Analysis by: Anthony Joe Melgarejo

ALIASES:

Virus:Win32/Hala.A (Microsoft), W32.Almanahe.C!inf (Symantec), W32/Hala (McAfee)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: File infector

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Infects files

This file infector steals system information.

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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: Varies
File Type: PE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 27 Apr 2007
Payload: Downloads files, Steals information

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 files:

  • %System%\d9dx.dll
  • %System%\d3d8xof.dll

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.)

Autostart Technique

This file infector adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{DA1910DE-AA86-4ED0-874B-2924E38BAD99}\
InprocServer32
(Default) = "%System%\d3d8xof.dll"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{DA1910DE-AA86-4ED0-874B-2924E38BAD99}\InprocServer32
(Default) = "%System%\d3d8xof.dll"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\ShellServiceObjectDelayLoad
DirectX = "{DA1910DE-AA86-4ED0-874B-2924E38BAD99}"

Other System Modifications

This file infector adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{DA1910DE-AA86-4ED0-874B-2924E38BAD99}

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Google
CheckBKFlags = "{random value}"

File Infection

This file infector infects the following file types:

  • .EXE

Other Details

This file infector connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://fbindwebdlm.{BLOCKED}isdown.com/down/sp.dlm

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 8.900
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 4.452.02
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 03 May 2007
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 4.453.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 04 May 2007

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

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as PE_RECTIX.A

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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\ShellServiceObjectDelayLoad
    • DirectX = {DA1910DE-AA86-4ED0-874B-2924E38BAD99}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Google
    • CheckBKFlags = {random value}

Step 5

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_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID
    • {DA1910DE-AA86-4ED0-874B-2924E38BAD99}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID
    • {DA1910DE-AA86-4ED0-874B-2924E38BAD99}

Step 6

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.
  • %System%\d9dx.dll
  • %System%\d3d8xof.dll

Step 7

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