Analysis by: Rika Joi Gregorio
ALIASES:

TrojanSpy:Win32/Aibatook.A(Microsoft), a variant of Win32/Spy.Aibatook.A trojan(Eset)

 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: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware

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 deletes registry entries, causing some applications and programs to not function properly.

As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 115,200 bytes
File Type: DLL
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 14 Oct 2013
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Downloads files, Steals information

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 and executes the following files:

  • %Application Data%\{random file name}.dll - also detected as TSPY_AIBATOOK.A

(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.)

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
TcpIpCfg = "Rundll32 "%Application Data%\{random file name}.dll" MainThread"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
ProxyEnable = "0"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "1".)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
ProxyOverride = ""

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "<-loopback>;".)

HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG\Software\Microsoft\
windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
ProxyEnable = "0"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "1".)

It deletes the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
ProxyServer = "http=127.0.0.1:8888;https=127.0.0.1:8888"

Download Routine

This Trojan accesses the following websites to download files:

  • http://www.{BLOCKED}001.info/ini.txt

It saves the files it downloads using the following names:

  • %Application Data%\ini.ini

(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.)

As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

Information Theft

This Trojan gathers the following data:

  • MAC Address
  • OS Version
  • Banking-related information (Card number, password, PIN, Expiration Date)

Stolen Information

This Trojan sends the gathered information via HTTP POST to the following URL:

  • http://www.{BLOCKED}tj.info/mail.asp?MAC={MAC Address}&VER={OS Version} - inaccessible
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}oo.com/get.asp?CardNum={Card Number}&Q1={Security Question 1}&A1={Answer to Security Question 1}&Q2={Security Question 2}&A2={Answer to Security Question 2}&LoginPass={Password}&PayPass={Password}&VER={Version}
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}g.com/get.asp?CardNum={Card Number}&Q1={Security Question 1}&A1={Answer to Security Question 1}&Q2={Security Question 2}&A2={Answer to Security Question 2}&LoginPass={Password}&PayPass={Password}&VER={Version}

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.300
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 10.346.02
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 17 Oct 2013
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 10.347.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 18 Oct 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

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
    • TcpIpCfg = "Rundll32 "%Application Data%\{random file name}.dll" MainThread"

Step 4

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\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
    • From: ProxyEnable = "0"
      To: ProxyEnable = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
    • From: ProxyOverride = "<local>"
      To: ProxyOverride = "<-loopback>;"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG\Software\Microsoft\windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
    • From: ProxyEnable = "0"
      To: ProxyEnable = "1"

Step 5

Restore this deleted registry key/value from backup

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

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
    • ProxyServer = "http=127.0.0.1:8888;https=127.0.0.1:8888;"

Step 6

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.  
  • %Application Data%\ini.ini

Step 7

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


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