Analysis by: Abraham Latimer Camba
ALIASES:

Exploit.JS.CVE-2011-2462.a (Kaspersky), PDF/Exploit.Pidief.PHL.Gen trojan (ESET), Exploit.SWF.CVE-2011-0611 (Ikarus)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Spammed via email

This Trojan arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users.

It does not have any propagation routine.

It does not have any backdoor routine.

It executes the dropped file(s). As a result, malicious routines of the dropped files are exhibited on the affected system.

It does not have any downloading capability.

It does not have any information-stealing capability.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 589,515 bytes
File Type: PDF
Initial Samples Received Date: 10 Jul 2012
Payload: Drops files

Arrival Details

This Trojan arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users.

Installation

This Trojan drops the following non-malicious file:

  • %User Temp%\Adobe.pdf

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

Propagation

This Trojan does not have any propagation routine.

Backdoor Routine

This Trojan does not have any backdoor routine.

Dropping Routine

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\Winword.js - detected by Trend Micro as JS_SIMBOT.SMC

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

It takes advantage of the following software vulnerabilities to drop malicious files:

It executes the dropped file(s). As a result, malicious routines of the dropped files are exhibited on the affected system.

Download Routine

This Trojan does not have any downloading capability.

Information Theft

This Trojan does not have any information-stealing capability.

NOTES:

It opens the dropped non-malicious PDF file in order to hide its malicious routines from the user.

It does not have rootkit capabilities.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.200
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 9.248.08
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 11 Jul 2012
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 9.249.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 11 Jul 2012

Step 1

For Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 users, before doing any scans, please make sure you disable System Restore to allow full scanning of your computer.

Step 2

Remove malware files dropped/downloaded by TROJ_PIDIEF.EMD

    • JS_SIMBOT.SMC

Step 3

Search and delete these files

[ Learn More ]
There may be some component 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%\Adobe.pdf

Step 4

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_PIDIEF.EMD. 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 5

Download and apply these security patches Refrain from using these products until the appropriate patches have been installed. Trend Micro advises users to download critical patches upon release by vendors.


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.