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TSPY_WAUCHOS.J

September 08, 2014
 Modified by: Rhena Inocencio
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)

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

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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 deletes the initially executed copy of itself.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

400,384 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

14 Aug 2014

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:

  • %All Users Profile%\ms{random}.exe

(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.)

It adds the following processes:

  • %System%\msiexec.exe

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

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer\Run
{random number} = "%All Users Profile%\ms{random}.exe"

Other System Modifications

This spyware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ASProtect\
SpecData

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer
TaskbarNoNotification = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer
TaskbarNoNotification = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer
HideSCAHealth = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer
HideSCAHealth = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer
EnableLUA = "0"

Other Details

This spyware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}a.in/forum/forum.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}2.in/forum/forum.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}3.in/forum/forum.php

It deletes the initially executed copy of itself

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.700

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

10.984.05

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

14 Aug 2014

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

10.985.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

15 Aug 2014

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

Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.

Step 3

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as TSPY_WAUCHOS.J

Step 4

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 5

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer\Run
    • {random number} = "%All Users Profile%\ms{random}.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer
    • TaskbarNoNotification = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer
    • TaskbarNoNotification = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer
    • HideSCAHealth = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer
    • HideSCAHealth = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer
    • EnableLUA = "0"

Step 6

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\ASProtect
    • SpecData

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_WAUCHOS.J. 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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