BKDR_PONTOEB.AA
Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt)
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
Threat Type: Backdoor
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted:
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This backdoor 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
74,240 bytes
EXE
Yes
13 Jun 2012
Arrival Details
This backdoor 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 backdoor drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %User Profile%\Application Data\wscntfy.exe
- %Program Files%\Common Files\lsmass.exe
(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name} on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name} on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.)
Autostart Technique
This backdoor adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Windows-Audio Driver = "%User Profile%\Application Data\wscntfy.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{d94104a5-f82c-11e0-a858-806d6172696f}
StubPath = "%User Profile%\Application Data\wscntfy.exe -r"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{d94104a5-f82c-11e0-a858-806d6172696f}
IsInstalled = "1"
Other System Modifications
This backdoor deletes the following files:
- %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\config\security.config.cch.232.36031
- %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\config\enterprisesec.config.cch.232.36046
- %User Profile%\v2.0.50727.42\security.config.cch.232.36187
- %User Profile%\Application Data\wscntfy.exe
- %Program Files%\Common Files\lsmass.exe
- %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\config\security.config.cch.464.43375
- %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\config\enterprisesec.config.cch.464.43375
- %User Profile%\v2.0.50727.42\security.config.cch.464.43562
- %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\config\security.config.cch.480.45031
- %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\config\enterprisesec.config.cch.480.45031
- %User Profile%\v2.0.50727.42\security.config.cch.480.45234
- %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\config\security.config.cch.536.67718
- %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\config\enterprisesec.config.cch.536.67718
- %User Profile%\v2.0.50727.42\security.config.cch.536.67796
(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows or C:\WINNT.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name} on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name} on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.)
It adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{d94104a5-f82c-11e0-a858-806d6172696f}
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
Hidden = "2"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
EnableBalloonTips = "0"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
system
EnableLUA = "0"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\Tcpip\Parameters
TcpMaxHalfOpen = "ffffff"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer\Run
Windows-Network Component = "%Program Files%\Common Files\lsmass.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\DomainProfile\AuthorizedApplications\
List
%User Profile%\Application Data\wscntfy.exe = "{random characters}"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\
List
%User Profile%\Application Data\wscntfy.exe = "{random characters}"
Dropping Routine
This backdoor drops the following files:
- %User Temp%\NzUrns5SqD.exe
(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, XP, and Server 2003.)
Other Details
This backdoor connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- http://{BLOCKED}x.net/cd/gate.php
This report is generated via an automated analysis system.
SOLUTION
9.200
Step 1
For Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 users, before doing any scans, please make sure you disable System Restore to allow full scanning of your computer.
Step 2
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 3
Delete this registry key
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\Policies\Explorer
- Run
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components
- {d94104a5-f82c-11e0-a858-806d6172696f}
Step 4
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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- Windows-Audio Driver = "%User Profile%\Application Data\wscntfy.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{d94104a5-f82c-11e0-a858-806d6172696f}
- StubPath = "%User Profile%\Application Data\wscntfy.exe -r"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{d94104a5-f82c-11e0-a858-806d6172696f}
- IsInstalled = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
- Hidden = "2"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
- EnableBalloonTips = "0"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
- EnableLUA = "0"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Tcpip\Parameters
- TcpMaxHalfOpen = "ffffff"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer\Run
- Windows-Network Component = "%Program Files%\Common Files\lsmass.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\DomainProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List
- %User Profile%\Application Data\wscntfy.exe = "{random characters}"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List
- %User Profile%\Application Data\wscntfy.exe = "{random characters}"
Step 5
Search and delete this file
- %User Temp%\NzUrns5SqD.exe
Step 6
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as BKDR_PONTOEB.AA. 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 7
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.
- %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\config\security.config.cch.232.36031
- %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\config\enterprisesec.config.cch.232.36046
- %User Profile%\v2.0.50727.42\security.config.cch.232.36187
- %User Profile%\Application Data\wscntfy.exe
- %Program Files%\Common Files\lsmass.exe
- %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\config\security.config.cch.464.43375
- %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\config\enterprisesec.config.cch.464.43375
- %User Profile%\v2.0.50727.42\security.config.cch.464.43562
- %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\config\security.config.cch.480.45031
- %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\config\enterprisesec.config.cch.480.45031
- %User Profile%\v2.0.50727.42\security.config.cch.480.45234
- %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\config\security.config.cch.536.67718
- %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\config\enterprisesec.config.cch.536.67718
- %User Profile%\v2.0.50727.42\security.config.cch.536.67796
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