Analysis by: Erika Bianca Mendoza
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows, XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This spyware deletes registry entries, causing some applications and programs to not function properly.

It opens a hidden Internet Explorer window.

It also has rootkit capabilities, which enables it to hide its processes and files from the user.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 311,296 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 14 Dec 2011

Installation

This spyware drops the following files:

  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Vuuilrj\vuuilrj.dll
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Vuuilrj\vuuilr.dll
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Abatl\abat.dll
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Abatl\abatl.dll

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Abatl\abatl.exe
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Vuuilrj\vuuilrj.exe

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

Other System Modifications

This spyware deletes the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
ctfmon.exe = %System%\ctfmon.exe

Backdoor Routine

This spyware opens a hidden Internet Explorer window.

Rootkit Capabilities

This spyware also has rootkit capabilities, which enables it to hide its processes and files from the user.

Other Details

This spyware connects to the following URL(s) to get the affected system's IP address:

  • http://www.{BLOCKED}ress.com/
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}essworld.com/

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.200
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 8.643.01
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 14 Dec 2011

Step 1

For Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 users, before doing any scans, please make sure you disable System Restore to allow full scanning of your computer.

Step 2

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

Search and delete these files

[ Learn More ]
There may be some component files 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%\Microsoft\Vuuilrj\vuuilrj.dll
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Vuuilrj\vuuilr.dll
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Abatl\abat.dll
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Abatl\abatl.dll
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Abatl\abatl.exe
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Vuuilrj\vuuilrj.exe

Step 4

Restore this deleted registry key/value from backup

*Note: Only Microsoft-related keys/values will be restored. If the malware/grayware also deleted registry keys/values related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on your computer.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run 
ctfmon.exe = %System%\ctfmon.exe

Step 5

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