McAfee > Theat Center > Virus Detail Page

Overview

This is a trojan detection. Unlike viruses, trojans do not self-replicate. They are spread manually, often under the premise that they are beneficial or wanted. The most common installation methods involve system or security exploitation, and unsuspecting users manually executing unknown programs. Distribution channels include email, malicious or hacked web pages, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), peer-to-peer networks, etc.

Characteristics

-- Update January 17, 2008 --
The risk assessment of this threat has been updated to Low-Profiled due to media attention at:
http://www.darkreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=143501&f_src=darkreading_section_297

-- Update January 17, 2008 --
A new variant of this trojan has been discovered, which is being spread by an email which purports to be an invitation from a friend to join MySpace.  When the link to register is clicked, the proxy trojan is installed so the infected machine can be used to send spam.

When run, the trojan creates the following files:

• %SysDir%\\aspimgr.exe
• %WinDir\ws386.ini

The EXE file is part of the proxy agent and it's detected with current DATs as Proxy-Agent.af.gen. The INI is a data file used by the trojan.

It also creates the following registry entries:

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\aspimgr
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Sft

The first of these is to create a service which references the file dropped in the System Directory, and the second can be used as a marker of infection.

This detection is for malware intended to serve as a proxy server on the victim's machine. Once running, the infected host may be used as an email relay, which is likely to be used for routing spam messages.

This trojan does not install itself on the local machine.  It is most commonly installed by another trojan such as MultiDropper-PH.

Symptoms

Tries to open a connection to port 8081 on 202.129.48.211

Method of Infection

Trojans do not self-replicate. They are spread manually, often under the premise that the executable is something beneficial. Distribution channels include IRC, peer-to-peer networks, newsgroup postings, email, etc.

Removal

All Users:
Use current engine and DAT files for detection and removal.

Modifications made to the system Registry and/or INI files for the purposes of hooking system startup, will be successfully removed if cleaning with the recommended engine and DAT combination (or higher).

Additional Windows ME/XP removal considerations

Variants

Variants

N/A

All Information

Overview -

This is a trojan detection. Unlike viruses, trojans do not self-replicate. They are spread manually, often under the premise that they are beneficial or wanted. The most common installation methods involve system or security exploitation, and unsuspecting users manually executing unknown programs. Distribution channels include email, malicious or hacked web pages, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), peer-to-peer networks, etc.

Characteristics

Characteristics -

-- Update January 17, 2008 --
The risk assessment of this threat has been updated to Low-Profiled due to media attention at:
http://www.darkreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=143501&f_src=darkreading_section_297

-- Update January 17, 2008 --
A new variant of this trojan has been discovered, which is being spread by an email which purports to be an invitation from a friend to join MySpace.  When the link to register is clicked, the proxy trojan is installed so the infected machine can be used to send spam.

When run, the trojan creates the following files:

• %SysDir%\\aspimgr.exe
• %WinDir\ws386.ini

The EXE file is part of the proxy agent and it's detected with current DATs as Proxy-Agent.af.gen. The INI is a data file used by the trojan.

It also creates the following registry entries:

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\aspimgr
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Sft

The first of these is to create a service which references the file dropped in the System Directory, and the second can be used as a marker of infection.

This detection is for malware intended to serve as a proxy server on the victim's machine. Once running, the infected host may be used as an email relay, which is likely to be used for routing spam messages.

This trojan does not install itself on the local machine.  It is most commonly installed by another trojan such as MultiDropper-PH.

Symptoms

Symptoms -

Tries to open a connection to port 8081 on 202.129.48.211

Method of Infection

Method of Infection -

Trojans do not self-replicate. They are spread manually, often under the premise that the executable is something beneficial. Distribution channels include IRC, peer-to-peer networks, newsgroup postings, email, etc.

Removal -

Removal -

All Users:
Use current engine and DAT files for detection and removal.

Modifications made to the system Registry and/or INI files for the purposes of hooking system startup, will be successfully removed if cleaning with the recommended engine and DAT combination (or higher).

Additional Windows ME/XP removal considerations

Variants

Variants -

N/A