ALIASES:

Trojan.Win32.Agent.apikw (Kaspersky); Mal/VB-AKY (Sophos); Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • 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

File Size: 1,191,936 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 06 May 2015

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.

Installation

This spyware creates the following folders:

  • %User Profile%\10.0\Forms
  • %User Profile%\10.0\Collab
  • %User Profile%\Network\Downloader

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)

Other System Modifications

This spyware deletes the following files:

  • %User Profile%\10.0\ReaderMessages-journal
  • %Application Data%\Adobe\Acrobat\10.0\SharedDataEvents-journal

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.. %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

It adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Adobe Acrobat\10.0

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Adobe Synchronizer\10.0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\Acrobatbrokerserverdispatchercpp789

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Installer\
Migrated

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Originals

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\AVGeneral

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Adobe Synchronizer\10.0\Acrobat.com

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Adobe Synchronizer\10.0\Acrobat.com.v2

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Adobe Acrobat\10.0\DiskCabs

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\
cDocumentCenter

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\
cDocumentCenter\cSettings

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\
cEmailDistribution

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\
cEmailDistribution\cSettings

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\
cInitiationWizardFirstLaunch

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\AdobeViewer

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\
Microsoft\BITS

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\
Microsoft\BITS\CtlGuid

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\BITS

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Installer\
Migrated
{AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-AA0000000001} = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Originals
bDisplayedSplash = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\AVGeneral
bLastExitNormal = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\
cDocumentCenter
bAlwaysUseServer = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\
cDocumentCenter
bAlwaysUseServerFD = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\
cDocumentCenter
bDefault = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\
cDocumentCenter
bDefaultFD = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\
cDocumentCenter
tDistMethod = "UPLOAD"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\
cDocumentCenter\cSettings
tcSetting = "https://api.{BLOCKED}e.acrobat.com"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\
cDocumentCenter
tUI = "Acrobat.com (Recommended)"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\
cDocumentCenter
tURL = "urn://ns.{BLOCKED}e.com/Collaboration/SharedReview/Acrobat.com"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\
cEmailDistribution
bAlwaysUseServerFD = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\
cEmailDistribution
bDefaultFD = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\
cEmailDistribution
tDistMethod = "EMAIL"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\
cEmailDistribution
tUI = "Manually collect responses in my email inbox"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\
cEmailDistribution
tURL = "urn://ns.{BLOCKED}e.com/Collaboration/Forms/Email"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\
cInitiationWizardFirstLaunch
bIsFirstLaunchER = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\
cInitiationWizardFirstLaunch
bIsFirstLaunchFD = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\
cInitiationWizardFirstLaunch
bIsFirstLaunchSF = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\
cInitiationWizardFirstLaunch
bIsFirstLaunchSR = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\
cInitiationWizardFirstLaunch
bIsFirstLaunchUF = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Adobe Acrobat\10.0\DiskCabs
bForms_AdhocWorkflowBackup = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\AdobeViewer
EULA = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\
Acrobat Reader\10.0\AdobeViewer
EULA = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\
Microsoft\BITS
LogSessionName = "stdout"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\
Microsoft\BITS
Active = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\
Microsoft\BITS
ControlFlags = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\
Microsoft\BITS\CtlGuid
Guid = "4a8aaa94-cfc4-46a7-8e4e-17bc45608f0a"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\
Microsoft\BITS\CtlGuid
BitNames = "{random characters}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Control\BackupRestore\FilesNotToBackup
BITS_metadata = "%User Profile%\Downloader\*"

Dropping Routine

This spyware drops the following files:

  • %Application Data%\Adobe\Color\ACECache11.lst
  • %User Profile%\10.0\Forms
  • %User Profile%\10.0\Collab
  • %Application Data%\Adobe\Acrobat\10.0\UserCache.bin
  • %User Temp%\A9R1F2D.tmp
  • %User Temp%\Temporary Internet Files
  • %User Temp%\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5
  • %User Temp%\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\WYQCJZO1
  • %User Temp%\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\ZRS2UM56
  • %User Temp%\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\PT0D29Y2
  • %User Temp%\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\4FEH6ZW5
  • %User Temp%\Cookies
  • %User Temp%\History
  • %User Temp%\History\History.IE5
  • %User Temp%\ArmUI.ini

(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.. %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

Other Details

This spyware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://acroipm.{BLOCKED}e.com/10/rdr/ENU/win/nooem/none/message.zip
  • {BLOCKED}0.1

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.750

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

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat
    • 10.0
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Adobe Synchronizer
    • 10.0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System
    • Acrobatbrokerserverdispatchercpp789
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Installer
    • Migrated
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0
    • Originals
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0
    • AVGeneral
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Adobe Synchronizer\10.0
    • Acrobat.com
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Adobe Synchronizer\10.0
    • Acrobat.com.v2
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\10.0
    • DiskCabs
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0
    • Collab
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab
    • cDocumentCenter
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\cDocumentCenter
    • cSettings
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab
    • cEmailDistribution
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\cEmailDistribution
    • cSettings
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab
    • cInitiationWizardFirstLaunch
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0
    • AdobeViewer
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\Microsoft
    • BITS
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\Microsoft\BITS
    • CtlGuid
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
    • BITS

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\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Installer\Migrated
    • {AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-AA0000000001} = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Originals
    • bDisplayedSplash = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\AVGeneral
    • bLastExitNormal = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\cDocumentCenter
    • bAlwaysUseServer = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\cDocumentCenter
    • bAlwaysUseServerFD = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\cDocumentCenter
    • bDefault = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\cDocumentCenter
    • bDefaultFD = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\cDocumentCenter
    • tDistMethod = "UPLOAD"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\cDocumentCenter\cSettings
    • tcSetting = "https://api.{BLOCKED}e.acrobat.com"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\cDocumentCenter
    • tUI = "Acrobat.com (Recommended)"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\cDocumentCenter
    • tURL = "urn://ns.{BLOCKED}e.com/Collaboration/SharedReview/Acrobat.com"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\cEmailDistribution
    • bAlwaysUseServerFD = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\cEmailDistribution
    • bDefaultFD = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\cEmailDistribution
    • tDistMethod = "EMAIL"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\cEmailDistribution
    • tUI = "Manually collect responses in my email inbox"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\cEmailDistribution
    • tURL = "urn://ns.{BLOCKED}e.com/Collaboration/Forms/Email"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\cInitiationWizardFirstLaunch
    • bIsFirstLaunchER = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\cInitiationWizardFirstLaunch
    • bIsFirstLaunchFD = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\cInitiationWizardFirstLaunch
    • bIsFirstLaunchSF = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\cInitiationWizardFirstLaunch
    • bIsFirstLaunchSR = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Collab\cInitiationWizardFirstLaunch
    • bIsFirstLaunchUF = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\10.0\DiskCabs
    • bForms_AdhocWorkflowBackup = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\AdobeViewer
    • EULA = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\AdobeViewer
    • EULA = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\Microsoft\BITS
    • LogSessionName = "stdout"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\Microsoft\BITS
    • Active = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\Microsoft\BITS
    • ControlFlags = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\Microsoft\BITS\CtlGuid
    • Guid = "4a8aaa94-cfc4-46a7-8e4e-17bc45608f0a"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\Microsoft\BITS\CtlGuid
    • BitNames = "{random characters}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\BackupRestore\FilesNotToBackup
    • BITS_metadata = "%User Profile%\Downloader\*"

Step 4

Search and delete these components

[ Learn More ]
There may be some components 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%\Adobe\Color\ACECache11.lst
  • %User Profile%\10.0\Forms
  • %User Profile%\10.0\Collab
  • %Application Data%\Adobe\Acrobat\10.0\UserCache.bin
  • %User Temp%\A9R1F2D.tmp
  • %User Temp%\Temporary Internet Files
  • %User Temp%\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5
  • %User Temp%\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\WYQCJZO1
  • %User Temp%\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\ZRS2UM56
  • %User Temp%\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\PT0D29Y2
  • %User Temp%\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\4FEH6ZW5
  • %User Temp%\Cookies
  • %User Temp%\History
  • %User Temp%\History\History.IE5
  • %User Temp%\ArmUI.ini

Step 5

Search and delete these folders

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden folders in the search result.
  • %User Profile%\10.0\Forms
  • %User Profile%\10.0\Collab
  • %User Profile%\Network\Downloader

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TSPY_KEYLOGGER.TMP. 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 7

Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.

  • %User Profile%\10.0\ReaderMessages-journal
  • %Application Data%\Adobe\Acrobat\10.0\SharedDataEvents-journal


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