ALIASES:

Backdoor:Win32/VB (Microsoft); Trojan.SpamThru (Symantec); Trojan.Win32.Qhost.mu (Kaspersky); Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt); Trojan.Qhost.MU (FSecure)

 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 modifies files, disabling programs and applications from properly running.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 20,480 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 01 Jan 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.

Other System Modifications

This Trojan modifies the following files:

  • %System%\drivers\etc\hosts

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

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
DirectDraw\MostRecentApplication
Name = "iexplore.exe"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is iexplore.exe.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
DirectDraw\MostRecentApplication
ID = "4117b81"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 41107b81.)

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.300

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

Restore these modified registry values

[ Learn More ]

Important:Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this only if you know how to or you can seek your system administrator's help. You may also check out this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DirectDraw\MostRecentApplication
    • From: Name = "iexplore.exe"
      To: Name = ""iexplore.exe""
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DirectDraw\MostRecentApplication
    • From: ID = "4117b81"
      To: ID = ""41107b81""

Step 3

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_QHOST.DT. 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 4

Restore deleted/modified files and/or registry entries from backup

*Note: Only Microsoft-related files/keys/values will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted registry keys/values related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on your computer.

    • %System%\drivers\etc\hosts


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