BKDR_SHIZ.CG

 Modified by: rolandde

 ALIASES:

Backdoor.Win32.Shiz.aigy (Kaspersky)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • 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.

It connects to a website to send and receive information.

It logs a user's keystrokes to steal information.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

278,528 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

20 Dec 2011

Payload:

Steals information, Connects to URLs/IPs, Bypasses Windows Firewall

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:

  • %Windows%\AppPatch\{random}.exe

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

It injects itself into the following processes as part of its memory residency routine:

  • explorer.exe

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\
Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Run
userinit = "%Windows%\AppPatch\{random}.exe"

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\
Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\
Windows
run = "%Windows%\AppPatch\{random}.exe"

It modifies the following registry entry(ies) to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Userinit = "C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,%Windows%\AppPatch\{random}.exe,"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,.)

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\
Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\
Windows
load = "%Windows%\AppPatch\{random}.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
System = "%Windows%\AppPatch\{random}.exe"

Other System Modifications

This backdoor adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
{random} = "{data}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
{random} = "{data}"

It creates the following registry entry(ies) to bypass Windows Firewall:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\
List
{malware path and file name} = "{malware path and file name}:*:Enabled:Windows Explorer"

Backdoor Routine

This backdoor connects to the following websites to send and receive information:

  • {BLOCKED}m.info

Information Theft

This backdoor logs a user's keystrokes to steal information.

Stolen Information

This backdoor saves the stolen information in the following file:

  • %User Profile%\Application Data\{random}
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\{random}

(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.)

Other Details

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

  • www.bing.com
  • www.microsoft.com

NOTES:
It blocks access to URLs when the following strings are found in the address bar:

  • avast.com
  • kaspersky
  • 93.191.13.100
  • drweb
  • eset.com
  • antivir
  • avira
  • virustotal
  • virusinfo
  • z-oleg.com
  • kltest.org.ru
  • trendsecure
  • anti-malware
  • .comodo.com
  • google.com

It uses the following referrer when connecting to its C&C server:

  • http://www.google.com

It checks for the following processes in memory:

  • multi_pot.exe
  • HookExplorer.exe
  • proc_analyzer.exe
  • sckTool.exe
  • sniff_hit.exe
  • sysAnalyzer.exe
  • idag.exe
  • ollydbg.exe
  • dumpcap.exe
  • wireshark.exe
  • avp.exe

It is capable of executing the following commands:

  • Download updated configuration file
  • Disable operating system
  • Activate/deactivate itself
  • Execute a file
  • Inject scripts to a visited webpage
  • Block Java execution on a visited webpage
  • Block HTTP POST request to a webpage

It is capable of stealing user credentials related the following protocols:

  • POP2
  • POP3
  • NNTP
  • FTP

It also steals user accounts on from the following online banking clients, if found installed in a system:

  • Inter-PRO Client
  • FAKTURA.ru
  • RAIFFEISEN
  • IBANK
  • Agava InterBank

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

8.678.03

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

20 Dec 2011

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

Identify and delete files detected as BKDR_SHIZ.CG using either the Startup Disk or Recovery Console

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

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_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • userinit = %Windows%\AppPatch\{random}.exe
  • In HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
    • run = %Windows%\AppPatch\{random}.exe
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List
    • {malware path and file name} = {malware path and file name}:*:Enabled:Windows Explorer
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
    • {random} = {data}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
    • {random} = {data}

Step 4

Restore this modified 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 NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
    • From: System = %Windows%\AppPatch\{random}.exe
      To: System = {blank}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
    • From: Userinit = C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,%Windows%\AppPatch\{random}.exe,
      To: Userinit = C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,
  • In HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
    • From: load = %Windows%\AppPatch\{random}.exe
      To: load = {blank}

Step 5

Search and delete these files

[ Learn More ]
There may be some component 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.
%User Profile%\Application Data\{random}
%User Profile%\Application Data\{random}

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as BKDR_SHIZ.CG. 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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