ru
- {BLOCKED}ver-syria.biz
- {BLOCKED}v-jop.ru
- {BLOCKED}-mers60.ru
- {BLOCKED}etails666.biz
- {BLOCKED}snor.ru
- {BLOCKED}-na-rukave.biz
- {BLOCKED}-anal-zonds.com
It does not have rootkit capabilities.
It does not exploit any vulnerability.
SOLUTION
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
Restore these modified registry values
Important:Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this only if you know how to or you can seek your system administrator's help. You may also check out this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wscsvc
- From: Start = "4"
To: Start = 2
- From: Start = "4"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wuauserv
- From: Start = "4"
To: Start = 2
- From: Start = "4"
Step 3
Delete this registry value
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\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System
- EnableSmartScreen = 0
- EnableSmartScreen = 0
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer
- HideSCAHealth = 1
- HideSCAHealth = 1
Step 4
Search and delete these files
- %Application Data%\kf{number}z32.dl
- %Application Data%\dfl{number}z32.dll
- %Application Data%\wsr{number}zt32.dll
- %Application Data%\{Volume serial of system folder}{number}.nls
Step 5
Reset Internet security settings
Step 6
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as PE_EXPIRO.AR. 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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