WORM_OTORUN.SMIE

 Modified by: Jennifer Gumban

 ALIASES:

Trojan:Win32/Startpage.RH (Microsoft); [00049224.EXE]:Generic.dx!vgh, [0003f150.EXE]:PWS-Lineage!p, [00035b50.EXE]:PWS-Lineage!p, [0002c150 (McAfee); Trojan.KillAV (Symantec); Worm.Win32.AutoRun.dcev (Kaspersky); BehavesLike.Win32.Malware.tsc (mx-v) (Sunbelt); Generic.Malware.SP!Pkg.3532651E (FSecure)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 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.

It drops copies of itself in removable drives. These dropped copies use the names of the folders located on the said drives for their file names.

It modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

85,722 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

08 Jul 2013

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 the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %System%\{Random Folder 1}\explorer.exe
  • %System%\{Random Folder 2}\smss.exe
  • %System%\{Random Folder 3}\{Random Characters 1}.exe
  • %System%\{Random Folder 3}\{Random Characters 2}.exe

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

It creates the following folders:

  • %System%\{Random Folder 1}
  • %System%\{Random Folder 2}
  • %System Root%\{Random Folder 3}

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.. %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)

Other System Modifications

This worm deletes the following files:

  • %All Users Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\AutorunsDisabled\{Chosen File}.lnk
  • %User Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\{Chosen File}.lnk

(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.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)

It adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{Random GUID}\shell

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{Random GUID}\Shellex

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{Random GUID}\ShellFolder

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
exefile
NeverShowExt = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{Random GUID}\shell\
OpenHomePage\Command
(Default Value) = "iexplore.exe {Possibly Malicous URL}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{Random GUID}\shell\
OpenHomePage
MUIVerb = "@shdoclc.dll,-10241"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{Random GUID}\shell\
{Random Symbols}\Command
(Default Value) = "rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL inetcpl.cpl,,0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{Random GUID}\Shellex\
ContextMenuHandlers\ieframe
(Default Value) = "{Random GUID}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{Random GUID}\ShellFolder
Attributes = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Control\StorageDevicePolicies
WriteProtect = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
{All Registry Keys}
Debugger = "ntsd -d"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Associations
ModRiskFileTypes = ".exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SessionInformation
ProgramCount = "7"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
ShowSuperHidden = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu
{Random GUID} = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel
{Random GUID} = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{Random GUID}\DefaultIcon
(Default Value) = "shdoclc.dll,-190"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{Random GUID}\InfoTip
(Default Value) = "@shdoclc.dll,-881"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{Random GUID}\LocalizedString
(Default Value) = "@shdoclc.dll,-880"

It deletes the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Control\SafeBoot\Minimal
{Random GUID} = "(Default Value)"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Control\SafeBoot\Network
{Random GUID} = "(Default Value)"

Propagation

This worm drops copies of itself in removable drives. These dropped copies use the names of the folders located on the said drives for their file names.

Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification

This worm modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

Dropping Routine

This worm drops the following files:

  • %All Users Profile%\Desktop\Intennet Exploner.lnk
  • %All Users Profile%\Desktop\¸Ä±äÄãµÄÒ»Éú.url
  • %All Users Profile%\Desktop\Ãâ·ÑµçÓ°C.url
  • %All Users Profile%\Desktop\ÌÔ±¦¹ºÎïA.url
  • %All Users Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\{Random Characters}.lnk
  • %Common Program Files%\{Random Characters}.dll
  • %System%\{Random Characters}.gif
  • %System%\{Random Characters}.txt
  • %System%\{Random Characters}.jpg
  • %System%\{Random Characters}.bmp
  • %System%\{Random Characters}.doc
  • %System%\{Random Characters}.tmp
  • %User Profile%\Favorites\{Random Symbols}.url
  • %System%\{Random Characters}.dll
  • %SystemRoot%\inf\{Random File Name}.PNF

(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.. %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)

Other Details

This worm connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://www.{BLOCKED}8.com/{Random URL Query}
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}6.com/{Random URL Query}
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}7.com/?Dll

NOTES:

This malware chooses files located in a specific folder.

It accesses the URLs when Internet Explorer is opened.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

7.851.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

21 Feb 2011

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 WORM_OTORUN.SMIE

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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_CURRENT_USER\SessionInformation
    • ProgramCount = "7"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    • ShowSuperHidden = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu
    • {Random GUID} = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel
    • {Random GUID} = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{Random GUID}\DefaultIcon
    • (Default Value) = "shdoclc.dll,-190"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{Random GUID}\InfoTip
    • (Default Value) = "@shdoclc.dll,-881"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{Random GUID}\LocalizedString
    • (Default Value) = "@shdoclc.dll,-880"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\exefile
    • NeverShowExt = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{Random GUID}\shell\OpenHomePage\Command
    • (Default Value) = "iexplore.exe {Possibly Malicous URL}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{Random GUID}\shell\OpenHomePage
    • MUIVerb = "@shdoclc.dll,-10241"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{Random GUID}\shell\{Random Symbols}\Command
    • (Default Value) = "rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL inetcpl.cpl,,0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{Random GUID}\Shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\ieframe
    • (Default Value) = "{Random GUID}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{Random GUID}\ShellFolder
    • Attributes = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\StorageDevicePolicies
    • WriteProtect = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\{All Registry Keys}
    • Debugger = "ntsd -d"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Associations
    • ModRiskFileTypes = ".exe"

Step 5

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\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{Random GUID}
    • shell
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{Random GUID}
    • Shellex
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{Random GUID}
    • ShellFolder

  • 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.
    • %System%\{Random Folder 1}\explorer.exe
    • %System%\{Random Folder 2}\smss.exe
    • %System%\{Random Folder 3}\{Random Characters 1}.exe
    • %System%\{Random Folder 3}\{Random Characters 2}.exe
    • %All Users Profile%\Desktop\Intennet Exploner.lnk
    • %All Users Profile%\Desktop\¸Ä±äÄãµÄÒ»Éú.url
    • %All Users Profile%\Desktop\Ãâ·ÑµçÓ°C.url
    • %All Users Profile%\Desktop\ÌÔ±¦¹ºÎïA.url
    • %All Users Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\{Random Characters}.lnk
    • %Common Program Files%\{Random Characters}.dll
    • %System%\{Random Characters}.gif
    • %System%\{Random Characters}.txt
    • %System%\{Random Characters}.jpg
    • %System%\{Random Characters}.bmp
    • %System%\{Random Characters}.doc
    • %System%\{Random Characters}.tmp
    • %User Profile%\Favorites\{Random Symbols}.url
    • %System%\{Random Characters}.dll
    • %SystemRoot%\inf\{Random File Name}.PNF

    Step 7

    Search and delete these folders

    [ 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.
    • %System%\{Random Folder 1}
    • %System%\{Random Folder 2}
    • %System Root%\{Random Folder 3}

    Step 8

    Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as WORM_OTORUN.SMIE. 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 these deleted registry keys/values from backup

    *Note: Only Microsoft-related keys/values will be restored. If the malware/grayware also deleted registry keys/values related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on your computer.

    • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\SafeBoot\Minimal
      • {Random GUID} = "(Default Value)"
    • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\SafeBoot\Network
      • {Random GUID} = "(Default Value)"

    Step 10

    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.  

    • %All Users Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\AutorunsDisabled\{Chosen File}.lnk
    • %User Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\{Chosen File}.lnk

    Step 11

    Reset Internet security settings

    [ Learn More ]


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