TROJ_FAKEAV.OTN
Rogue:Win32/FakePAV (Microsoft), Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Blocker.dimc (Kaspersky), FakeAlert-FSX!E77F301E7B92 (McAfee)
Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)
Threat Type: Trojan
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: Yes
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
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.
It displays a window where users can purchase this fake antivirus program.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
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 is injected into the following processes running in memory:
- svchost.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 NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Shell = "{malware location}\{malware name}"
Other System Modifications
This Trojan adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Associations
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Attachments
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
MpCmdRun.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
MpUXSrv.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
MSASCui.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
msconfig.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
msmpeng.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
msseces.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SPP
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Associations
LowRiskFileTypes = ".zip;.rar;.nfo;.txt;.exe;.bat;.com;.cmd;.reg;.msi;.htm;.html;.gif;.bmp;.jpg;.avi;.mpg;.mpeg;.mov;.mp3;.m3u;.wav;"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Attachments
SaveZoneInformation = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Settings
Config = "{Hex Values}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Settings
ip = "computer's IP address"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Settings
net = "yyy-mm-dd_3"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Settings
UID = "{10 random letters}"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
MpCmdRun.exe
Debugger = "svchost.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
MpUXSrv.exe
Debugger = "svchost.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
MSASCui.exe
Debugger = "svchost.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
msconfig.exe
Debugger = "svchost.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
msmpeng.exe
Debugger = "svchost.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
msseces.exe
Debugger = "svchost.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
system
ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin = "0"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
system
ConsentPromptBehaviorUser = "0"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
system
EnableLUA = "0"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
system
EnableVirtualization = "0"
Process Termination
This Trojan terminates processes or services that contain any of the following strings if found running in the affected system's memory:
- MpCmdRun.exe
- MpUXSrv.exe
- MSASCui.exe
- msconfig.exe
- msmpeng.exe
- msseces.exe
Other Details
This Trojan connects to the following URL(s) to get the affected system's IP address:
- http://checkip.dyndns.org
It connects to the following website to send and receive information:
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.82.249/{values}
It connects to the following time servers to determine the current date:
- time.{BLOCKED}s.com
Rogue Antivirus Routine
This Trojan displays the following fake alerts:
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:
This Trojan connects to the following URL(s) if users purchase the fake antivirus program:
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.80.155/customgate2/?callback=jQuery{number}_{number}&name={name}&email={email}&num={card number}&cvv={card cvv}&year={card expiration year}&month={card expiration month}&phone=&address={address}&country={country}&state={state}&zip={zip code}&option=2&support=true&id={number}&sub_id=1&install_id={UID}&project_id={number}&serial={serial}
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.80.155/customgate2/process/?callback=jQuery{number}&transaction_id={number}
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
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 3
Identify and terminate files detected as TROJ_FAKEAV.OTN
- Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
- If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
- If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.
Step 4
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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
- Associations
- Associations
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
- Attachments
- Attachments
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
- MpCmdRun.exe
- MpCmdRun.exe
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
- MpUXSrv.exe
- MpUXSrv.exe
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
- MSASCui.exe
- MSASCui.exe
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
- msconfig.exe
- msconfig.exe
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
- msmpeng.exe
- msmpeng.exe
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
- msseces.exe
- msseces.exe
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
- SPP
- SPP
Step 5
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 = "{malware location}\{malware name}"
- Shell = "{malware location}\{malware name}"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Settings
- Config = "{Hex Values}"
- Config = "{Hex Values}"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Settings
- ip = "computer's IP address"
- ip = "computer's IP address"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Settings
- net = "yyy-mm-dd_3"
- net = "yyy-mm-dd_3"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Settings
- UID = "{10 random letters}"
- UID = "{10 random letters}"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
- ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin = "0"
- ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin = "0"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
- ConsentPromptBehaviorUser = "0"
- ConsentPromptBehaviorUser = "0"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
- EnableLUA = "0"
- EnableLUA = "0"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
- EnableVirtualization = "0"
- EnableVirtualization = "0"
Step 6
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TROJ_FAKEAV.OTN. 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.
NOTES:
After restarting in safe mode, perform the following steps:
- Open Task Manager by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC.
- Create a new task by pressing ALT+N.
- Run explorer by typing explorer and press ENTER.
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