Analysis by: Cris Nowell Pantanilla
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Trojan may be dropped by other malware.

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 57,334 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 03 Sep 2012

Arrival Details

This Trojan may be dropped by the following malware:

  • TROJ_ARTIEF.TOBI

Installation

This Trojan drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %System%\tpframe.exe

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer\run
tpbar = "%System%\tpframe.exe"

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • {BLOCKED}o.{BLOCKED}s.net

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.200
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 9.372.03
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 03 Sep 2012
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 9.373.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 04 Sep 2012

Step 1

For Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 users, before doing any scans, please make sure you disable System Restore to allow full scanning of your computer.

Step 2

Remove malware/grayware files that dropped/downloaded TROJ_AGENT.CSZ

    TROJ_ARTIEF.TOBI

Step 3

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as TROJ_AGENT.CSZ

Step 4

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 5

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\policies\Explorer\run
    • tpbar = %System%\tpframe.exe

Step 6

Search and delete the file detected as TROJ_AGENT.CSZ

[ Learn More ]

Step 7

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