ALIASES:

Virus:Win32/Viking.MR (Microsoft); W32/HLLP.Philis.d (McAfee); W32.HLLP.Philis (Symantec); Virus.Win32.HLLP.Sypon.b (Kaspersky); Virus.Win32.HLLP.Sypon.b (v) (Sunbelt); Win32/Sypon.B (AVG)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 REPORTED INFECTION:

  • 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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 785,156 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 14 May 2013

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 copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Windows%\SOS.exe

(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\RunServices
SOS = "%Windows%\SOS.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
SOS = "%Windows%\SOS.exe"

Other System Modifications

This file infector adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SoftWare\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\legend of mir2

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
legend of mir2
WinX = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
legend of mir2
NowCount = "0"

Dropping Routine

This file infector drops the following files:

  • %User Profile%\{AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-AA0000000001}\setup.exe
  • %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
  • %Windows%\SOS.exe

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.. %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).. %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.)

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.300

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\SoftWare\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
    • RunServices
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
    • legend of mir2

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\RunServices
    • SOS = "%Windows%\SOS.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • SOS = "%Windows%\SOS.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\legend of mir2
    • WinX = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\legend of mir2
    • NowCount = "0"

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.
  • %User Profile%\{AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-AA0000000001}\setup.exe
  • %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
  • %Windows%\SOS.exe

Step 6

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