Trojan.GenericKD.2427119

This malware (SHA1: e81a329b75e962ebef17faf72f2b7d4d0f391589) is distributed from a malicious website in a ZIP file with the filename 'DHL_Report_[string of numbers].zip'. The ZIP file appears to contain a PDF document, as the file uses the PDF file format icon.

Execution

On extraction, the file contained in the ZIP file turns out to be an executable program. When this file is executed, it appears to be damaged and displays an error message:

Decoy error message displayed

In the background however, the program injects code into running processes (including explorer.exe).

It also silently attempts to connect to remote servers (mainly located in the United States, United Kingdom and Japan).

Files downloaded

On successfully connecting to the remote servers, it downloads files and saves them on the machine. A file is saved to the user profile and uses the PDF file format to help conceal the fact that the file is actually an executable program:

File downloaded to the user profile

The malware then amends the registry so that this file is automatically run on system startup.

In addition, innocuously named files (for example, '25.tmp') are saved to the temp folder:

Files downloaded to the temp folder

Proxy server changes

In the registry, the trojan changes the settings for the proxy server to the local address. It also modifies the proxy settings in the Internet Explorer web browser's Local Area Network (LAN) settings.

Proxy setting changes for Internet Settings

These changes typically interfere with the user's normal connection to the Internet.

Sending spam

During the analysis, the 25.tmp file was observed to be a self-extracting executable program that attempts to connect to various SMTP servers:

25.tmp attempting to contact an SMTP server

If successfully connected, the program begins sending spam email messages to a list of recipient email addresses that it also downloaded from the remote servers:

Spam email message recipients list