Analysis by: Alvin Bacani

 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: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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

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 may be injected into processes running in memory.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 203,264 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 05 Aug 2013
Payload: Steals information

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 copies of itself into the affected system and executes them:

  • %Program Files%\Common Files\{random}\{random filename}.exe

(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).)

It is injected into the following processes running in memory:

  • wuauclt.exe
  • svchost.exe
  • WerFault.exe

It may be injected into processes running in memory.

Autostart Technique

This spyware adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{random} = "%Program Files%\Common Files\{random}\{random filename}.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{random} = "%Program Files%\Common Files\{random}\{random filename}.exe"

Other System Modifications

This spyware adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
hijackthis.exe
Debugger = "{random}_.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
housecalllauncher.exe
Debugger = "{random}_.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
rstrui.exe
Debugger = "{random}_.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
spybotsd.exe
Debugger = "{random}_.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
{random filename}.exe
DisableExceptionChainValidation = ""

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Win7zip
Uuid = {ramdom}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Win7zip
Uuid = {ramdom}

Information Theft

This spyware attempts to steal stored account information used in the following installed File Transfer Protocol (FTP) clients or file manager software:

  • CoreFTP
  • FTP Commander
  • SmartFTP
  • FileZilla
  • PuTTy
  • FlashFXP

Stolen Information

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

  • http://{BLOCKED}locapd.biz/~.chica/analytics.php

NOTES:
It creates the following registry to lower security settings:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\2
2500 = 03

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\3
2500 = 03

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\4
2500 = 03

It scans the system for Antivirus and Security Related processes then terminates them.

  • avgwd
  • Symantec
  • AVP
  • mcui_exe
  • mcpltui_exe
  • Avira
  • ESET
  • BDagent
  • Arcabit
  • Trend Micro Titanium
  • avast! Antivirus
  • avast
  • MSC
  • BullGuard
  • RsMgrSvc
  • fshoster
  • APVXDWIN
  • WRSVC
  • Emisoft Anti-malware
  • ISTray
  • G Data Antivirus Tray Application
  • Zone Alarm

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.300

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

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as TSPY_NEUREVT.AK

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

Search and delete files detected as TSPY_NEUREVT.AK

[ 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.

Step 5

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
    • {random} = "%Program Files%\Common Files\{random}\{random filename}.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • {random} = "%Program Files%\Common Files\{random}\{random filename}.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\hijackthis.exe
    • Debugger = "{random}_.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\housecalllauncher.exe
    • Debugger = "{random}_.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\rstrui.exe
    • Debugger = "{random}_.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\spybotsd.exe
    • Debugger = "{random}_.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\{random filename}.exe
    • DisableExceptionChainValidation = ""
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Win7zip
    • Uuid = {ramdom}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Win7zip
    • Uuid = {ramdom}

Step 6

Reset Internet security settings

[ Learn More ]

Step 7

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


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