Analysis by: Kerstan Josef Navarro
 Modified by: Anthony Joe Melgarejo
ALIASES:

Rogue:Win32/FakeRean (Microsoft), Fake-Rena-FOK!399301448F8E (McAfee), FraudTool.Win32.FakeRean (VIPRE)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • 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 connects to certain websites to send and receive information.

When users agree to buy the software, it connects to a certain URL. It displays a window where users can purchase this fake antivirus program.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 847,872 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 22 Jun 2013
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Displays fake alerts, Terminates processes

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.

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
Internet Security = "{Malware Path and File Name}.exe"

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • http://{BLOCKED}yhelpsupport.com/open.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}ureinternational.com/info.php

Rogue Antivirus Routine

This Trojan displays the following fake alerts:

When users agree to buy the software, it connects to the following URL to continue the purchase:

  • http://{BLOCKED}ownloadgroup.com/405.php?id=92.1
  • http://{BLOCKED}ersecurityauto.com/buynow.php?bid=92.1
  • http://licencecheck24.com/activate/activate.php?id=%uid%&mail=%email%&order_id=%order%

The following window is displayed for users to purchase the fake antivirus program:

It displays the following window and pretends to scan the system:

NOTES:
It terminates all running and to be executed non-critical processes. It then displays a fake notification that the executed file is infected.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.300
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 10.112.04
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 24 Jun 2013
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 10.113.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 24 Jun 2013

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 TROJ_FAKEAV.MUK

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
    • Internet Security = "{Malware Path and File Name}.exe"

Step 5

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

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_FAKEAV.MUK. 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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