1. Skip to navigation
  2. Skip to content
  3. Skip to secondary-content

Where You Are

  1. Labs
  2. Threats
  3. Virus and threat descriptions
  4. Backdoor:OSX/MacKontrol.A

Backdoor:OSX/MacKontrol.A

Detection Names:Backdoor:OSX/MacKontrol.A
Category:Malware
Type:Backdoor
Platform:OS X

Summary

Backdoor:OSX/MacKontrol.A connects to a remote server to receive further instructions, without the knowledge or permission from the user.

Disinfection

Manual Removal Instructions

  1. 1. Open Activity Monitor, select launched, and click Quit Process.
  2. 2. Open Terminal, then execute the following:
    • rm /Library/launched
    • rm ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.FolderActionsxl.plist

Protection

Keep your Mac protected against the latest threats with F-Secure Anti-Virus for Mac. Try it now for 30 days for free.


Additional Details

Arrival

MacKontrol.A is dropped into the system by malicious Word documents that exploit the vulnerability identified by CVE-2009-0563.



Installation

The malware drops the following copy of itself:

  • /Library/launched

It creates the following launchpoint for the file above:

  • ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.FolderActionsxl.plist


Payload

The malware connects to freetibet2012[...].xicp.com[...] to obtain additional commands.

It is capable of performing the following actions:

  • Deleting files
  • Terminating processes
  • Getting system info, such as system version, username, hostname, etc.
  • Getting process lists
  • Opening remote shell
  • Listing files
  • Uploading, downloading and executing files
  • Removing launchpoint