Analysis by: Rika Joi Gregorio

ALIASES:

Trojan:Win32/Brambul.A(Microsoft), Email-Worm.Win32.Atak(Ikarus), Win32/Pepex.E worm(Eset)

 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: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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

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.

It opens certain ports to access shared networks.

It does not have any backdoor routine.

It does not have any downloading capability.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 20,001 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 16 Jan 2013
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Steals information

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 drops and executes the following files:

  • %System%\lsasvc.exe - damaged file

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Windows Update = "{malware path and file name}"

Propagation

This worm opens the following ports to access shared networks:

  • 445

It uses the following file names for the copies it drops into shared networks:

  • %Windows%\csrss.exe

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.)

Backdoor Routine

This worm does not have any backdoor routine.

Download Routine

This worm does not have any downloading capability.

Information Theft

This worm gathers the following data:

  • Windows OS version
  • Machine Names / IP Adresses of computers in the network
  • User names and passwords of network share accounts

Drop Points

This worm sends the information it gathers to the following email addresses:

  • {BLOCKED}001@gmail.com

Other Details

This worm connects to the following URL(s) to check for an Internet connection:

  • http://gmail.com

NOTES:

It executes its dropped file with the following parameters:

  • -i

However, the dropped file, %System%\lsasvc.exe, is damaged.

It adds the following registry entries to the target host to enable network sharing:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wglmgr
ImagePath = "cmd.exe /c \net share admin$\"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wglmgr
DisplayName = "Windows Genuine Logon Manager"

It registers itself as a system service to the target host ensure its automatic execution at every system starup by adding the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wgudtr
ImagePath = "%Windows%\csrss.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wgudtr
DisplayName = "Microsoft Windows Genuine Updater"

It sends the email by accessing the following non-malicious URLs:

  • gmail-smtp-in.l.google.com
  • 209.85.223.27
  • 209.85.210.24
  • 209.85.223.33

It crafts a packet to create an email containing the following data:

HELO google.com
MAIL FROM: {BLOCKED}03@yahoo.com
RCPT TO: {BLOCKED}001@gmail.com
DATA
From: Microsoft provider@microsoft.com
Subject: {Local IP Address}|{Host Name}|{Password} OR {Local IP Address}|
{Windows OS version}
QUIT

It uses brute force to access network sharing using the following user names and passwords:

User Names:

  • administrator
  • db2admin

Passwords:

  • admin
  • angel
  • asdf
  • asdfg
  • asdfgh
  • BUMBLE
  • mail1
  • mail1234
  • mail
  • mail123
  • passwd
  • pass
  • password
  • root
  • test1234
  • web123
  • web1
  • web1234
  • web

This worm connects to randomly generated IP addresses and uses port 445 to propagate across the network.

It does not have rootkit capabilities.

It does not exploit any vulnerability.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.300
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 10.276.07
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 14 Sep 2013
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 10.277.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 14 Sep 2013

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

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
    • wglmgr
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
    • wgudtr

Step 4

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Windows Update = "{malware path and file name}"

Step 5

Search and delete this file

[ Learn More ]
There may be some 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.
  • %System%\lsasvc.exe

Step 6

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