Win32/Virtumonde threat description - Microsoft Security Intelligence

Threat behavior

Win32/Virtumonde is a multiple-component family of programs that deliver 'out of context' pop-up advertisements. They may also download and execute arbitrary files.

Virtumonde is often distributed as a DLL file and installed on an affected machine as a Browser Helper Object (BHO) without a user's consent. This family uses advanced defensive and stealth techniques to escape detection and to hinder removal.

Installation

Members of the Virtumonde family may compromise an affected system in a number of different ways. They use diverse methods of installation that often includes multiple components.

Virtumonde may use a dropper/downloader component that may be detected as one of the following:

TrojanDropper:Win32/Virtumonde.A
TrojanDropper:Win32/Virtumonde.B
TrojanDownloader:Win32/Virtumonde

(For additional detail on Virtumonde's downloading functions, please see the Payload section further below.)

If a downloader component is used, it downloads the DLL component, saving it with a filename that may be either randomly generated, or created using any of the following two strings:

abr
av
anti
ac
acc
ad
ap
as
bin
bas
bak
cab
cat
cmd
com
cr
drv
db
disk
dll
dns
dos
doc
dvd
eula
exp
fax
font
ftp
hard
iis
img
inet
info
ip
java
kb
key
lib
log
main
ms
mc
mfc
mp3
msvc
net
nut
odbc
ole
pc
ps
play
ras
reg
run
sys
srv
svr
svc
tapi
tcp
task
un
url
util
vb
vga
vss
xml
wave
web
w
win
wms

For example, 'sysnet.dll'. A unique Class ID registry key may be created to load the newly created DLL. Registry key Class ID values vary among variants. For example:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{35F7813A-AF74-4474-B1DC-7EE6FB6C43C6}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{39D2FC9B-041C-470E-AE72-F8C001247626}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{44240BB5-BD7D-4D49-A1AA-8AB0F3D3CB44}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{52B1DFC7-AAFC-4362-B103-868B0683C697}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{6DD0BC06-4719-4BA3-BEBC-FBAE6A448152}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{7BF451AC-2010-4804-B256-DB2F0A8D9EB6}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{827DC836-DD9F-4A68-A602-5812EB50A834}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{8DBF02DA-4360-4A7E-BEA1-347B87816327}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{AF7FCAFB-9FDB-4F5E-BAC6-68BDEE61D6C6}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{FC148228-87E1-4D00-AC06-58DCAA52A4D1}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{B8B55274-0F9A-41E5-9067-A3539BD9E860}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{CBE0D59D-F985-4AC6-8826- FEE957065D42}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{5AEFF965-B1A9-4675-966A-26C2E812AD51}

In some variants, several data files are also created in the same location, using the same name but with the following file extensions (as opposed to '.dll'):

.ini
.bak1
.bak2
.ini2
.tmp

For example, 'sysnet.ini', 'sysnet.tmp'.

In some variants, the trojan may utilize an executable component that may be copied to the any of the following locations:

%windir%\addins
%windir%\AppPatch
%windir%\assembly
%windir%\Config
%windir%\Cursors
%windir%\Driver Cache
%windir%\Drivers
%windir%\Fonts
%windir%\Help
%windir%\inf
%windir%\java
%windir%\Microsoft.NET
%windir%\msagent
%windir%\Registration
%windir%\repair
%windir%\security
%windir%\ServicePackFiles
%windir%\Speech
%windir%\system
%windir%\system32
%windir%\Tasks
%windir%\Web
%windir%\Windows Update Setup Files
%windir%\Microsoft\

Virtumonde may make several registry modifications in order to load itself when Windows is started, for example:
Adds value: <trojan filename>
With data: <trojan path and filename.dll>
To subkeys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce

It may also make further modifications to load the program during events such as user logon and logoff, for example:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Notify\<name of module>

This trojan family may also modify the following registry entry to load itself at startup: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ShellExecuteHooks

(Note: this usage is disabled by default in Windows Vista with policy control).

In order to protect itself from being deleted by anti-virus software, the trojan may monitor and possibly modify the following registry entry to rename its file when the system restarts:
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\PendingFileRenameOperations

Virtumonde may create a mutex 'SysUpdIsRunningMutex' to monitor thread creation and ensure that the program remains running.

Virtumonde may also inject its code into the following processes if they are found to be running on the affected machine:

Ad-aware.exe
Wrsssdk.exe
Hijackthis.exe

Payload

Virtumonde is designed with delivering 'out of context' advertisements in mind, however, it may also take a number of additional actions on an affected machine in order to satisfy this purpose, including modifying an affected machine's Internet and security settings and sending information from the affected system to a remote server.

Displays Advertisements/Downloads and Executes Arbitrary Files

Virtuemonde has been observed contacting a number of different IP addresses and particular domains in order to access the advertising material that it displays. It may also download and execute arbitrary files, including updates or additional components. Virtuemonde has been observed to connect to the following IP addresses in the wild for this purpose (for example):

69.31.80.180
72.247.31.80
69.31.80.179
65.243.103.52
207.226.179.18
65.54.225.100
62.4.84.56
82.98.235.210
89.188.16.22
82.98.235.216

In particular, Virtuemonde has been observed displaying pop-ups that promote the following rogue anti-spyware sites:

“antivirussecuritypro.com"
“drivecleaner.com"
"systemdoctor.com"
"winantivirus.com"
"winantiviruspro.com"
"sysprotect.com"

Terminates Security Services

Virtuemonde may terminate services associated with the following security-related applications:

AD-AWARE.EXE
GCASSERVALERT.EXE
Spyware Doctor

Modifies Browser Behavior

Virtuemonde may redirect URLs entered by the user to URLs of the program's choice.

Also, when particular URLs are visited by an affected user, Virtuemonde may disable the display of pop-ups. Presumably this is an anti-competitive measure, as the list of targeted URLs contains a number of popular search engines and domain names associated with ad-servers, for example:

yahoo.com
search.ebay.com
web.ask.com
banners.pennyweb.com
ads2.revenue.net
www2.yesadvertising.com
images.trafficmp.com
z1.adserver.com
ads1.revenue.net
ads.doubleclick.net
ads.180solutions.com

Virtuemonde also disables pop-ups if a targeted URL contains "mil" or "gov" in the domain.

Modifies System Security Settings

Virtuemonde makes the following registry modification in an attempt to bypass firewalls:

Sets value: "ProxyBypass"
With data: "1"
To subkey: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\

Later variants of Virtuemonde have been observed attempting to disable the Windows Autoupdate service (called 'wuauserv'). These variants may also check if Microsoft’s Malicious Software Removal Tool (mrt.exe) is running and close it if detected.

Virtuemonde may also attempt to shut down the McAfee Common Framework Service.

Sends Information to Remote Server

Virtuemonde may gather and send the following information from the affected machine to a remote server:

Outlook Express Accounts
Information from Software\Microsoft\Internet Account Manager\Accounts
Pop3 and SMTP user names
Registered owner
OS version number
Network adapter info
MAC address
Keyboard layout
Installation time
Crash log

Additional Information

Virtuemonde has been observed in the wild being bundled with rogue anti-spyware products, for example, it has been observed being bundled with 'Evidence Eraser Pro'.

Virtuemonde has also been observed using encryption techniques in order to obfuscate its communications with remote sites.

This family may create the following registry entries in which to store data:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\aldd
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SysUpd

The Win32/Virtumonde family is closely associated with the Win32/Vundo and Win32/Conhook families.

Analysis by Jaime Wong

Prevention

Take the following steps to help prevent infection on your computer:

Enable a firewall on your computer.
Get the latest computer updates for all your installed software.
Use up-to-date antivirus software.
Limit user privileges on the computer.
Use caution when opening attachments and accepting file transfers.
Use caution when clicking on links to Web pages.
Avoid downloading pirated software.
Protect yourself against social engineering attacks.
Use strong passwords.

Enable a firewall on your computer

Use a third-party firewall product or turn on the Microsoft Windows Internet Connection Firewall.

Get the latest computer updates

Updates help protect your computer from viruses, worms, and other threats as they are discovered. It is important to install updates for all the software that is installed in your computer. These are usually available from vendor Web sites.

You can use the Automatic Updates feature in Windows to automatically download future Microsoft security updates while your computer is on and connected to the Internet.

Use up-to-date antivirus software

Most antivirus software can detect and prevent infection by known malicious software. To help protect you from infection, you should always run antivirus software, such as Microsoft Security Essentials, that is updated with the latest signature files. For more information, see http://www.microsoft.com/security/antivirus/av.aspx.

Limit user privileges on the computer

Starting with Windows Vista and Windows 7, Microsoft introduced User Account Control (UAC), which, when enabled, allowed users to run with least user privileges. This scenario limits the possibility of attacks by malware and other threats that require administrative privileges to run.

You can configure UAC in your computer to meet your preferences:

Use caution when opening attachments and accepting file transfers

Exercise caution with e-mail and attachments received from unknown sources, or received unexpectedly from known sources. Use extreme caution when accepting file transfers from known or unknown sources.

Use caution when clicking on links to Web pages

Exercise caution with links to Web pages that you receive from unknown sources, especially if the links are to a Web page that you are not familiar with, unsure of the destination of, or suspicious of. Malicious software may be installed in your computer simply by visiting a Web page with harmful content.

Avoid downloading pirated software

Threats may also be bundled with software and files that are available for download on various torrent sites. Downloading "cracked" or "pirated" software from these sites carries not only the risk of being infected with malware, but is also illegal. For more information, see 'The risks of obtaining and using pirated software'.

Protect yourself from social engineering attacks

While attackers may attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in hardware or software to compromise a computer, they also attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in human behavior to do the same. When an attacker attempts to take advantage of human behavior to persuade the affected user to perform an action of the attacker's choice, it is known as 'social engineering'. Essentially, social engineering is an attack against the human interface of the targeted computer. For more information, see 'What is social engineering?'.

Use strong passwords

Attackers may try to gain access to your Windows account by guessing your password. It is therefore important that you use a strong password – one that cannot be easily guessed by an attacker. A strong password is one that has at least 8 characters, and combines letters, numbers, and symbols. For more information, see http://www.microsoft.com/protect/yourself/password/create.mspx.

Win32/Virtumonde

Summary

What to do now

Technical information