PE_LOOKED.VL
ERROR (Microsoft); ERROR (McAfee); W32.Looked.BK (Symantec); Worm.Win32.Viking.ik (Kaspersky); ERROR (Sunbelt); Win32/NSAnti.J (AVG)
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
![](/vinfo/imgFiles/legend.jpg)
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 deletes itself after execution.
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 creates the following folders:
- %Windows%\uninstall
(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.)
Autostart Technique
This file infector adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
load = "%Windows%\uninstall\rundl132.exe"
Other System Modifications
This file infector deletes the following files:
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroBroker.exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroRd32Info.exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroTextExtractor.exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AdobeCollabSync.exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\Eula.exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\LogTransport2.exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\PDFPrevHndlrShim.exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
- %Program Files%\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\Install\msnsusii.exe
- %Program Files%\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\Install\MSN9Components\Digcore.exe
- %Program Files%\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\Install\MSN9Components\Msncli.exe
- %Program Files%\WinPcap\rpcapd.exe
- %Program Files%\WinPcap\Uninstall.exe
(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).)
It modifies the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\
Microsoft\Imapi
LogSessionName = "stdout"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {random values}.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\
Microsoft\Imapi
Active = "1"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\
Microsoft\Imapi
ControlFlags = "1"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\
Microsoft\Imapi\ImapiSvc
Guid = "8107d8e9-e323-49f5-bba2-abc35c243dca"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 8107d8e9-e323-49f5-bba2-abc35c243dca.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\
Microsoft\Imapi\ImapiSvc
BitNames = "{random characters}"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is ImapiDebugError ImapiDebugWarning ImapiDebugTrace ImapiDebugInfo ImapiDebugX ImapiDebugSort.)
Dropping Routine
This file infector drops the following files:
- %Windows%\uninstall\rundl132.exe
- %Windows%\Logo1_.exe
- %System Root%\_desktop.ini
- %Windows%\RichDll.dll
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroBroker.exe.Exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe.Exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroRd32Info.exe.Exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroTextExtractor.exe.Exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AdobeCollabSync.exe.Exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\Eula.exe.Exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\LogTransport2.exe.Exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\PDFPrevHndlrShim.exe.Exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe.Exe
- %Program Files%\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\Install\msnsusii.exe.Exe
- %Program Files%\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\Install\MSN9Components\Digcore.exe.Exe
- %Program Files%\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\Install\MSN9Components\Msncli.exe.Exe
- %Program Files%\WinPcap\rpcapd.exe.Exe
- %Program Files%\WinPcap\Uninstall.exe.Exe
- %Temp%\8jrq37kz.TMP
(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.. %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).. %Temp% is the Windows Temporary folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Temp.)
Other Details
This file infector deletes itself after execution.
This report is generated via an automated analysis system.
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
Restart in Safe Mode
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\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- load = "%Windows%\uninstall\rundl132.exe"
Step 4
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\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\Microsoft\Imapi
- From: LogSessionName = "stdout"
To: LogSessionName = ""{random values}""
- From: LogSessionName = "stdout"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\Microsoft\Imapi
- From: Active = "1"
To: Active = ""1""
- From: Active = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\Microsoft\Imapi
- From: ControlFlags = "1"
To: ControlFlags = ""1""
- From: ControlFlags = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\Microsoft\Imapi\ImapiSvc
- From: Guid = "8107d8e9-e323-49f5-bba2-abc35c243dca"
To: Guid = ""8107d8e9-e323-49f5-bba2-abc35c243dca""
- From: Guid = "8107d8e9-e323-49f5-bba2-abc35c243dca"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\Microsoft\Imapi\ImapiSvc
- From: BitNames = "{random characters}"
To: BitNames = "" ImapiDebugError ImapiDebugWarning ImapiDebugTrace ImapiDebugInfo ImapiDebugX ImapiDebugSort""
- From: BitNames = "{random characters}"
Step 5
Search and delete these components
- %Windows%\uninstall\rundl132.exe
- %Windows%\Logo1_.exe
- %System Root%\_desktop.ini
- %Windows%\RichDll.dll
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroBroker.exe.Exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe.Exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroRd32Info.exe.Exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroTextExtractor.exe.Exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AdobeCollabSync.exe.Exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\Eula.exe.Exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\LogTransport2.exe.Exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\PDFPrevHndlrShim.exe.Exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe.Exe
- %Program Files%\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\Install\msnsusii.exe.Exe
- %Program Files%\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\Install\MSN9Components\Digcore.exe.Exe
- %Program Files%\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\Install\MSN9Components\Msncli.exe.Exe
- %Program Files%\WinPcap\rpcapd.exe.Exe
- %Program Files%\WinPcap\Uninstall.exe.Exe
- %Temp%\8jrq37kz.TMP
Step 6
Search and delete this folder
- %Windows%\uninstall
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as PE_LOOKED.VL. 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.
Step 8
Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroBroker.exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroRd32Info.exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroTextExtractor.exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AdobeCollabSync.exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\Eula.exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\LogTransport2.exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\PDFPrevHndlrShim.exe
- %Program Files%\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
- %Program Files%\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\Install\msnsusii.exe
- %Program Files%\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\Install\MSN9Components\Digcore.exe
- %Program Files%\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\Install\MSN9Components\Msncli.exe
- %Program Files%\WinPcap\rpcapd.exe
- %Program Files%\WinPcap\Uninstall.exe
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