TROJ_FAKEAV.TUE
Rogue:Win32/Winwebsec(Microsoft),Win32/Adware.SystemSecurity.AL application(NOD32),Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Blocker.bioz(Kaspersky)
Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)
![](/vinfo/imgFiles/legend.jpg)
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 does not have any propagation routine.
It does not have any backdoor routine.
It does not have any downloading capability.
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
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:
- %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe
(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users or Common profile folder, which is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users in Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, and C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista and 7.)
It drops the following files:
- %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.ico
- %Desktop%\System Care Antivirus.lnk
- %Start Menu%\Programs\System Care Antivirus\System Care Antivirus.lnk
- %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}
(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users or Common profile folder, which is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users in Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, and C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista and 7.. %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.)
It creates the following folders:
- %Start Menu%\Programs\System Care Antivirus
- %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}
(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.. %All Users Profile% is the All Users or Common profile folder, which is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users in Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, and C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista and 7.)
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 file name} = "%All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe"
Other System Modifications
This Trojan adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Installer\Products\{random key}
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Installer\Products\{random key}
(Default) = "1"
Propagation
This Trojan does not have any propagation routine.
Backdoor Routine
This Trojan does not have any backdoor routine.
Download Routine
This Trojan does not have any downloading capability.
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}ersec.com/p/?{parameters}
- http://{BLOCKED}unit.com/p/?{parameters}
- http://{BLOCKED}esoft.com/?{parameters}
- http://{BLOCKED}rs.com/p/?{parameters}
- http://{BLOCKED}rketpay.com/p/?{parameters}
- http://{BLOCKED}oint.com/p/? {parameters}
- http://{BLOCKED}ysafe.com/p/?{parameters}
- http://{BLOCKED}ter.com/p/?{parameters}
The following window is displayed for users to purchase the fake antivirus program:
- It may show other window, however some are inaccessible as of this writing.
It displays the following window and pretends to scan the system:
NOTES:
It terminates process except for the following:
- SearchProtocolHost.exe
- aeadisrv.exe
- alg.exe
- audiodg.exe
- avapro.exe
- cleaner.exe
- conhost.exe
- csrss.exe
- ctfmon.exe
- diskavpro.exe
- dllhost.exe
- driverquery.exe
- dwm.exe
- explorer.exe
- httpd.exe
- iastordatamgrsvc.exe
- iexplore.exe
- iexplorer.exe
- livesp.exe
- lsass.exe
- lsm.exe
- makecab.exe
- mdnsresponder.exe
- mfnsvc.exe
- msdtc.exe
- nvscpapisvr.exe
- nvsvc.exe
- nvvsvc.exe
- outlook.exe
- pdagent.exe
- relver.exe
- rundll32.exe
- scarav.exe
- searchindexer.exe
- services.exe
- slsvc.exe
- smartfortress.exe
- smss.exe
- snort.exe
- spoolsv.exe
- svchost.exe
- system
- systeminfo.exe
- taskhost.exe
- tasklist.exe
- vmtoolsd.exe
- werfault.exe
- wininit.exe
- winlogon.exe
- winmail.exe
- winroute.exe
- wlmail.exe
- wmiprvse.exe
- wmpnetwk.exe
- wscntfy.exe
- wuauclt.exe
It connects to the following URL to notify the malicious user that the FAKEAV variant has been installed and to notify the malicious user where the malware sent the credit card information entered by the victim:
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.29.179/api/dom/no_respond/?ts={value1}&token={value3}&affid={value2}&ver={value4}
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.29.179/api/urls/?ts={value1}&affid={value2}
It does not have rootkit capabilities.
It does not exploit any vulnerability.
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
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as TROJ_FAKEAV.TUE
Step 3
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 4
Search and delete these files
- %Desktop%\System Care Antivirus.lnk
Step 5
Search and delete these folders
- %Start Menu%\Programs\System Care Antivirus
- %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}
Step 6
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\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- {random file name} = "%All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe"
- {random file name} = "%All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe"
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TROJ_FAKEAV.TUE. 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 8
The following created registry key(s) cannot be identified by the user since there are no reference values in the created key. The only way it can be identified is by comparing the present keys with a backup of the system registry. Note that the said key(s) do not have to be deleted since it won't be harmful to the system:
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Installer\Products
- {random key}
- {random key}
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