RTKT_ZACESS.SMAE
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
Threat Type: Trojan
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: No
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This Trojan may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.
It also has rootkit capabilities, which enables it to hide its processes and files from the user.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Arrival Details
This Trojan may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.
Installation
This Trojan drops the following files:
- %Application Data%\8c0f0459\@
- %Application Data%\8c0f0459\X
(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.)
It creates the following folders:
- %Application Data%\8c0f0459
- %Application Data%\8c0f0459\U
- %Windows%\1493438348
(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.. %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.)
Autostart Technique
This Trojan registers itself as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\8c0f0459
ImagePath = "\systemroot\1493438348:1945172902.exe"
It adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Shell = "%Application Data%\8c0f0459\X"
Other System Modifications
This Trojan adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{b1041c7f-46ea-d87c-4a51-abba7b80f3da}
It also creates the following registry entry(ies) as part of its installation routine:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Interface\{b1041c7f-46ea-d87c-4a51-abba7b80f3da}
cid = "{hex values}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\8c0f0459
u = "dword:00000075"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\8c0f0459
id = "{hex values}"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Interface\{b1041c7f-46ea-d87c-4a51-abba7b80f3da}
u = "dword:00000075"
Rootkit Capabilities
This Trojan also has rootkit capabilities, which enables it to hide its processes and files from the user.
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
Identify and delete files detected as RTKT_ZACESS.SMAE using the Recovery Console
Step 3
Delete this registry key
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\Interface
- {b1041c7f-46ea-d87c-4a51-abba7b80f3da}
- {b1041c7f-46ea-d87c-4a51-abba7b80f3da}
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
- 8c0f0459
- 8c0f0459
Step 4
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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
- Shell = "%Application Data%\8c0f0459\X"
- Shell = "%Application Data%\8c0f0459\X"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{b1041c7f-46ea-d87c-4a51-abba7b80f3da}
- cid = "{hex values}"
- cid = "{hex values}"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\8c0f0459
- u = "dword:00000075"
- u = "dword:00000075"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\8c0f0459
- id = "{hex values}"
- id = "{hex values}"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{b1041c7f-46ea-d87c-4a51-abba7b80f3da}
- u = "dword:00000075"
- u = "dword:00000075"
Step 5
Search and delete these files
- %Application Data%\8c0f0459\@
- %Application Data%\8c0f0459\X
Step 6
Search and delete these folders
- %Application Data%\8c0f0459
- %Windows%\1493438348
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as RTKT_ZACESS.SMAE. 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.
Did this description help? Tell us how we did.