Analysis by: Adrian Cofreros
 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:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Trojan may arrive bundled with malware packages as a malware component. It 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 Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 251,432 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 31 Jan 2014

Arrival Details

This Trojan may arrive bundled with malware packages as a malware component.

It arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

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\Run
{malware file name} = "regsvr32.exe /s {malware path}\{malware file name}.{extension}"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
NoProtectedModeBanner = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
TabProcGrowth = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows\Safer\
CodeIdentifiers
DefaultLevel = "{random number}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows\Safer\
CodeIdentifiers
PolicyScope = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows\Safer\
CodeIdentifiers
TransparentEnabled = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Hardware Profiles\0001\Software\
Microsoft\windows\CurrentVersion\
Internet Settings
ProxyEnable = "1"

Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification

This Trojan modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.700
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 10.602.01
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 31 Jan 2014
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 10.603.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 01 Feb 2014

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

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Safer
    • CodeIdentifiers = ""
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer
    • Main = ""

Step 4

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • {malware file name} = "regsvr32.exe /s {malware path}\{malware file name}.{extension}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Hardware Profiles\0001\Software\Microsoft\windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
    • ProxyEnable = "1"

Step 5

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