ALIASES:

VirTool:Win32/AutInject.BR [non_writable_container] (Microsoft); Trojan.Gen (Symantec); Trojan.Win32.Fsysna.cdyw (Kaspersky); Troj/Autoit-BCU (Sophos); Trojan.Win32.Generic.pak!cobra (Sunbelt)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:

  • Threat Type: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Worm arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 423,998 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 27 Dec 2019

Arrival Details

This Worm 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 Worm adds the following processes:

  • "{malware file path and name}" /AutoIt3ExecuteScript %User Temp%\MipKkxxat
  • {malware file path and name} /AutoIt3ExecuteScript %User Temp%\MipKkxxat
  • %Windows%\M-505044051024025020105040\winmgr.exe
  • "%Windows%\M-505044051024025020105040\winmgr.exe" /AutoIt3ExecuteScript %User Temp%\MipKkxxat
  • %Windows%\M-505044051024025020105040\winmgr.exe /AutoIt3ExecuteScript %User Temp%\MipKkxxat

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Windows%\M-505044051024025020105040

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Microsoft Windows Manager = "%Windows%\M-505044051024025020105040\winmgr.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Worm deletes the following files:

  • {malware file path and name}:Zone.Identifier
  • %Windows%\M-505044051024025020105040\winmgr.exe:Zone.Identifier

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.)

It adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\
List\%Windows%\M-505044051024025020105040\
winmgr.exe

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\
List\%Windows%\M-505044051024025020105040
winmgr.exe = "%Windows%\M-505044051024025020105040\winmgr.exe:*:Enabled:Microsoft Windows Manager"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\
Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Run
Microsoft Windows Manager = "%Windows%\M-505044051024025020105040\winmgr.exe"

Dropping Routine

This Worm drops the following files:

  • F:\Movies.exe
  • F:\Music.exe
  • F:\505050.exe
  • %Application Data%\winmgr.txt
  • F:\Pictures.exe
  • F:\Documents.exe
  • %User Temp%\MipKkxxat
  • D:\autorun.inf
  • F:\data.lnk
  • A:\505050.exe
  • F:\windrv.exe
  • F:\Secret.exe
  • D:\505050.exe
  • A:\autorun.inf
  • %Windows%\M-505044051024025020105040\winmgr.exe
  • F:\autorun.inf
  • F:\Private.exe

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.)

Other Details

This Worm connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}0.ru

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850

Step 1

Before doing any scans, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.

Step 2

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

Identify and terminate files detected as Worm.AutoIt.PHORPIEX.A

[ Learn More ]
  1. Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
  2. If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
  3. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

Step 4

Delete this registry key

[ 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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List\%Windows%\M-505044051024025020105040
    • winmgr.exe

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
    • Microsoft Windows Manager = "%Windows%\M-505044051024025020105040\winmgr.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List\%Windows%\M-505044051024025020105040
    • winmgr.exe = "%Windows%\M-505044051024025020105040\winmgr.exe:*:Enabled:Microsoft Windows Manager"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Microsoft Windows Manager = "%Windows%\M-505044051024025020105040\winmgr.exe"

Step 6

Search and delete these components

[ Learn More ]
There may be some components 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.
  • F:\Movies.exe
  • F:\Music.exe
  • F:\505050.exe
  • %Application Data%\winmgr.txt
  • F:\Pictures.exe
  • F:\Documents.exe
  • %User Temp%\MipKkxxat
  • D:\autorun.inf
  • F:\data.lnk
  • A:\505050.exe
  • F:\windrv.exe
  • F:\Secret.exe
  • D:\505050.exe
  • A:\autorun.inf
  • %Windows%\M-505044051024025020105040\winmgr.exe
  • F:\autorun.inf
  • F:\Private.exe

Step 7

Search and delete this folder

[ 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.
  • %Windows%\M-505044051024025020105040

Step 8

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Worm.AutoIt.PHORPIEX.A. 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.

Step 9

Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.

  • {malware file path and name}:Zone.Identifier
  • %Windows%\M-505044051024025020105040\winmgr.exe:Zone.Identifier


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