TSPY_LIMITAIL.XXUAZ
Windows
Threat Type: Trojan
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted:
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
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 modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
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 the following files:
- %Application Data%\LocalData\file9.exe
- %Application Data%\LocalData\file9.exe.config
- %User Temp%\RarSFX0\MLauncher.exe
- %User Temp%\RarSFX0\MLauncher.exe.config
- %User Temp%\MUpdater.exe
- %User Temp%\temp.cmd
- %Application Data%\LocalData\finished.dat
- %Application Data%\LocalData\uid.dat
- %Application Data%\WebUpdates\DirectXUpdate.dll
- %Application Data%\WebUpdates\id.dat
- %Application Data%\WebUpdates\ManagedStub.dll
- %Application Data%\WebUpdates\uinfo.dat
(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%\LocalData
- %User Temp%\RarSFX0
- %Application Data%\WebUpdates
(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.)
Autostart Technique
This Trojan registers itself as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
schost = rundll32 "%Application Data%\WebUpdates\ManagedStub.dll", handle
Other System Modifications
This Trojan deletes the following files:
- created %User Temp%\RarSFX0\MLauncher.exe
- created %User Temp%\MUpdater.exe
- created %User Temp%\temp.cmd
(Note: %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.)
Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification
This Trojan modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.
Other Details
This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- http://{BLOCKED}tup.info/MHandler/RequestHandler.ashx?UID=5114ecc1-ddd2-4392-89e3-b7c47619fda1&codename=c2&version=3&browser=chrome&os=6_1_7601_65536&mode=check
- http://{BLOCKED}tup.info/MHandler/RequestHandler.ashx?UID=5114ecc1-ddd2-4392-89e3-b7c47619fda1&codename=c2&version=3&browser=chrome&os=6_1_7601_65536&mode=control
- http://{BLOCKED}elp.info/MCheck/versionRequest.ashx?codename=chrome1&version=1&uid=93b30788-2633-440e-9e3d-1963c4268b94&country=none&browser=chrome
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
Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.
Step 3
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 4
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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- schost = rundll32 "%Application Data%\WebUpdates\ManagedStub.dll", handle
- schost = rundll32 "%Application Data%\WebUpdates\ManagedStub.dll", handle
Step 5
Search and delete this file
- %Application Data%\LocalData\file9.exe
- %Application Data%\LocalData\file9.exe.config
- %User Temp%\RarSFX0\MLauncher.exe
- %User Temp%\RarSFX0\MLauncher.exe.config
- %User Temp%\MUpdater.exe
- %User Temp%\temp.cmd
- %Application Data%\LocalData\finished.dat
- %Application Data%\LocalData\uid.dat
- %Application Data%\WebUpdates\DirectXUpdate.dll
- %Application Data%\WebUpdates\id.dat
- %Application Data%\WebUpdates\ManagedStub.dll
- %Application Data%\WebUpdates\uinfo.dat
Step 6
Search and delete these folders
- %Application Data%\LocalData
- %User Temp%\RarSFX0
- %Application Data%\WebUpdates
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_LIMITAIL.XXUAZ. 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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