Backdoor.Tixanbot

1. Displays a fake error message with the following properties:
   
   Title: Error Patching File
   Message: Messenger not found!
   
   
2. Copies itself as %System%\[RANDOM NAME]\svshost.exe.
   
   Note: %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).
   
   
3. May create the following files that are shortcuts to the file %System%\[RANDOM NAME]\svshost.exe, so that it runs at startup:
   
   
   • %User Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\svshost.lnk
   • %User Profile%\Start Menu\Programme\Autostart\svshost.lnk
     
     Note: %UserProfile% is a variable that refers to the current user's profile folder. By default, this is C:\Documents and Settings\[CURRENT USER] (Windows NT/2000/XP).
     
     
4. Adds the value:
   
   "svshost" = "%System%\[RANDOM NAME]\svshost.exe"
   
   to the registry subkeys:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
   
   so that it runs every time Windows starts.
   
   
5. Adds the value:
   
   "Start" = "4"
   
   to the registry subkeys:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\sr
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\srservice
   
   so that it disables Windows security features.
   
   
6. Ends the following processes, some of which are security-related:
   
   
   • kavsvc.exe
   • msconfig.exe
   • kav.exe
   • mcvsshld.exe
   • mcagent.exe
   • mcvsrte.exe
   • mcshield.exe
   • mcvsftsn.exe
   • mcdash.exe
   • mcvsescn.exe
   • mcinfo.exe
   • mpfagent.exe
   • mpftray.exe
   • mpfservice.exe
   • mskagent.exe
   • mcmnhdlr.exe
   • sndsrvc.exe
   • vsmon.exe
   • usrprmpt.exe
   • ccapp.exe
   • ccevtmgr.exe
   • spbbcsvc.exe
   • ccsetmgr.exe
   • symlcsvc.exe
   • npfmntor.exe
   • navapsvc.exe
   • issvc.exe
   • ccproxy.exe
   • navapw32.exe
   • navw32.exe
   • smc.exe
   • outpost.exe
   • zlclient.exe
   • pandaavengine.exe
   • msblast.exe
   • penis32.exe
   • teekids.exe
   • bbeagle.exe
   • d3dupdate.exe
   • sysmonxp.exe
   • i11r54n4.exe
   • irun4.exe
   • mscvb32.exe
   • sysinfo.exe
   • mwincfg32.exe
   • wincfg32.exe
   • winsys.exe
   • zapro.exe
   • winupd.exe
   • enterprise.exe
   • regedit.exe
   • hijackthis.exe
   • gcasdtserv.exe
   • gcasserv.exe
   • pcctlcom.exe
   • tmntsrv.exe
   • tmproxy.exe
   • pccguide.exe
   • tmpfw.exe
   • pcclient.exe
   • AVGNT.EXE
   • AVWIN.EXE
   • taskmgr.exe
   • AVWUPSRV.EXE
   • ethereal.exe
     
     
7. Closes Windows with the following title:
   
   
   • microsoft antispyware*
   • hijackthis*
     
     
8. Ends the following security-related services, and sets their start type to disabled:
   
   
   • wscsvc
   • SharedAccess
   • srservice
   • kavsvc
   • mcupdmgr.exe
   • McShield
   • MCVSRte
   • MpfService
   • GuardDogEXE
   • ISSVC
   • navapsvc
   • Symantec Core LC
   • ccEvtMgr
   • SNDSrvc
   • ccProxy
   • ccPwdSvc
   • ccSetMgr
   • SPBBCSvc
   • SAVScan
   • SBService
   • SmcService
   • OutpostFirewall
   • vsmon
   • CAISafe
   • PcCtlCom
   • tmproxy
   • Tmntsrv
     
     
9. Deletes the following security-related values:
   
   "CleanUp"
   "MCAgentExe"
   "MCUpdateExe"
   "VirusScan Online"
   "VSOCheckTask"
   "ccApp"
   "Symantec NetDriver Monitor"
   "SmcService"
   "Outpost Firewall"
   "gcasServ"
   "pccguide.exe"
   "KAVPersonal50"
   "Zone Labs Client"
   
   from the registry subkey:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
   
   
10. Adds the following text to the hosts file to block access to some security-related websites:
    
    127.0.0.1 avp.com
    127.0.0.1 www.avp.com
    127.0.0.1 ca.com
    127.0.0.1 dispatch.mcafee.com
    127.0.0.1 download.mcafee.com
    127.0.0.1 f-secure.com
    127.0.0.1 fastclick.net
    127.0.0.1 ftp.f-secure.com
    127.0.0.1 ftp.sophos.com
    127.0.0.1 liveupdate.symantec.com
    127.0.0.1 customer.symantec.com
    127.0.0.1 rads.mcafee.com
    127.0.0.1 mast.mcafee.com
    127.0.0.1 mcafee.com
    127.0.0.1 my-etrust.com
    127.0.0.1 nai.com
    127.0.0.1 networkassociates.com
    127.0.0.1 secure.nai.com
    127.0.0.1 securityresponse.symantec.com
    127.0.0.1 service1.symantec.com
    127.0.0.1 sophos.com
    127.0.0.1 support.microsoft.com
    127.0.0.1 symantec.com
    127.0.0.1 update.symantec.com
    127.0.0.1 updates.symantec.com
    127.0.0.1 us.mcafee.com
    127.0.0.1 vil.nai.com
    127.0.0.1 viruslist.com
    127.0.0.1 www.viruslist.com
    127.0.0.1 www.awaps.net
    127.0.0.1 www.ca.com
    127.0.0.1 www.f-secure.com
    127.0.0.1 www.fastclick.net
    127.0.0.1 www.mcafee.com
    127.0.0.1 www.microsoft.com
    127.0.0.1 www.my-etrust.com
    127.0.0.1 www.nai.com
    127.0.0.1 www.networkassociates.com
    127.0.0.1 www.sophos.com
    127.0.0.1 www.symantec.com
    127.0.0.1 www3.ca.com
    127.0.0.1 www.grisoft.com
    127.0.0.1 grisoft.com
    127.0.0.1 housecall.trendmicro.com
    127.0.0.1 trendmicro.com
    127.0.0.1 www.trendmicro.com
    127.0.0.1 www.pandasoftware.com
    127.0.0.1 pandasoftware.com
    127.0.0.1 kaspersky.com
    127.0.0.1 www.kaspersky.com
    127.0.0.1 www.zonelabs.com
    127.0.0.1 zonelabs.com
    127.0.0.1 antivir.com
    127.0.0.1 antivir.de
    127.0.0.1 www.spywareinfo.com
    127.0.0.1 spywareinfo.com
    127.0.0.1 www.merijn.org
    127.0.0.1 merijn.org
    
    
11. Opens a back door by connecting to an IRC server on irc.xposed.org through TCP port 37737. This back door allows the attacker to perform the following actions on the compromised computer:
    
    
    • Download files
    • Download updates to the Trojan
    • Perform a denial of service attack
    • Obtain system information - computer name, OS
    • Run shell commands
    • Change the start page in Internet Explorer.
    • Open a URL in a browser
    • Send a message to other users via MSN messenger.
      
      
12. Sends one of the following messages to other MSN messenger users followed by a link which when clicked, downloads a copy of the Trojan:
    
    LMAO, this is freaking me out!!
    looooooool....check this out !!!
    Automessage : download the new MSN update here!
    rofl, this ownz!!
    Hej, you already updated your MSN?
    Get the new MSN Messenger here :
    Click here if you want more MSN emotions:
    w0000t, you have to check this out!
    lmao, this roxXxX!!
    wow wow wow.....you have to check this out!!!

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.