Summary

HackTack is a backdoor that allows a remote attacker to take over a victim's machine.

Disinfection

Removal:

The following registry key has to be removed first:

 '[HKLM]\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\Configuration Wizard'

After rebooting the system the backdoor will not be loaded so it can be deleted easily and safely. '[Windows_directory]\CfgWiz.32.exe' is the backdoor program that can be deleted after the registry has been fixed.

Additional Details

When run the backdoor copies itself to the Windows directory as 'CfgWiz32.exe'. It adds a key to the registry in '[HKLM]\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run' called 'Configuration Wizard' that points to the backdoor program in the Windows directory. This way the backdoor will be started whenever Windows boots up.

When a machine has this backdoor any attacker can connect to it with the HackTack client. Using the client the attacker can do many things. Such as

- get general information on the machine (logged in user, system time, operating system version, etc)

- send messages to the user's desktop with different window settings

- take over the keyboard/mouse remotely

- send different event to running Windows processes

- do a shutdown/reboot/log off/power off

- steal stored passwords

- log everything typed on the keyboard (allows to collect more passwords and other sensitive data)

- browse the files on the machine, up/download files, run programs

- chat with the user on the other side (or with clients connected to the same machine)

- other things like, open/close CD tray, take a screen-shot, flip screen, etc.



F-Secure Anti-Virus with the latest updates can detect this backdoor.

[F-Secure Corp.; September 04, 2001]