Modified by: Rhena Inocencio

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

It executes then deletes itself afterward.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 434,176 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 23 May 2012

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 and executes them:

  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{random hex value}\{random hex value}.exe

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)

It drops the following files:

  • %Desktop%\Smart Fortress 2012.lnk
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Smart Fortress 2012\Smart Fortress 2012.lnk
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{random hex value}\{random hex value}

(Note: %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop on Windows Vista and 7.. %Start Menu% is the current user's Start Menu folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Start Menu or C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu on Windows Vista and 7.. %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Smart Fortress 2012
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{random hex value}

(Note: %Start Menu% is the current user's Start Menu folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Start Menu or C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu on Windows Vista and 7.. %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)

It executes then deletes itself afterward.

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\RunOnce
{random hex value} = "%System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{random hex value}\{random hex value}.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Smart Fortress 2012

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Smart Fortress 2012
DisplayName = "Smart Fortress 2012"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Smart Fortress 2012
ShortcutPath = ""%System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{random hex value}\{random hex value}.exe" -u"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Smart Fortress 2012
UninstallString = ""%System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{random hex value}\{random hex value}.exe" -u"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Smart Fortress 2012
DisplayIcon = "%System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{random hex value}\{random hex value}.exe,0"

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • secure.{BLOCKED}hop.com
  • secure.{BLOCKED}rpay.com
  • secure.{BLOCKED}paygate.com
  • {BLOCKED}y.com

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.200
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 9.138.01
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 25 May 2012
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 9.139.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 25 May 2012

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.SMFZ

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

Delete this registry key

[ 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\Uninstall
    • Smart Fortress 2012

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
    • {random hex value} = "%System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{random hex value}\{random hex value}.exe"

Step 6

Search and delete these folders

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the "More advanced options" option to include all hidden folders in the search result.
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Smart Fortress 2012
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{random hex value}

Step 7

Search and delete this file

[ Learn More ]
There may be some files that are hidden. Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the "More advanced options" option to include all hidden files and folders in the search result.
  • %Desktop%\Smart Fortress 2012.lnk

Step 8

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