Backdoor:W32/OnionDuke

Classification

Category :

Malware

Type :

Backdoor

Aliases :

Trojan-Dropper:W32/OnionDuke.A, Backdoor:W32/OnionDuke.A, Backdoor:W32/OnionDuke.B,

Summary

Backdoor:W32/OnionDuke (both A and B variants) are DLL files dropped by Trojan-Dropper:W32/OnionDuke and used to download and execute additional malicious components on the affected system.

Removal

Based on the settings of your F-Secure security product, it will either move the file to the quarantine where it cannot spread or cause harm, or remove it.

A False Positive is when a file is incorrectly detected as harmful, usually because its code or behavior resembles known harmful programs. A False Positive will usually be fixed in a subsequent database update without any action needed on your part. If you wish, you may also:

  • Check for the latest database updates

    First check if your F-Secure security program is using the latest updates, then try scanning the file again.

  • Submit a sample

    After checking, if you still believe the file is incorrectly detected, you can submit a sample of it for re-analysis.

    Note: If the file was moved to quarantine, you need to collect the file from quarantine before you can submit it.

  • Exclude a file from further scanning

    If you are certain that the file is safe and want to continue using it, you can exclude it from further scanning by the F-Secure security product.

    Note: You need administrative rights to change the settings.

Technical Details

The trojan-dropper that drops the backdoors is itself delivered in a "wrapper" that is silently added to files being downloaded through a certain Tor node exit. If the modified file is downloaded and executed on an unsuspecting user's system, the wrapper silently writes to disk and then executes the original file, misleading the user into believing the download was untampered. The wrapper also silently executes a second binary file, which is Trojan-Dropper:W32/OnionDuke.A.

The dropper in turn decrypts an encrypted DLL camouflaged as an embedded GIF image file (Backdoor:W32/OnionDuke.B), then executes it. This will decrypt an embedded configuration, then attempt to connect to hardcoded command and control URLs specified within.

Based on the instructions returned, the backdoor may then download and execute additional components. Of particular note is Backdoor:W32/OnionDuke.A, which includes a different hardcoded domain for communication, and appears to also be able to use Twitter as a communication channel.

For more details, see: