W2KM_POWMET.CXL
Windows
Threat Type: Trojan
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: No
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 uses Windows Task Scheduler to create a scheduled task that executes the dropped copy.
It connects to certain websites to send and receive information.
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:
- %ProgramData%\Windows:kernel32.{vbs or dll} - contains code to execute the data in
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows
Part = {mentioned in Other System Modification}
(Note: %ProgramData% is the Program Data folder, where it usually is C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\ProgramData in 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 processes:
- powershell.exe
- nslookup.exe
It uses Windows Task Scheduler to create a scheduled task that executes the dropped copy.
It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:
- SourceFireSux
Autostart Technique
This Trojan adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
kernel32 = wscript %ProgramData%\Windows:kernel32.{vbs or dll}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
kernel32 = wscript %ProgramData%\Windows:kernel32.{vbs or dll}
Other System Modifications
This Trojan adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows
kernel32 = {base64 encoded values}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows
Part = {code used to decode and execute data of the base64 values}
Other Details
This Trojan connects to the following website to send and receive information:
- http://{BLOCKED}in.com/raw/sxPYz7fT
It does the following:
- It randomly connects to one of the following domains to send and receive information:
- {BLOCKED}w.me
- {BLOCKED}d.pw
- {BLOCKED}e.pw
- {BLOCKED}h.pw
- {BLOCKED}h.pw
- {BLOCKED}d.me
- {BLOCKED}x.pw
- {BLOCKED}x.pw
- {BLOCKED}f.pw
- {BLOCKED}d.mo
- {BLOCKED}o.pw
- {BLOCKED}d.com
- {BLOCKED}f.pw
- {BLOCKED}f.pw
- {BLOCKED}d.com
- {BLOCKED}u.pw
- {BLOCKED}u.pw
- {BLOCKED}c.pw
- {BLOCKED}s.pw
- {BLOCKED}s.pw
- {BLOCKED}e.pw
- {BLOCKED}o.pw
- {BLOCKED}p.pw
- {BLOCKED}p.pw
- {BLOCKED}f.pw
- {BLOCKED}f.pw
- {BLOCKED}t.pw
- {BLOCKED}t.pw
- {BLOCKED}t.pw
- {BLOCKED}t.pw
- {BLOCKED}e.pw
- {BLOCKED}o.pw
- {BLOCKED}g.pw
- {BLOCKED}g.pw
- {BLOCKED}q.pw
- {BLOCKED}q.pw
- {BLOCKED}r.pw
- {BLOCKED}r.pw
- {BLOCKED}f.pw
- {BLOCKED}f.pw
- {BLOCKED}q.pw
- {BLOCKED}q.pw
- {BLOCKED}w.my
- {BLOCKED}d.pw
- {BLOCKED}f.pw
- {BLOCKED}d.pw
- {BLOCKED}d.pw
- {BLOCKED}m.pw
- {BLOCKED}m.pw
- {BLOCKED}j.pw
- {BLOCKED}j.pw
- {BLOCKED}c.pw
- {BLOCKED}c.pw
- {BLOCKED}t.pw
- {BLOCKED}t.pw
- {BLOCKED}u.pw
- {BLOCKED}u.pw
- {BLOCKED}o.pw
- {BLOCKED}o.pw
- {BLOCKED}m.pw
- {BLOCKED}m.pw
- {BLOCKED}s.pw
- {BLOCKED}s.pw
- {BLOCKED}p.pw
- {BLOCKED}p.pw
- {BLOCKED}a.pw
- {BLOCKED}o.pw
- {BLOCKED}y.pw
- {BLOCKED}y.pw
- {BLOCKED}c.pw
- {BLOCKED}d.pw
- {BLOCKED}d.pw
- {BLOCKED}d.pw
- {BLOCKED}q.pw
- {BLOCKED}q.pw
- {BLOCKED}d.pw
- {BLOCKED}x.pw
- {BLOCKED}x.pw
- {BLOCKED}p.pw
- {BLOCKED}p.pw
- {BLOCKED}z.pw
- {BLOCKED}z.pw
- It uses the Windows Task Scheduler to add this scheduled task:
- kernel32 = %ProgramData%\Windows:kernel32.{dll or vbs}
executed when the computer is on idle after 30 minutes
- kernel32 = %ProgramData%\Windows:kernel32.{dll or vbs}
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 value
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_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- kernel32 = wscript %ProgramData%\Windows:kernel32.{vbs or dll}
- kernel32 = wscript %ProgramData%\Windows:kernel32.{vbs or dll}
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- kernel32 = wscript %ProgramData%\Windows:kernel32.{vbs or dll}
- kernel32 = wscript %ProgramData%\Windows:kernel32.{vbs or dll}
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows
- kernel32 = {base64 encoded values}
- kernel32 = {base64 encoded values}
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows
- Part = {code used to decode and execute data of the base64 values}
- Part = {code used to decode and execute data of the base64 values}
Step 5
Deleting Scheduled Tasks
For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:
- Open the Windows Scheduled Tasks. Click Start>Programs>Accessories>
System Tools>Scheduled Tasks. - Locate each task that has the following value in the Schedule column:
- kernel32 = %ProgramData%\Windows:kernel32.{dll or vbs}
- Right-click on the said file(s) with the aforementioned value.
- Click on Properties. In the Run field, check for the following string:
Cmd /c /rd /s /q C: - If the said string is found, delete the task.
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, click Task Scheduler Library.
- In the upper-middle panel, locate each task that has the value in the Triggers column:
- kernel32 = %ProgramData%\Windows:kernel32.{dll or vbs}
- In the lower-middle panel, click the Actions tab. In the Details column, check for the following string:
Cmd /c /rd /s /q C: - If the said string is found, delete the task..
Step 6
Search and delete this file
- %ProgramData%\Windows:kernel32.{vbs or dll}
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as W2KM_POWMET.CXL. 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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