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.
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Minimum DAT
4696 (2006-02-14) Updated DAT4696 (2006-02-14) |
Minimum Engine
5.1.00 File LengthN/A |
Description Added
2006-02-14 Description Modified2006-03-24 |
Malware Proliferation
Characteristics
Downloader-AUB detection is for a file that serves as a downloading/ updating component.
Downloaders are designed to pull files from a remote website and execute the files that have been downloaded.
As it is trivial for the malware author to modify the Downloader to refer to a different website or web address, McAfee write detection routines for Downloaders which as a general rule do not include these strings in the detection routines.
This allows McAfee to write more generic detections for these threats and to proactively protect customers against future minor variants.
Therefore it is not possible to guarantee which website and/or port is being communicated with.
Also, as the website being communicated is normally controlled by the malware author, any files being downloaded can be remotely modified and the behaviour of these new binaries altered - possibly with every user infection.
Upon execution, it downloads file from the following URL:
- myreports.phpweb[Removed].com
Following file is downloaded:
%WINDIR%\ipcon32.exe (11,776 bytes) (Detected as BackDoor-CQB)
Following registry entry is added to run the downloaded trojan on system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
?IpCtrl?= ?%WINDIR%\ipcon32.exe?
Symptoms
Method of Infection
N/A. Downloaders are not viruses, and as such do not themselves contain any method to replicate. However they may themselves be downloaded by other viruses and/or Trojans to be installed on the user's system.
Many of these additionally are mass spammed by the author to entice people into double-clicking on them.
Alternatively they may be installed by visiting a malicious web page (either by clicking on a link, or by the website hosting a scripted exploit which installs the Downloader onto the user's system with no user interaction.
Removal
A combination of the latest DATs and the Engine will be able to detect and remove this threat. AVERT recommends users not to trust seemingly familiar or safe file icons, particularly when received via P2P clients, IRC, email or other media where users can share files.
Variants