Analysis by: Merianne Polintan

ALIASES:

Trojan:Win32/Startpage.KR(Microsoft),Trojan.Startpage(Norton),Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT(Sunbelt),W32/StartPage.CC!tr.dldr(Fortinet)

 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:

  • 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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 298,509 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 22 Apr 2013

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 adds the following folders:

  • %Program Files%\Common Files\TaoBao

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).)

It drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\$$dmsf.bat
  • %Program Files%\Common Files\TaoBao\{Random File Name}.ico
  • %Program Files%\Common Files\TaoBao\{Random File Name2}.ico
  • %Program Files%\Internet Explorer\SIGNUP\wwwwwww.exe
  • %Windows%\RkRealTech.exe
  • %Windows%\RtkSYUdp.exe
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\wwwwwww.1nk

It drops the following component file(s):

  • %System%\kbd101b.dll
  • %System%\kbd101c.dll
  • %System%\kbd103.dll
  • %System%\kbd106.dll
  • %System%\kbdjpn.dll
  • %System%\kbdkor.dll
  • %System%\dllcache\kbd101b.dll
  • %System%\dllcache\kbd101c.dll
  • %System%\dllcache\kbd103.dll
  • %System%\dllcache\kbd106.dll
  • %System%\dllcache\kbdjpn.dll
  • %System%\dllcache\kbdkor.dll

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.)

Other System Modifications

This Trojan deletes the following files:

  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\desktop.ini
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\{Random File Name}.lnk

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.)

It adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.1nk

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.ur1

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{27AEF9E8-063F-0757-829C-A93575895E80}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
.1nk

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
.ur1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{27AEF9E8-063F-0757-829C-A93575895E80}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
DontShowMeThisDialogAgain

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
DontShowMeThisDialogAgain
CompatWarningForwwwwwww.exe = "no"

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Start Page = "http://www.hae123.com/"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {Original Start Page}.)

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://www.{BLOCKED}r.com/ietj/008.htm?0825
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}5.com/tg14802.htm?08849
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}3.com

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.300
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 9.872.06
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 22 Apr 2013
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 9.873.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 23 Apr 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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

Search and delete this folder

[ 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.
  • %Program Files%\Common Files\TaoBao

Step 4

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.
  • %User Temp%\dmsf.bat
  • %Program Files%\Internet Explorer\SIGNUP\wwwwwww.exe
  • %Windows%\RkRealTech.exe
  • %Windows%\RtkSYUdp.exe
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\wwwwwww.1nk
  • %System%\kbd101b.dll
  • %System%\kbd101c.dll
  • %System%\kbd103.dll
  • %System%\kbd106.dll
  • %System%\kbdjpn.dll
  • %System%\kbdkor.dll
  • %System%\dllcache\kbd101b.dll
  • %System%\dllcache\kbd101c.dll
  • %System%\dllcache\kbd103.dll
  • %System%\dllcache\kbd106.dll
  • %System%\dllcache\kbdjpn.dll
  • %System%\dllcache\kbdkor.dll
  • Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
    *Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7.
  • Step 5

    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_CLASSES_ROOT
      • .1nk
    • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
      • .ur1
    • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID
      • {27AEF9E8-063F-0757-829C-A93575895E80}
    • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes
      • .1nk
    • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes
      • .ur1
    • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID
      • {27AEF9E8-063F-0757-829C-A93575895E80}
    • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
      • DontShowMeThisDialogAgain

    Step 6

    Restore this modified 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\Internet Explorer\Main
      • From: Start Page = "http://www.hae123.com/"
        To: Start Page = {Original Start Page}

    Step 7

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

    Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.

    • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\desktop.ini
    • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\{Random File Name}.lnk


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