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TROJ_FAKEAV.SMCO

June 02, 2013
 Analysis by: Roland Marco Dela Paz
 ALIASES:

Sophos : Mal/FakeAV-IS; Microsoft : Rogue:Win32/Winwebsec

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Trojan displays fake alerts that warn users of infection. It also displays fake scanning results of the affected system. It then asks for users to purchase it once scanning is completed. If users decide to purchase the rogue product, users are directed to a website asking for sensitive information, such as credit card numbers.

This Trojan may be downloaded by other malware/grayware/spyware from remote sites. It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

18,944 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

23 May 2013

Payload:

Displays fake alerts, Downloads files

Arrival Details

This Trojan may be downloaded by other malware/grayware/spyware from remote sites.

It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.

Installation

This Trojan drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{random}\{random}.exe

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

It drops the following non-malicious file:

  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{random}\{random}

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

It creates the following folders:

  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{random}

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

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
{random} = "%System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{random}\{random}.exe"

Rogue Antivirus Routine

This Trojan displays the following fake alerts:

NOTES:

It displays fake alerts that warn users of infection. It also displays fake scanning results of the affected system. It then asks for users to purchase it once scanning is completed. If users decide to purchase the rogue product, users are directed to the following website asking for sensitive information, such as credit card numbers:

  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.209.220

Below is the screenshot of the rogue website:

It also terminates existing processes except for system processes and web browser processes. If a user tries to execute a program, it displays an error message similar to the screenshot below:

It connects to the following sites to report system infections and to download other possibly malicious file(s):

  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.209.220
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.194.43
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.194.173
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.195.76
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.113.214

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

8.900

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

7.955.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

06 Apr 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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ 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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
    • {random} = %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{random}\{random}.exe

Step 4

Search and delete this folder

[ 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 Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{random}

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_FAKEAV.SMCO. 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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