Analysis by: Cris Nowell Pantanilla
ALIASES:

Trojan.Win32.Pirminay.hvy (Kaspersky])

 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

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 modifies the affected system's HOSTS files. This prevents users from accessing certain websites.

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 356,845 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 02 Jun 2011

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:

  • %System%\t2embede.exe

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.)

Autostart Technique

This Trojan adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer\Run
oceoncbay = "%System%\t2embede.exe"

HOSTS File Modification

This Trojan modifies the affected system's HOSTS files to prevent a user from accessing the following websites:

  • thepiratebay.org
  • www.thepiratebay.org
  • mininova.org
  • www.mininova.org
  • forum.mininova.org
  • blog.mininova.org
  • suprbay.org
  • www.suprbay.org

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}netcom.net

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 8.900
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 8.198.10
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 02 Jun 2011

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

Identify and terminate files detected as TROJ_PIRMINAY.BL

[ Learn More ]
  1. 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.
  2. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

Step 3

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer\Run
    • oceoncbay = "%System%\t2embede.exe"

Step 4

Remove these strings added by the malware/grayware/spyware in the HOSTS file

[ Learn More ]
    • 127.0.0.1 thepiratebay.org
    • 127.0.0.1 www.thepiratebay.org
    • 127.0.0.1 mininova.org
    • 127.0.0.1 www.mininova.org
    • 127.0.0.1 forum.mininova.org
    • 127.0.0.1 blog.mininova.org
    • 127.0.0.1 suprbay.org
    • 127.0.0.1 www.suprbay.org
"

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_PIRMINAY.BL. 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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