Trojan-Spy:W32/Nuklus.A

Classification

Category:

Malware

Platform:

W32

Type:

Trojan-spy

Aliases:

Summary

Trojan-Spy:W32/Nuklus.A is a modular malware application mainly used for stealing online bank credentials.

It is installed to the system using a browser exploit. According to published reports, the links to sites containing the exploits were spammed.

Removal

Technical Details

System Installation

The trojan's main file, iexplore.exe, is downloaded via a browser exploit. When run, iexplore.exe drops the following files:

taskmang.exe The trojan's main executable.
mt_32.dll Configuration file containing the command and control server address.

It creates the following service:

ServiceName = "Taskmng" DisplayName = "Windows Task Manager" ImagePath = "%System32%\taskmang.exe"

It creates the following registry value:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\MTBase] = "%System32%\mt_32.dll"

The trojan injects itself to the web browser and runs the rest of the code in the context of the browser process.

After the installation, it contacts the server in the control file and starts to wait for commands. The remote server may instruct the trojan to execute any of the following actions:

Update the trojan's main file
Remove the trojan from the system
Download, activate, and remove additional components (plugins)

Plugins

The remote server may instruct the trojan to download additional components using a plugin system. The plugin system consists of DLL files that are loaded by the main trojan or installed to the system using other methods, like browser helper objects (BHO) for Internet Explorer (IE). Plugins communicate with the control server using HTTP requests.

The following DLL files are basic plugins that may be installed to system:

CertGrabber.dll Collects certificates from the system certificate storage.
ExeLoader.dll Executes files.
FFGrabber.dll Mozilla FireFox HTTP request sniffer implemented as XML User Interface Language (XUL) extension module.
IECookieKiller.dll Removes cookies from the Internet Explorer cache.
IEFaker.dll Rewrite URLs. The fake addresses are controlled remotely by the attacker, this is reportedly used for phishing.
IEGrabber.dll IE HTTP request sniffer.
IEMod.dll Installs as a BHO and allows other modules to hook on internet connections.
IEScrGrabber.dll Capture IE screenshots.
IETanGrabber.dll Redirects internet connections.
NetLocker.dll Gets/sets a list of system Layered Service Providers (LSP).
ProxyMod.dll Starts HTTP and Socks proxies on a random port.
PSGrabber.dll Collects miscellaneous credientials from the system (email accounts, et cetera).

Other plugins can also be installed to infected system.

Command and Control system

The remote server reportedly hosts a sophisticated command and control system that the attacker can use to control infected systems via a web interface.

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