Computer Help and Spyware Removal Computer Help and Spyware Removal Computer Help and Spyware Removal Computer Help Forums Windows Startup Programs Database Virus, Spyware, and Malware Removal Guides Computer Tutorials Uninstall Database File Database Computer Glossary Computer Resources
 

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Click here to Register a free account now! )



Register a free account to unlock additional features at BleepingComputer.com
Welcome to Bleeping Computer, a free community where people like yourself come together to discuss and learn how to use their computers. Using the site is easy and fun. As a guest, you can browse and view the various discussions in the forums, but can not create a new topic or reply to an existing one unless you are logged in. Other benefits of registering an account are subscribing to topics and forums, creating a blog, and having no ads shown anywhere on the site.
Click here to Register a free account now! or read our Welcome Guide to learn how to use this site.

2 Pages V   1 2 >  
Closed TopicStart new topic
> AntiSpy Protector 2009 + Rootkit = Big Trouble!
Grinler
post Aug 12 2009, 09:14 PM
Post #1


Bleep Bleep!
******

Group: Admin
Posts: 31,601
Joined: 24-January 04
From: USA
Member No.: 3



A new rogue called AntiSpy Protector 2009 has been released and has started being seen in the wild. Normally rogues like these are fairly easy to remove, but this variant carries a trick up its sleeve in the form of a rootkit that does not let you run almost any anti-malware programs.



When AntiSpy Protector 2009 is installed on your computer it looks like every other rogue. It shows fake security alerts, displays fake scan alerts, and is a general nuisance. It is only when you try to remove this malware that you notice that your programs no longer work. While testing this program, I noticed that any program I ran to remove this malware was terminated, and then when I tried to run it again, I was told I did not have permission. It was then that I realized that something a little more devious was going on.






I fired up RootRepeal, an anti-rootkit scanner, to see what was happening and noticed a file was locked when it shouldn't be, as well as two Alternate Data Streams attached to the file win32k.sys. Please note, that the legitimate win32k.sys if found in the C:\Windows\System32 folder. An example as to what I saw when running a file scan with RootRepeal is:



Name: win32k.sys:1
Image Path: C:\WINDOWS\win32k.sys:1
Address: 0xF7BE7000 Size: 20480 File Visible: No Signed: -
Status: -




Name: win32k.sys:2
Image Path: C:\WINDOWS\win32k.sys:2
Address: 0xF48DC000 Size: 61440 File Visible: No Signed: -
Status: -




Hidden/Locked Files
-------------------




Path: C:\WINDOWS\system32\netlogon.dll
Status: Locked to the Windows API!




At this point I knew we had a rootkit on our hand. After investigating further, I saw that the C:\Windows\System32\netlogon.dll was replaced by a malware file. This malware file having a size of 60,416 bytes, while the legitimate program is 407,040 bytes. After speaking to some security professionals, I learned that the files that were substituted are the actual loading point of the infection and if we replace them with the legitimate file, then the rootkit will be disabled. Other files that are substituted by this rootkit include scecli.dll and eventlog.dll.



Luckily for us, a process has been developed to remove this infection, but it requires a customized solution for each person who may be infected. Therefore, I am unable to write a self-help guide on how to remove AntiSpy Protector 2009 or the rootkit defending it. If you are infected with this rogue, or your computer starts exhibiting the behavior of security programs terminating and then getting permission denied when you try to run them again, then there is a good chance you have this rootkit on your computer.



If that is the case, I suggest that you create a new topic in our Malware Removal section in order to receive help cleaning your computer.



On a last note, I strongly suggest that you do not delete the files listed above unless you are 100% sure that they are not the legitimate ones as doing so could affect the proper performance of your computer.




--------------------
Lawrence
Become a BleepingComputer fan: Facebook
Follow us on Twitter!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
doctorphibes
post Aug 14 2009, 01:25 PM
Post #2


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 48
Joined: 23-February 07
Member No.: 113,515



Is it possible to rename the 3 mentioned files or move the hidden one at least as a prophylactic measure to possible exposure to this virus?
Thanks


--------------------
"Imagination is more important than knowledge "Albert Einstein"
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Grinler
post Aug 14 2009, 11:18 PM
Post #3


Bleep Bleep!
******

Group: Admin
Posts: 31,601
Joined: 24-January 04
From: USA
Member No.: 3



No, the files that are replaced are legitimate microsoft files and should not be modified.


--------------------
Lawrence
Become a BleepingComputer fan: Facebook
Follow us on Twitter!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
elise025
post Aug 16 2009, 03:04 AM
Post #4


Bleepin' Blond
******

Group: HJT Team
Posts: 3,306
Joined: 5-October 07
From: @Home
Member No.: 160,991



Hi Grinler, thanks for the information!

I think I might have a few victims from this infection in AII. Before sending them to HJT, is there anything I can let them check to confirm?


--------------------
Regards,
Elise

Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Grinler
post Aug 17 2009, 08:16 AM
Post #5


Bleep Bleep!
******

Group: Admin
Posts: 31,601
Joined: 24-January 04
From: USA
Member No.: 3



Rootrepeal logs will show it right off. Let me know if you find any.


--------------------
Lawrence
Become a BleepingComputer fan: Facebook
Follow us on Twitter!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
fab4life4ever
post Aug 18 2009, 04:29 AM
Post #6


New Member
*

Group: Members
Posts: 11
Joined: 14-August 09
Member No.: 364,536



hello grinler how do i check my rootrepeal logs , this thing won't even let me run malwarebytes. although i was able to run spyware terminator and stopzilla
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Grinler
post Aug 18 2009, 05:59 AM
Post #7


Bleep Bleep!
******

Group: Admin
Posts: 31,601
Joined: 24-January 04
From: USA
Member No.: 3



Have you downloaded and run RootRepeal as of yet?

You should perform the steps here to receive help:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic34773.html


--------------------
Lawrence
Become a BleepingComputer fan: Facebook
Follow us on Twitter!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Freemind
post Aug 18 2009, 08:14 AM
Post #8


New Member
*

Group: Members
Posts: 6
Joined: 17-July 09
From: Brazil
Member No.: 353,967



Hello Grinler,

First, congratulations for the news.

I have some questions. These two files, C:\WINDOWS\win32k.sys and C:\WINDOWS\system32\netlogon.dll, can be deleted by the tool KillBox?

The rogue Anti Spy Protector 2009 ever uses these file names or they are random file names?

Deleting the netlogon.dll rogue file, how I can restore the original file?

Thanks
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Grinler
post Aug 18 2009, 08:34 AM
Post #9


Bleep Bleep!
******

Group: Admin
Posts: 31,601
Joined: 24-January 04
From: USA
Member No.: 3



The win32k.sys:1 file located in the C:\Windows folder is a memory resident driver loaded at runtime when the main loader runners. Netlogon.dll should be replaced with the legitimate file using a special method that could cause problems if done unattended and improperly.

Please do not use killbox to remove these files as unexpected behavior may occur.

Remember this is the rootkit, and not AntiSpy Protector 2009, creating these files. This rootkit is starting to be common with other infections as well. As for the filenames, the C:\Windows\wink32.sys seems to be static. The loader, netlogon.dll, is not random, but could be other replaced files.

It is for this reason we suggest you have someone examine your RR logs.


--------------------
Lawrence
Become a BleepingComputer fan: Facebook
Follow us on Twitter!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
fab4life4ever
post Aug 19 2009, 07:56 PM
Post #10


New Member
*

Group: Members
Posts: 11
Joined: 14-August 09
Member No.: 364,536



hello grimler i tryed rootrepeal and it did not install without a pe image error but i could use some of the functions. what do i have to do with the rootrepeal
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
disnyintns
post Aug 22 2009, 12:37 PM
Post #11


New Member
*

Group: Members
Posts: 1
Joined: 22-August 09
Member No.: 367,584



I've had several customers recently with similar issues. Unfortunately, I couldn't identify the problem so we reloaded the computers after a reformat. Each of the computers was running anti-virus programs, McAfee, AVG, etc. Is there any anti-virus program out there that will prevent this type of infection?
Thanks
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
ComputerNutjob
post Aug 23 2009, 03:04 AM
Post #12


Member
Group Icon

Group: Banned
Posts: 125
Joined: 7-May 09
From: Right smack dab in the middle of HELL.
Member No.: 329,600



QUOTE(fab4life4ever @ Aug 18 2009, 05:29 AM) *
hello grinler how do i check my rootrepeal logs , this thing won't even let me run malwarebytes. although i was able to run spyware terminator and stopzilla



STOPzilla is a ROGUE antispyware. Just saying... whistling.gif


--------------------
Personal quotes: "He who does not remember the past is condemned to repeat it"
"Just because I'm crazy, it doesn't mean I'm stupid"
"I swear to god, I never stuck my flash drive into your wives laptop, honest!"


"I'm Microsofts' number one enemy. I FIX the computer errors."


ComputerNutjob
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
MOSHE BERGMAN
post Aug 23 2009, 03:20 PM
Post #13


New Member
*

Group: Members
Posts: 1
Joined: 21-August 09
Member No.: 367,022



I caught something similar, called totalsecurity, I succeeded to remove it, booting with ERD2008 .
using it's registry editor I deleted the "bad" entries in registry , and deleted the files.
Moshe

This post has been edited by MOSHE BERGMAN: Aug 23 2009, 03:34 PM
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Three Sisters Fa...
post Aug 27 2009, 01:13 PM
Post #14


New Member
*

Group: Members
Posts: 2
Joined: 27-August 09
Member No.: 369,779



I have run into this nasty bug several times already. I found in some cases renaming combofix and the executable for malwarebytes allows it to run. I have about a 60% success rate on cleaning the pc's of the infections as long as I can get those two utilites to run.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Kenji The Helpfu...
post Aug 27 2009, 07:37 PM
Post #15


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 52
Joined: 19-August 09
From: West Virginia
Member No.: 366,365



Yes, hello grinler, you know how you said this:
"At this point I knew we had a rootkit on our hand. After investigating further, I saw that the C:\Windows\System32\netlogon.dll was replaced by a malware file. This malware file having a size of 60,416 bytes, while the legitimate program is 407,040 bytes."

I can honestly say that some unknown Rouges have had this, I think i reccently found this on my friends computer, altought...this file name....C:\drivers\system\infcahce.1 Was inffected, replaced, and renamed into C:\Program Files\rootkit. (It took me 3 days to figure out which program it was hidding in) I think the program had 40. But, it was hard to tell. I think his computer is a....Microsoft 2000. Anything leading to this? or is it a prank i should know of?


--------------------
♣SoftWare Intermediate♣
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post

2 Pages V   1 2 >
Closed TopicStart new topic
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 



Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 22nd November 2009 - 12:05 AM


Advertise   |   About Us   |   Terms of Use   |   Privacy Policy   |   Contact Us   |   Site Map   |   Chat   |   Tutorials   |   Uninstall List
Discussion Forums   |   The Computer Glossary   |   Resources   |   RSS Feeds   |   Startups   |   The File Database   |   Virus Removal Guides

© 2003-2009 All Rights Reserved Bleeping Computer LLC.