TSPY_HANGAME.AK
Trojan.Win32.Generic.pak!cobra (Sunbelt)
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
Threat Type: Spyware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted:
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This spyware arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Arrival Details
This spyware 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 spyware registers as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\WinSock2\mswsock32
Other System Modifications
This spyware adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\WinSock2\mswsock32
1001 = "%SystemRoot%\system32\mswsock.dll"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\WinSock2\mswsock32
1002 = "%SystemRoot%\system32\mswsock.dll"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\WinSock2\mswsock32
1003 = "%SystemRoot%\system32\mswsock.dll"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\WinSock2\mswsock32
1004 = "%SystemRoot%\system32\rsvpsp.dll"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\WinSock2\mswsock32
1005 = "%SystemRoot%\system32\rsvpsp.dll"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\WinSock2\mswsock32
PathName = "%Program Files%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\MSINFO\EMinfo.dll"
It modifies the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\WinSock2\Parameters\
Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000001
PackedCatalogItem = "{random values}"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {random values}.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\WinSock2\Parameters\
Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000002
PackedCatalogItem = "{random values}"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {random values}.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\WinSock2\Parameters\
Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000003
PackedCatalogItem = "{random values}"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {random values}.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\WinSock2\Parameters\
Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000004
PackedCatalogItem = "{random values}"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {random values}.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\WinSock2\Parameters\
Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000005
PackedCatalogItem = "{random values}"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {random values}.)
Dropping Routine
This spyware drops the following files:
- %Program Files%\Common Files\c_20870.nls
- %Program Files%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\MSINFO\c_20870.nls
- %Program Files%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\MSINFO\EMinfo.dll
(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).)
This report is generated via an automated analysis system.
SOLUTION
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
Step 3
Delete this registry key
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\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2
- mswsock32
Step 4
Delete this registry value
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\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\WinSock2\mswsock32
- 1001 = "%SystemRoot%\system32\mswsock.dll"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\WinSock2\mswsock32
- 1002 = "%SystemRoot%\system32\mswsock.dll"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\WinSock2\mswsock32
- 1003 = "%SystemRoot%\system32\mswsock.dll"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\WinSock2\mswsock32
- 1004 = "%SystemRoot%\system32\rsvpsp.dll"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\WinSock2\mswsock32
- 1005 = "%SystemRoot%\system32\rsvpsp.dll"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\WinSock2\mswsock32
- PathName = "%Program Files%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\MSINFO\EMinfo.dll"
Step 5
Restore these modified registry values
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\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000001
- From: PackedCatalogItem = "{random values}"
To: PackedCatalogItem = ""{random values}""
- From: PackedCatalogItem = "{random values}"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000002
- From: PackedCatalogItem = "{random values}"
To: PackedCatalogItem = ""{random values}""
- From: PackedCatalogItem = "{random values}"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000003
- From: PackedCatalogItem = "{random values}"
To: PackedCatalogItem = ""{random values}""
- From: PackedCatalogItem = "{random values}"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000004
- From: PackedCatalogItem = "{random values}"
To: PackedCatalogItem = ""{random values}""
- From: PackedCatalogItem = "{random values}"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000005
- From: PackedCatalogItem = "{random values}"
To: PackedCatalogItem = ""{random values}""
- From: PackedCatalogItem = "{random values}"
Step 6
Search and delete these components
- %Program Files%\Common Files\c_20870.nls
- %Program Files%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\MSINFO\c_20870.nls
- %Program Files%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\MSINFO\EMinfo.dll
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_HANGAME.AK. 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.
Did this description help? Tell us how we did.