McAfee > Theat Center > Virus Detail Page

Overview

This is a trojan detection. Unlike viruses, trojans do not self-replicate. They are spread manually, often under the premise that they are beneficial or wanted. The most common installation methods involve system or security exploitation, and unsuspecting users manually executing unknown programs. Distribution channels include email, malicious or hacked web pages, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), peer-to-peer networks, etc.

Characteristics

-- Update May 15, 2008 --
The risk assessment of this threat has been updated to Low-Profiled due to media attention at:
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Hackers-Offer-Free-Versions-of-GTA-IV-85704.shtml

-- Update May 15, 2008 --
This threat is known to be associated with downloads which disguises themselves as installs for the game "Grand Theft Auto IV"

Upon download, the installer drops a file called "svchost.exe" into the %system%\Fonts directory which attempts to download files from various locations on the internet. Some of the files downloaded are executed and in turn attempt further download or drop files.

Some of the domains contacted and serving the downloads are:

• ns1.paris-hack.com
• ymq.a1188.wrs.mcboo.com
• oday-warez.com
• members.chello.sk/viktor.rusinak/[removed]

At the time of testing, files added were:

• %USER_PROFILE%\Desktop\Setup.exe
• %USER_PROFILE%\Local Settings\Temp\removalfile.bat
• %USER_PROFILE%\lsass.exe
• %Windir%\17PHolmes1188.exe
• %Windir%\Fonts\svchost.exe
• %SYSDIR%\byXOgdba.dll
• %SYSDIR%\dFrnx18\dFrnx182328.exe

At the time of testing, regsitry entries added by files dropped or downloded include:

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{8A290466-39BD-419B-93DB-0E9599506654}\InprocServer32 : %SYSDIR%\byXOgdba.dll
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Notify\byXOgdba
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ShellExecuteHooks\{8A290466-39BD-419B-93DB-0E9599506654}
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\Host Process: %Windir%\Fonts\svchost.exe
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\LSA Shellu: %USER_PROFILE%\lsass.exe

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The detection for Generic Downloader are for several specific trojan variants, so this description is meant as a general guide. This detection is for trojans which are intended to retrieve and execute files from a remote server. This file will then be automatically executed on the infected machine. The nature of the remote file may vary. As the presence of these trojans and remote files are discovered, sites hosting these files are frequently taken down, so the downloading may cease to function as expected. This may result in empty, 0 byte files or HTML error messages being downloaded instead, or the remote file simply not being downloaded at all.

As new trojans are frequently added to this detection, users are recommended to use the latest engine/DAT combination for optimal detection. Variants are likely to be packed with a PE packer, so enabling the scanning of compressed files will also provide optimal detection.

Exact details (filenames, Registry keys, file size) will vary between variants.

Typically the downloader will install itself and/or the remote file into the Windows or System directory, and hook system startup via a Registry key such as:

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
  CurrentVersion\Run
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
  CurrentVersion\RunServices
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
  CurrentVersion\Run
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
  CurrentVersion\RunServices

Symptoms

Desktop firewall program alerting that a foreign application is attempting to access the Internet.

Method of Infection

This purpose of this trojan is simply to download a file from the Internet and execute it. It does not self-replicate. Downloader trojans are frequently sent in spammed emails designed to entice the recipient into running the file. Other likely distribution channels for this trojan include via IRC, via peer-to-peer file-sharing networks, as an attachment in newsgroup postings, etc. Trojans may also be received as a result of poor security practices (weak username/password combination on open shares, lack of/or misconfigured firewall protection), or unpatched and vulnerable systems.

Removal

All Users:
Use current engine and DAT files for detection and removal.

Modifications made to the system Registry and/or INI files for the purposes of hooking system startup, will be successfully removed if cleaning with the recommended engine and DAT combination (or higher).

Additional Windows ME/XP removal considerations

Variants

Variants

N/A

All Information

Overview -

This is a trojan detection. Unlike viruses, trojans do not self-replicate. They are spread manually, often under the premise that they are beneficial or wanted. The most common installation methods involve system or security exploitation, and unsuspecting users manually executing unknown programs. Distribution channels include email, malicious or hacked web pages, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), peer-to-peer networks, etc.

Characteristics

Characteristics -

-- Update May 15, 2008 --
The risk assessment of this threat has been updated to Low-Profiled due to media attention at:
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Hackers-Offer-Free-Versions-of-GTA-IV-85704.shtml

-- Update May 15, 2008 --
This threat is known to be associated with downloads which disguises themselves as installs for the game "Grand Theft Auto IV"

Upon download, the installer drops a file called "svchost.exe" into the %system%\Fonts directory which attempts to download files from various locations on the internet. Some of the files downloaded are executed and in turn attempt further download or drop files.

Some of the domains contacted and serving the downloads are:

• ns1.paris-hack.com
• ymq.a1188.wrs.mcboo.com
• oday-warez.com
• members.chello.sk/viktor.rusinak/[removed]

At the time of testing, files added were:

• %USER_PROFILE%\Desktop\Setup.exe
• %USER_PROFILE%\Local Settings\Temp\removalfile.bat
• %USER_PROFILE%\lsass.exe
• %Windir%\17PHolmes1188.exe
• %Windir%\Fonts\svchost.exe
• %SYSDIR%\byXOgdba.dll
• %SYSDIR%\dFrnx18\dFrnx182328.exe

At the time of testing, regsitry entries added by files dropped or downloded include:

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{8A290466-39BD-419B-93DB-0E9599506654}\InprocServer32 : %SYSDIR%\byXOgdba.dll
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Notify\byXOgdba
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ShellExecuteHooks\{8A290466-39BD-419B-93DB-0E9599506654}
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\Host Process: %Windir%\Fonts\svchost.exe
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\LSA Shellu: %USER_PROFILE%\lsass.exe

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The detection for Generic Downloader are for several specific trojan variants, so this description is meant as a general guide. This detection is for trojans which are intended to retrieve and execute files from a remote server. This file will then be automatically executed on the infected machine. The nature of the remote file may vary. As the presence of these trojans and remote files are discovered, sites hosting these files are frequently taken down, so the downloading may cease to function as expected. This may result in empty, 0 byte files or HTML error messages being downloaded instead, or the remote file simply not being downloaded at all.

As new trojans are frequently added to this detection, users are recommended to use the latest engine/DAT combination for optimal detection. Variants are likely to be packed with a PE packer, so enabling the scanning of compressed files will also provide optimal detection.

Exact details (filenames, Registry keys, file size) will vary between variants.

Typically the downloader will install itself and/or the remote file into the Windows or System directory, and hook system startup via a Registry key such as:

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
  CurrentVersion\Run
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
  CurrentVersion\RunServices
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
  CurrentVersion\Run
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
  CurrentVersion\RunServices

Symptoms

Symptoms -

Desktop firewall program alerting that a foreign application is attempting to access the Internet.

Method of Infection

Method of Infection -

This purpose of this trojan is simply to download a file from the Internet and execute it. It does not self-replicate. Downloader trojans are frequently sent in spammed emails designed to entice the recipient into running the file. Other likely distribution channels for this trojan include via IRC, via peer-to-peer file-sharing networks, as an attachment in newsgroup postings, etc. Trojans may also be received as a result of poor security practices (weak username/password combination on open shares, lack of/or misconfigured firewall protection), or unpatched and vulnerable systems.

Removal -

Removal -

All Users:
Use current engine and DAT files for detection and removal.

Modifications made to the system Registry and/or INI files for the purposes of hooking system startup, will be successfully removed if cleaning with the recommended engine and DAT combination (or higher).

Additional Windows ME/XP removal considerations

Variants

Variants -

N/A