BKDR_PLUGX.CB

 Analysis by: Jennifer Gumban

 ALIASES:

Trojan-Dropper.Win32.Injector.iuwb (Kaspersky), Win32/Korplug.A trojan (Nod32)

 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: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • 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 modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

229,376 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

14 Jul 2013

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.

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications\
barckH
Recent File List =

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications\
barckH
Settings =

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
MJ
CLSID = "{Random Hex Values}"

Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification

This Trojan modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.133.161:80
  • http://{BLOCKED}a.{BLOCKED}ofta.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}a.{BLOCKED}ofta.com/update?id=000f9700
  • http://{BLOCKED}a.{BLOCKED}ofta.com:81/update?id=000f9700
  • http://{BLOCKED}a.{BLOCKED}ofta.com:443/update?id=000f9700
  • http://{BLOCKED}a.{BLOCKED}ofta.com:12345/update?id=000f9700

It drops the following file(s)/component(s):

  • %All Users Profile%\graphedt\NvSmart.hlp

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users or Common profile folder, which is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users in Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, and C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista and 7.)

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

10.158.08

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

17 Jul 2013

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

10.159.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

17 Jul 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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications\barckH
    • Recent File List
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications\barckH
    • Settings

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\Classes\MJ
    • CLSID = "{Random Hex Values}"

Step 5

Search and delete the files detected as BKDR_PLUGX.CB

*Note: Some component files may be 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.

To stop the malware/grayware from running when certain files are opened:

For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:

  1. Right-click Start then click Search....
  2. In the Named input box, type the name of the file that was detected earlier.
  3. In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer then press Enter.
  4. Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.

For Windows Vista and Windows 7:

  1. Click Start>Computer.
  2. In the Search Computer input box, type the name of the file detected earlier, and press Enter.
  3. Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
    *Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7.

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 BKDR_PLUGX.CB. 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.


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.