Analysis by: Christopher Daniel So

ALIASES:

Win32/Dorkbot.B worm (NOD32)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware

This Trojan arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It also has rootkit capabilities, which enables it to hide its processes and files from the user.

It executes the downloaded files. As a result, malicious routines of the downloaded files are exhibited on the affected system.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 1,286,144 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 08 Oct 2012
Payload: Downloads files

Arrival Details

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

  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Qnrwrm.exe

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name} on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name} on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

It injects itself into the following processes as part of its memory residency routine:

  • explorer.exe

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Qnrwrm = "%User Profile%\Application Data\Qnrwrm.exe"

Rootkit Capabilities

This Trojan also has rootkit capabilities, which enables it to hide its processes and files from the user.

Download Routine

This Trojan accesses the following websites to download files:

  • http://{BLOCKED}e.com/dl/175341483/21ee863/h3480f.html

It saves the files it downloads using the following names:

  • %User Profile%\Application Data\{random number}.exe

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name} on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name} on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

Trend Micro detects the dowloaded file as:

  • WORM_DORKBOT.IF

It then executes the downloaded files. As a result, malicious routines of the downloaded files are exhibited on the affected system.

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following URL(s) to check for an Internet connection:

  • http://api.wipmania.com/

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.200
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 9.448.05
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 08 Oct 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 files dropped/downloaded by TROJ_DLOADER.IF

    • WORM_DORKBOT.IF

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Qnrwrm = "%User Profile%\Application Data\Qnrwrm.exe"

Step 5

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