TSPY_NEUREVT.AK
Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)
Threat Type: Spyware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: Yes
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware
This spyware arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
It may be injected into processes running in memory.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
203,264 bytes
EXE
Yes
05 Aug 2013
Steals information
Arrival Details
This spyware 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 spyware drops the following copies of itself into the affected system and executes them:
- %Program Files%\Common Files\{random}\{random filename}.exe
(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).)
It is injected into the following processes running in memory:
- wuauclt.exe
- svchost.exe
- WerFault.exe
It may be injected into processes running in memory.
Autostart Technique
This spyware adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{random} = "%Program Files%\Common Files\{random}\{random filename}.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{random} = "%Program Files%\Common Files\{random}\{random filename}.exe"
Other System Modifications
This spyware adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
hijackthis.exe
Debugger = "{random}_.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
housecalllauncher.exe
Debugger = "{random}_.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
rstrui.exe
Debugger = "{random}_.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
spybotsd.exe
Debugger = "{random}_.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
{random filename}.exe
DisableExceptionChainValidation = ""
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Win7zip
Uuid = {ramdom}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Win7zip
Uuid = {ramdom}
Information Theft
This spyware attempts to steal stored account information used in the following installed File Transfer Protocol (FTP) clients or file manager software:
- CoreFTP
- FTP Commander
- SmartFTP
- FileZilla
- PuTTy
- FlashFXP
Stolen Information
This spyware sends the gathered information via HTTP POST to the following URL:
- http://{BLOCKED}locapd.biz/~.chica/analytics.php
NOTES:
It creates the following registry to lower security settings:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\2
2500 = 03
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\3
2500 = 03
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\4
2500 = 03
It scans the system for Antivirus and Security Related processes then terminates them.
- avgwd
- Symantec
- AVP
- mcui_exe
- mcpltui_exe
- Avira
- ESET
- BDagent
- Arcabit
- Trend Micro Titanium
- avast! Antivirus
- avast
- MSC
- BullGuard
- RsMgrSvc
- fshoster
- APVXDWIN
- WRSVC
- Emisoft Anti-malware
- ISTray
- G Data Antivirus Tray Application
- Zone Alarm
SOLUTION
9.300
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
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as TSPY_NEUREVT.AK
Step 3
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 4
Search and delete files detected as TSPY_NEUREVT.AK
Step 5
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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- {random} = "%Program Files%\Common Files\{random}\{random filename}.exe"
- {random} = "%Program Files%\Common Files\{random}\{random filename}.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- {random} = "%Program Files%\Common Files\{random}\{random filename}.exe"
- {random} = "%Program Files%\Common Files\{random}\{random filename}.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\hijackthis.exe
- Debugger = "{random}_.exe"
- Debugger = "{random}_.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\housecalllauncher.exe
- Debugger = "{random}_.exe"
- Debugger = "{random}_.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\rstrui.exe
- Debugger = "{random}_.exe"
- Debugger = "{random}_.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\spybotsd.exe
- Debugger = "{random}_.exe"
- Debugger = "{random}_.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\{random filename}.exe
- DisableExceptionChainValidation = ""
- DisableExceptionChainValidation = ""
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Win7zip
- Uuid = {ramdom}
- Uuid = {ramdom}
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Win7zip
- Uuid = {ramdom}
- Uuid = {ramdom}
Step 6
Reset Internet security settings
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_NEUREVT.AK. 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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