Free Windows Shortcut Exploit Protection Tool From SOPHOS

More malware exploiting Windows shortcut vulnerability

It probably won’t come as a surprise to anyone, but more evidence has come to light that cybercriminals are actively exploiting the Windows shortcut vulnerability (also known as CVE-2010-2568).

 

Like the earlier Stuxnet attack, more examples of specially crafted shortcut (.LNK) files that point to malicious code and trick Windows into executing it without user interaction have been analysed in our labs.

 

Overnight Sophos saw two malware samples that were being spread by the .LNK vulnerability. Customers of Sophos products were already protected as we detect the .LNK shortcuts generically as Exp/Cplink-A or Troj/Cplink – however, here is more information on the specific malware:

 

Troj/Chymin-A:
Also known as Chymine, this keylogging Trojan horse is designed to steal information from infected computers.

 

Troj/Chymin-A may be downloaded by exploited Windows Shortcut (.LNK) files.

 

W32/Dulkis-A:
W32/Dulkis-A is the more interesting of the two examples of malware we saw related to the exploit overnight, as it drops .LNK shortcut files that exploit the vulnerability to removable drives such as USB sticks. Sophos products detect these .LNK files as Exp/Cplink-A.

 

W32/Dulkis-A is a Windows worm, written in obfuscated Visual Basic, which copies itself to any attached removable storage device using the files 9.tmp (detected as Mal/TDSSPack-Z), xxx.dll (detected as W32/Dulkis-A) and <randomname>.tmp (detected as Troj/Nebule-Gen).

 

 

Read More…

 

Shortcut zero-day attack code goes public

If you’ve been following Chet Wisniewski’s blog over the last few days you will already know about the serious zero-day vulnerability that has been found in versions of Windows.

 

Since confirmed by Microsoft, there exists a vulnerability in versions of Windows which allows a maliciously-crafted Windows shortcut file (.lnk) run a malicious DLL file, simply by being viewed on a USB stick.

 

Furthermore, the attack can be initiated automatically by viewing an affected USB storage device via Windows Explorer, even with AutoRun and AutoPlay are disabled. The Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC) says that the security hole can also be remotely exploited via WebDAV and network shares.

 

You can watch the following YouTube video where Chet shows the attack in action:

(Enjoy this video? You can check out more on the SophosLabs YouTube channel and subscribe if you like)

In this case, the DLL executed carries a rootkit – helping hide the infection from prying eyes.

 

What is of particular concern, of course, is that other malicious hackers might try to exploit the vulnerability – as it would certainly be a useful tool in any malware’s arsenal. The chances of that occurring has increased over the weekend, as a hacker called Ivanlef0u published proof-of-concept code onto the internet.

 

In the past we’ve seen worms (Conficker is perhaps the most famous example) spread successfully via USB devices, which prompted many firms to disable AutoPlay.

 

There is a real risk that more malware will take advantage of the zero-day exploit now the code is “out there”, taking things to a whole new level.

 

So far, Microsoft has not made a patch available for the problem and has given no timeline as to when a proper fix will be available. However, I’m sure they are feverishly working on a security update for this critical vulnerability.

 

Sophos detects the malware we’ve seen so far using the exploit as W32/Stuxnet-B and Troj/Cplink-A.

 

 

Read More…

 

AVG Rescue CD A powerful toolset for rescue & repair of infected machines

The AVG Rescue CD is a powerful must-have toolkit for the rescue and repair of infected machines. It provides essential utilities for system administrators and other IT professionals and includes the following features:

• Comprehensive administration toolkit
• System recovery from virus and spyware infections
• Suitable for recovering MS Windows and Linux operating systems (FAT32 and NTFS file systems)
• Ability to perform a clean boot from CD or USB stick
• Free support and service for paid license holders of any AVG product
• FAQ and Free Forum self-help support for AVG Free users

 

 

Key technologies

 

• Anti-virus: protection against viruses, worms and Trojans
• Anti-spyware: protection against spyware, adware and identity theft
• Administration toolkit: system recovery tools

 

The AVG Rescue CD is essentially a portable version of AVG Anti-Virus supplied through Linux distribution. It can be used in the form of a bootable CD or bootable USB flash drive to recover your computer when the system cannot be loaded normally, such as after an extensive or deep-rooted virus infection. In short, the AVG Rescue CD enables you to fully remove infections from an otherwise inoperable PC and render the system bootable again.

 

Apart from the usual AVG functions (malware detection and removal, updates from internet or external device, etc.), the AVG Rescue CD also contains the following set of administration tools:

• Midnight Commander – a two-panel file manager
• Windows Registry Editor– simple registry editor for more experienced users
• TestDisk – powerful hard drive recovery tool
• Ping – to test the availability of network resources (servers, domains, IP addresses)
• Common Linux programs and services– vi text editor, OpenSSH daemon, ntfsprogs etc.

 

Free of charge

 

The AVG Rescue CD is a free-to-use product that anyone can download. This also covers any new program versions and virus database updates. If you have any other paid AVG license, you are also entitled to receive our full technical support.

 

Download:

Download Rescue CD (for CD creation)

Download Rescue CD (for USB stick)

 

 

Energizer DUO USB battery charger software allows unauthorized remote system access

 

Overview

The software available for the Energizer DUO USB battery charger contains a backdoor that allows unauthorized remote system access.

 

 

I. Description

Energizer DUO is a USB battery charger. An optional Windows application that allows the user to view the battery charging status has been available on the Energizer website. The installer for the Energizer DUO software places the file UsbCharger.dll in the application’s directory and Arucer.dll in the Windows system32 directory. When the Energizer UsbCharger software executes, it utilizes the UsbCharger.dll component for providing USB communication capabilities. UsbCharger.dll executes Arucer.dll via the Windows rundll32.exe mechanism, and it also configures Arucer.dll to execute automatically when Windows starts by creating an entry in the HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run registry key.

 

Arucer.dll is a backdoor that allows unauthorized remote system access via accepting connections on 7777/tcp. Note that Windows XP SP2 and later systems include a firewall by default. Upon running the Energizer UsbCharger software for the first time, a dialog similar to the following is displayed:

If the user selects “Unblock,” then the system will be at risk. Also note that if the application is unblocked, this will cause Windows to add rundll32.exe to the Windows Firewall exceptions list. This means that any DLL that is executed through the rundll32.exe mechanism will be excluded from the Windows Firewall, regardless of the DLL or port used.

 

The backdoor capabilities include the ability to list directories, send and receive files, and execute programs. The hash information for the file is:
MD5: 1070be3e60a1868d2cd62fc90d76c861
SHA1: d102b1d2538d8771be85403272e5a22a4b3f81ad

The file details for Arucer.dll are:

--a-- W32i   DLL CHS         1.0.0.1 shp     28,672 05-10-2007 arucer.dll
Language        0x0804 (Chinese (PRC))
CharSet         0x04b0 Unicode
OleSelfRegister Disabled
CompanyName
FileDescription Arucer DLL
InternalName    Arucer
OriginalFilenam Arucer.DLL
ProductName     Arucer Dynamic Link Library
ProductVersion  1, 0, 0, 1
FileVersion     1, 0, 0, 1
LegalCopyright  ???? (C) 2006
LegalTrademarks

VS_FIXEDFILEINFO:
Signature:      feef04bd
Struc Ver:      00010000
FileVer:        00010000:00000001 (1.0:0.1)
ProdVer:        00010000:00000001 (1.0:0.1)
FlagMask:       0000003f
Flags:          00000000
OS:             00000004 Win32
FileType:       00000002 Dll
SubType:        00000000
FileDate:       00000000:00000000

 

II. Impact

An attacker is able to remotely control a system, including the ability to list directories, send and receive files, and execute programs. The backdoor operates with the privileges of the logged-on user.

 

 

III. Solution

Remove the Energizer UsbCharger software

Removing the Energizer UsbCharger software will also remove the registry value that causes the backdoor to execute automatically when Windows starts. The Arucer.dll file will remain in the system32 directory, but the mechanisms for executing the code in the DLL will not be present.

 

Remove the Arucer.dll file

The backdoor component of the Energizer UsbCharger software can be removed by deleting the Arucer.dll file from the Windows system32 directory. Because the backdoor hosted by rundll32.exe continues to run after the software has been uninstalled, the Windows may need to be restarted before this file can be removed.

 

Remove “Run DLL as an App” exclusion from the Windows Firewall

If the user unblocks Run DLL as an App (rundll32.exe) from the Windows Firewall, the exclusion will remain after the Energizer UsbCharger software has been uninstalled. To restore the firewall to the previous state, the “Run a DLL as an App” entry should be removed from the exclusions list.

 

Block or restrict network access

Blocking access to 7777/tcp can mitigate this vulnerability by preventing network connectivity to the backdoor. This may be achieved with network perimeter devices or host-based software firewalls. The Energizer UsbCharger software does not automatically add an exception to the Windows Firewall for 7777/tcp or the backdoor application. Therefore, the first time that Energizer UsbCharger is executed, the user will be prompted that “Run a DLL as an APP” has been blocked by the Windows Firewall.

 

The following Snort rules can be used to detect network traffic related to this backdoor:

alert tcp $EXTERNAL_NET any -> $HOME_NET 7777 (msg:"Arucer Command Execution"; flow:established; content:"|C2 E5 E5 E5 9E DD A4 A3 D4 A6 D4 D3 D1 C8 A0 A7 A1 D3 C8 D1 87 D7 87 C8 A7 A6 D4 A3 C8 D3 D1 D3 D2 D1 A0 DC DD A4 D2 D4 D5 98 E5|"; classtype:trojan-activity; sid:1000004; rev:2;)

alert tcp $EXTERNAL_NET any -> $HOME_NET 7777 (msg:"Arucer DIR Listing"; flow:established; content:"|C2 E5 E5 E5 9E D5 D4 D2 D1 A1 D7 A3 A6 C8 D2 A6 A7 D3 C8 D1 84 D7 D7 C8 DD D2 A6 D2 C8 D2 A7 A7 D2 D7 A4 D6 D7 A3 D4 DC A3 98 E5|"; classtype:trojan-activity; sid:1000005; rev:2;)

alert tcp $EXTERNAL_NET any -> $HOME_NET 7777 (msg:"Arucer WRITE FILE command"; flow: established; content:"|C2 E5 E5 E5 9E DC DD A1 DC D0 DD A3 A6 C8 A1 D5 A4 D7 C8 D1 83 D4 86 C8 A7 DD D1 D4 C8 D7 D6 D7 A4 A7 D6 D0 D2 A0 D2 A6 DD 98 E5|"; classtype:trojan-activity; sid:1000006; rev:2;)

alert tcp $EXTERNAL_NET any -> $HOME_NET 7777 (msg:"Arucer READ FILE Command"; flow:established; content:"|C2 E5 E5 E5 9E A3 D3 A6 D1 D6 A0 D4 A4 C8 D4 D0 D0 D4 C8 D1 D5 D5 D5 C8 A4 D1 DD D6 C8 A6 D6 D3 D4 DC D3 DC A4 A0 A6 D1 D4 98 E5|"; classtype:trojan-activity; sid:1000007; rev:2;)

alert tcp $EXTERNAL_NET any -> $HOME_NET 7777 (msg:"Arucer NOP Command"; flow:established; content:"|C2 E5 E5 E5 9E D2 DD D6 A0 A4 A6 A7 A3 C8 A0 A3 DD A7 C8 D1 DC DD 80 C8 A4 D5 D0 DC C8 A3 D5 A7 D0 A7 A1 D4 D7 D3 D1 D4 A0 98 E5|"; classtype:trojan-activity; sid:1000008; rev:2;)

alert tcp $EXTERNAL_NET any -> $HOME_NET 7777 (msg:"Arucer FIND FILE Command"; flow:established; content:"|C2 E5 E5 E5 9E A0 A4 D2 A4 D7 A0 A7 D2 C8 D4 A0 D1 DC C8 D1 81 D0 83 C8 A7 D1 A1 DD C8 A1 D3 D3 D1 D0 A7 D2 D1 D1 D5 A0 D6 98 E5|"; classtype:trojan-activity; sid:1000009; rev:2;)

alert tcp $EXTERNAL_NET any -> $HOME_NET 7777 (msg:"Arucer YES Command"; flow:established; content:"|C2 E5 E5 E5 9E A0 D7 A4 A6 D0 D5 DD DC C8 D6 DD D7 D5 C8 D1 D6 83 80 C8 DD A4 D1 A1 C8 A4 D2 D5 D7 DD A3 A4 A1 DD A6 D7 DD 98 E5|"; classtype:trojan-activity; sid:1000010; rev:2;)

alert tcp $EXTERNAL_NET any -> $HOME_NET 7777 (msg:"Arucer ADD RUN ONCE Command"; flow:established; content:"|C2 E5 E5 E5 9E D6 DD D1 A0 A7 A0 D7 A6 C8 A3 DC A0 A4 C8 D1 83 D3 87 C8 DC D1 A0 A3 C8 A6 DC A1 D7 A1 A4 D0 DD A3 A1 D4 D6 98 E5|"; classtype:trojan-activity; sid:1000011; rev:2;)

alert tcp $EXTERNAL_NET any -> $HOME_NET 7777 (msg:"Arucer DEL FILE Command"; flow:established; content:"|C2 E5 E5 E5 9E D1 A3 D1 A3 D5 A1 DD DD C8 A0 D2 D4 D0 C8 D1 87 D4 83 C8 A7 D6 D4 D4 C8 D3 D4 A0 D0 D6 D5 A6 D7 A6 DD A3 A6 98 E5|"; classtype:trojan-activity; sid:1000012; rev:2;

 

Systems Affected

 

Source : www.kb.cert.org

 

 

Removal tool for Generic.Malware.SL!!M.807DC390 (mso.exe, usbflash.com) Keylogger

 

Submitted By Google Pnookle

 

 

- Sets the drive to autoplay by creating autorun.inf file in its root directory.

- Creates a startup registry entry.

 

Read more

Mx One – Free USB Portable Antivirus for Malware Removal

Mx One is an antivirus designed to protect the removable storage devices like USB sticks (also known as pendrives), iPod ™, mp3, mp4, memoirs M2, SD, microSD, and many more devices in an efficient and completely free.

Features :

• Protection against: Virus, Trojans, Worms, Spyware (Spyware), Hacking Tools (Hacktools), Software Risk (Riskware).
  

• Compatible with any antivirus resident like for example: Nod32 ™., Kaspersky ™. BitDefender ™. AVG ™., Norton ™., Panda ™. AVG ™, ™ Avast, Avira Antivir ™, among others.

• Protection in realtime with ..

– System “CHECK AND DESTROY” detects and removes all viruses that attempt to infect your device while connected to an infected PC, even unknown viruses.

– System Protection “Guardian” protects your PC from viruses that come in infected and USB devices to connect to your computer infected no matter what if the device has Mx One Antivirus installed or not, also detects even unknown viruses.

• Protection against unknown viruses and new variants with “Heuristic ONE” AND “GENERIC ONE”

• You only need very small 1Mb of space available on either the PC or on removable media.

• Completely free.

• And many more.