TSPY_LIMITAIL.LG
Infostealer.Limitail(Symantec)
Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)
Threat Type: Spyware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: Yes
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.
It connects to a website to send and receive information.
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.
Installation
This spyware drops the following files:
- %Application Data%\WhlfQIgY\bYgIQflhW.exe
- %User Temp%\MBlXEEVYi
(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 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.)
It creates the following folders:
- %Application Data%\WhlfQIgY
(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.)
It stays resident in memory by creating the following process(es):
- vbc.exe
It injects codes into the following process(es):
- created vbc.exe
Other System Modifications
This spyware adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\DC3_FEXEC
{date and time installed} = "{GUID}"
Backdoor Routine
This spyware connects to the following websites to send and receive information:
- {BLOCKED}arcter.ddnsking.com
Information Theft
This spyware gathers the following data:
- Browser Cache Usernames/Password (Chrome, IE,Safari,Opera)
- Internet Download Manager Credentials
- Smart FTP & Core FTP Credentials
- Computer Information (Computer Name, IP Address, Diskspace, OS version/platform, Firewall Installed, AV Installed)
- Clipboard Data (w/ Window Title)
- Keystroke (w/ Window Title)
NOTES:
It creates the following Task Scheduler that executes the dropped file every minute:
- WindowsUpdateWhlfQ0x8429525
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 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_CURRENT_USER\Software
- DC3_FEXEC
- DC3_FEXEC
Step 4
Search and delete these folders
- %Application Data%\WhlfQIgY
Step 5
Search and delete these files
*Note: The file name input box title varies depending on the Windows version (e.g. Search for files or folders named or All or part of the file name.).
For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012:
- Open a Windows Explorer window.
- For Windows Vista, 7, and Server 2008 users, click Start>Computer.
- For Windows 8, 8.1, and Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, then click File Explorer.
- In the Search Computer/This PC input box, type:
DATA_GENERIC - Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
- Repeat the said steps for all files listed.
*Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7.
Step 6
Delete the Scheduled Tasks added by this malware/grayware
To delete the added Scheduled Task file:
For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:
- Open the Windows Scheduled Tasks. To do this, click Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Scheduled Tasks.
- Double-click on a .JOB file.
- Check if the malware path and file name exists in the .JOB file. To do this, check the value in the Run field.
- If found, select the .JOB file then press SHIFT+DELETE to permanently delete the file.
- Repeat the steps above for the remaining .JOB files.
For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012:
- Open the Windows Task Scheduler. To do this:
• On Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008, click Start, type taskschd.msc in the Search input field, then press Enter.
• On Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, click Run, type taskschd.msc, then press Enter. - In the left panel of the Task Scheduler Window, click Task Scheduler Library.
- In the upper-middle panel, click a Task.
- In the lower middle panel, click the Actions tab
- Check if the malware path and file name exists in the task. To do this, check the value in the Details column under the Actions tab.
- If found, select the task and press DELETE and click Yes to delete the task.
- Repeat the steps above for the remaining tasks.
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_LIMITAIL.LG. 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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