Trojan.Ascetic.C

1. Creates the following files:
   
   
   • %Windir%\Help\Help\csrss.exe (copy of the Trojan)
   • %Windir%\Help\Help\smss.exe (copy of the Trojan)
   • %Windir%\Help\Help\services.exe (copy of the Trojan)
   • %Windir%\Help\Help\sacri1.ggg
   • %Windir%\Help\Help\sacri2.ggg
   • %Windir%\Help\Help\sacri3.ggg
   • %Windir%\Help\Help\voner1.von
   • %Windir%\Help\Help\voner2.von
   • %Windir%\Help\Help\voner3.von
   • %Windir%\Help\Help\sysonce.tst
   • %Windir%\Help\Help\fastso.ber
   • %System%\nonrunso.ber
   • %System%\langeinf.lin
   • %System%\gdfjgthv.cvq
   • %System%\seppelmx.smx
   • %System%\adcmmmmq.hjg
   • %System%\xcvfpokd.tqa
   • %System%\fastso.ber
     
     Notes:
   • %Windir% is a variable that refers to the Windows installation folder. By default, this is C:\Windows (Windows 95/98/Me/XP) or C:\Winnt (Windows NT/2000).
   • %System% is a variable that refers to the System folder. By default this is C:\Windows\System (Windows 95/98/Me), C:\Winnt\System32 (Windows NT/2000), or C:\Windows\System32 (Windows XP).
   • The files sacri1.ggg, sacri2.ggg, sacri3.ggg, voner1.von, voner2.von, voner3.von, sysonce.tst, fastso.ber, adcmmmmq.hjg, langeinf.lin, nonrunso.ber, seppelmx.smx, xcvfpokd.tqa are not malicious.
     
     
2. Adds the value:
   
   "SystemBoot" = "%Windir%\Help\Help\services.exe"
   
   to the registry subkeys:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
   
   so that the Trojan runs every time Windows starts.
   
   
3. Checks the network connection by contacting an NTP server on port 37, or by connecting to one of the following domains:
   
   
   • microsoft.com
   • bigfoot.com
   • yahoo.com
   • t-online.de
   • google.com
   • hotmail.com
     
     
4. Gathers email addresses from files with the following extensions:
   
   
   • .abc
   • .abd
   • .abx
   • .adb
   • .ade
   • .adp
   • .adr
   • .asp
   • .bak
   • .bas
   • .cfg
   • .cgi
   • .cls
   • .cms
   • .csv
   • .ctl
   • .dbx
   • .dhtm
   • .doc
   • .dsp
   • .dsw
   • .eml
   • .fdb
   • .frm
   • .hlp
   • .imb
   • .imh
   • .imh
   • .imm
   • .inbox
   • .ini
   • .jsp
   • .ldb
   • .ldif
   • .log
   • .mbx
   • .mda
   • .mdb
   • .mde
   • .mdw
   • .mdx
   • .mht
   • .mmf
   • .msg
   • .nab
   • .nch
   • .nfo
   • .nsf
   • .nws
   • .ods
   • .oft
   • .php
   • .phtm
   • .pl
   • .pmr
   • .pp
   • .ppt
   • .pst
   • .rtf
   • .shtml
   • .slk
   • .sln
   • .stm
   • .tbb
   • .txt
   • .uin
   • .vap
   • .vbs
   • .vcf
   • .wab
   • .wsh
   • .xhtml
   • .xls
   • .xml
     
     The Trojan avoids email addresses containing the following strings:
     
     
   • -dav
   • .dial.
   • .kundenserver.
   • .ppp.
   • .qmail@
   • .sul.t-
   • @arin
   • @avp
   • @ca.
   • @example.
   • @foo.
   • @from.
   • @gmetref
   • @iana
   • @ikarus.
   • @kaspers
   • @messagelab
   • @nai.
   • @panda
   • @smtp.
   • @sophos
   • @www
   • abuse
   • announce
   • antivir
   • anyone
   • anywhere
   • bellcore.
   • bitdefender
   • clock
   • detection
   • domain.
   • emsisoft
   • ewido.
   • free-av
   • freeav
   • ftp.
   • gold-certs
   • google
   • host.
   • icrosoft.
   • ipt.aol
   • law2
   • linux
   • mailer-daemon
   • mozilla
   • mustermann@
   • nlpmail01.
   • noreply
   • nothing
   • ntp-
   • ntp.
   • ntp@
   • office
   • password
   • postmas
   • reciver@
   • secure
   • service
   • smtp-
   • somebody
   • someone
   • spybot
   • sql.
   • subscribe
   • support
   • t-dialin
   • t-ipconnect
   • test@
   • time
   • user@
   • variabel
   • verizon.
   • viren
   • virus
   • whatever@
   • whoever@
   • winrar
   • winzip
   • you@
   • yourname
     
     
5. Attempts to send spam email to the email addresses gathered, if the current date as verified from the NTP servers is May 15, 2005 or later. The email may be in either English or German (in ASCII), and has the following characteristics:
   
   Subject:
   4,8 Mill. Osteuropae [REMOVED] ischer-Volmer Erlass
   Message:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.npd.de domain]
   Neue Dokumente:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.rp-online.de domain]
   Botschafter in Kiew beschwerte sich noch 2004:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.rp-online.de domain]
   Traumziel Deutschland:
   Ohne Deutsch nach Deutschland:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.aufenthaltstitel.de domain]
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.berlinonline.de domain]
   Kanzler erleichtert Visaverfahren fr Golfstaaten:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.spiegel.de domain]
   Vorbildliche Aktion:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.npd.de domain]
   
   Subject:
   Auf Streife durch den Berliner Wedding
   Message:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.zdf.de domain]
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.libasoli.de domain]
   
   Subject:
   Auslaender bevorzugt
   Message:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.npd.de domain]
   Jetzt weiss man auch [REMOVED] r Knacki's gelangen!
   
   Subject:
   Deutsche Buerger trauen sich nicht ...
   Message:
   Auslaenderbanden ter [REMOVED] re Meinung zu sagen!
   Weiter auf:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.npd-nrw.net domain]
   Auslaender ueberfallen nationale Aktivisten:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.npd.de domain]
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.npd.de domain]
   
   Subject:
   Auslaenderpolitik
   Message:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.mjoelnirsseite.de domain]
   
   Subject:
   Blutige Selbstjustiz
   Message:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.zukunft-europa.info domain]
   Polizeiexperten warn [REMOVED] te tragen Mitschuld.
   Weiter auf:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.libasoli.de domain]
   
   Subject:
   Deutsche werden kuenftig beim Arzt abgezockt
   Message:
   [URL pointing to a page on the globalfire.tv domain]
   EU-Abgeordnete goenn [REMOVED] oese Vollversorgung:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.rp-online.de domain]
   Deutsche Krankenvers [REMOVED] arems-Frauen zahlen:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.spiegel.de domain]
   Kassenfunktionaere vervierfachten Gehalt:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.spiegel.de domain]
   
   Subject:
   Paranoider Deutschenmoerder kommt in Psychiatrie
   Message:
   [URL pointing to a page on the brandenburg.rz.fhtw-berlin.de domain]
   
   Subject:
   Du wirst zum Sklaven gemacht!!!
   Message:
   [URL pointing to a page on the globalfire.tv domain]
   Immer mehr Frauen prostituieren sich:
   [URL pointing to a page on the shortnews.stern.de domain]
   STAATSPROPAGANDA:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.spiegel.de domain]
   
   Subject:
   Dresden 1945
   Message:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.kommunisten-online.de domain]
   
   Subject:
   Massenhafter Steuerb [REMOVED] ndische Arbeitnehmer
   Message:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.rp-online.de domain]
   
   Subject:
   Gegen das Vergessen
   Message:
   In den fruehen Abend [REMOVED] Opfern zu gedenken.!
   
   Subject:
   Tuerkei in die EU
   Message:
   GEWALTEXZESS:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.spiegel.de domain]
   Politiker zerreit Menschenrechtsbericht:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.spiegel.de domain]
   Schily = Hitler
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.spiegel.de domain]
   Schily wehrt sich gegen Hitler-Vergleiche:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.spiegel.de domain]
   Sie hat ja wie eine Deutsche gelebt:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.spiegel.de domain]
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.npd.de domain]
   Parallelgesellschaften - Feind hoerte mit:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.npd.de domain]
   Sie war unerlaubt spazieren:|
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.taz.de domain]
   Tiere an Autobahn geschlachtet:
   [URL pointing to a page on the forum.gofeminin.de domain]
   
   Subject:
   Hier sind wir Lehrer die einzigen Auslaender
   Message:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.deutschlandchronik.de domain]
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.leverkusener-aufbruch.com domain]
   
   Subject:
   Multi-Kulturell = Multi-Kriminell
   Message:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.npd.de domain]
   
   Subject:
   Verbrechen der deutschen Frau
   Message:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.jn-bw.de domain]
   
   Subject:
   S.O.S. Kiez! Polizei schlaegt Alarm
   Message:
   [URL pointing to a page on the bz.berlin1.de domain]
   
   Subject:
   Transparenz ist das Mindeste
   Message:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.npd.de domain]
   
   Subject:
   Trotz Stellenabbau
   Message:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.spiegel.de domain]
   
   Subject:
   Vorbildliche Aktion
   Message:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.npd.de domain]
   
   Subject:
   Augen auf
   Message:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.rocknord.de domain]
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.aktivefrauenfraktion.tk domain]
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.kopfmord.de domain]
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.das-gibts-doch-nicht.de domain]
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.zukunft-europa.info domain]
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.geocities.com domain]
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.g-d-f.de domain]
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.bewaeltigen.de domain]
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.wk-institut.de domain]
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.jungefreiheit.de domain]
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.auslaendergewalt.ch domain]
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.pro-koeln-online.de domain]
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.leverkusener-aufbruch.com domain]
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.buergerbewegungen.de domain]
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.un-nachrichten.de domain]
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.radio-freiheit.com domain]
   
   Subject:
   Du wirst ausspioniert ....!
   Message:
   und weisst es nicht einmal:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.heise.de domain]
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.heise.de domain]
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.heise.de domain]
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.heise.de domain]
   
   Subject:
   Volk wird nur zum zahlen gebraucht!
   Message:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.my-rocknord.de domain]
   ... damit Sie nicht  [REMOVED] nung treffen lassen!
   
   Subject:
   60 Jahre Befreiung: Wer feiert mit?
   Message:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.unserforum.com domain]
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.unserforum.com domain]
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.unserforum.com domain]
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.unserforum.com domain]
   
   Subject:
   Graeberschaendung auf bundesdeutsche Anordnung
   Message:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.die-kommenden.net domain]
   
   Subject:
   Schily ueber Deutschland
   Message:
   [URL pointing to a page on the www.heise.de domain]
   
   Subject:
   The Whore Lived Like a German
   Message:
   Full Article:
   [URL pointing to a page on the service.spiegel.de domain]
   
   Subject:
   Turkish Tabloid Enra [REMOVED] ith Nazi Comparisons
   Message:
   Full Article:
   [URL pointing to a page on the service.spiegel.de domain]
   
   Subject:
   Dresden Bombing Is To Be Regretted Enormously
   Message:
   [URL pointing to a page on the service.spiegel.de domain]
   
   Subject:
   Armenian Genocide Plagues Ankara 90 Years On
   Message:
   [URL pointing to a page on the service.spiegel.de domain]
   
   
   Attachment:
   The email has no attachment.
   
   
6. Attempts to end processes whose names contain the following strings:
   
   
   • microsoftanti
   • gcas
   • gcip
   • giantanti
   • inetupd.
   • nod32kui
   • nod32.
   • fxsob
   • s-t-i-n-g
   • hijack
   • sober
     
     
7. Deletes the following files, if they exist:
   
   
   • %ProgramFiles%\Symantec\Liveupdate\a*.exe
   • %ProgramFiles%\Symantec\Liveupdate\luc*.exe
   • %ProgramFiles%\Symantec\Liveupdate\ls*.exe
   • %ProgramFiles%\Symantec\Liveupdate\luu*.exe
     
     Note: %ProgramFiles% is a variable that refers to the program files folder. By default, this is C:\Program Files.
     
     
8. Overwrites the file %Program Files%\Symantec\Liveupdate\luall.exe with a copy of itself, if it exists.
   
   
9. Adds the value:
   
   "EnableFirewall" = "0"
   
   to the registry subkeys:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\
   Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\
   Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
   
   to lower security settings.
   
   
10. Adds the value:
    
    "AUOptions" = "0"
    
    to the registry subkey:
    
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
    WindowsUpdate\Auto Update
    
    to prevent the installation of Windows XP Service Pack 2 on the infected computer.
    
    
11. Attempts to download a file from the following domains, if the date, after verifying through NTP servers, is May 23, 2005 or later:
    
    
    • free.pages.at
    • home.arcor.de
    • home.pages.at
    • people.freenet.de
    • scifi.pages.at
      
      NOTE: At the time of writing, there were no files located at the above URLs.

Recommendations

Symantec Security Response encourages all users and administrators to adhere to the following basic security "best practices":

• Use a firewall to block all incoming connections from the Internet to services that should not be publicly available. By default, you should deny all incoming connections and only allow services you explicitly want to offer to the outside world.
• Enforce a password policy. Complex passwords make it difficult to crack password files on compromised computers. This helps to prevent or limit damage when a computer is compromised.
• Ensure that programs and users of the computer use the lowest level of privileges necessary to complete a task. When prompted for a root or UAC password, ensure that the program asking for administration-level access is a legitimate application.
• Disable AutoPlay to prevent the automatic launching of executable files on network and removable drives, and disconnect the drives when not required. If write access is not required, enable read-only mode if the option is available.
• Turn off file sharing if not needed. If file sharing is required, use ACLs and password protection to limit access. Disable anonymous access to shared folders. Grant access only to user accounts with strong passwords to folders that must be shared.
• Turn off and remove unnecessary services. By default, many operating systems install auxiliary services that are not critical. These services are avenues of attack. If they are removed, threats have less avenues of attack.
• If a threat exploits one or more network services, disable, or block access to, those services until a patch is applied.
• Always keep your patch levels up-to-date, especially on computers that host public services and are accessible through the firewall, such as HTTP, FTP, mail, and DNS services.
• Configure your email server to block or remove email that contains file attachments that are commonly used to spread threats, such as .vbs, .bat, .exe, .pif and .scr files.
• Isolate compromised computers quickly to prevent threats from spreading further. Perform a forensic analysis and restore the computers using trusted media.
• Train employees not to open attachments unless they are expecting them. Also, do not execute software that is downloaded from the Internet unless it has been scanned for viruses. Simply visiting a compromised Web site can cause infection if certain browser vulnerabilities are not patched.
• If Bluetooth is not required for mobile devices, it should be turned off. If you require its use, ensure that the device's visibility is set to "Hidden" so that it cannot be scanned by other Bluetooth devices. If device pairing must be used, ensure that all devices are set to "Unauthorized", requiring authorization for each connection request. Do not accept applications that are unsigned or sent from unknown sources.
• For further information on the terms used in this document, please refer to the Security Response glossary.