Please help with persistant rootkit problem

Discussion in 'Malware Help - MG (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by mrsussex, Mar 13, 2011.

  1. mrsussex

    mrsussex Private E-2

    Hi guys, hope you can help, this is driving me mad!

    The problem started when I got BSOD on boot-up reporting a problem with iastor.sys and Malwarebytes reported a TDSS rootkit infection.

    I managed to clean the rootkit, I think, but it had caused so much damage that re-installation of the OS was the only realistic option.

    I now have a problem with burning cds and dvds, which I feel is the fallout from the rootkit. Could it still be in the MBR, BIOS or maybe firmware?

    I think iastor.sys has a part to play in the operation of dvd writers, hence my theory that the problem is rootkit based.

    System is:

    Dell Studio XPS 1645 i7 1.6ghz
    Optiarc 7640s dvd writer
    Dual boot install: Ubuntu 10 32bit and Win 7 64bit, all up to date
    VSO Copy2DVD, Microsoft burning software, Nero and CDBurnerXP (all failing)


    The problem is that the dvd writer is burning dud discs. They appear to burn ok, and the software will even report that the discs have burned correctly when asking it to perform a check after finalising. However, when I put the discs into any computer (includine the one that burnt the disc), it is either reported as blank or that the dvd writer is empty. When I use the built-in MS burning software, the process never finishes, it hangs at finalising and with 30 seconds to go. Using the MS DVDfix software is a waste of time (as usual!).

    I can see that something has been burned onto the discs when I view the discs under a light source, and the writer was fine prior to the OS re-installation, burning all types of discs without a problem.

    I am using the same discs, burner, OS and burning software as I used before, so no change there.

    The reason I re-installed the OS was because I managed to gain a rootkit/virus, called TDSS rootkit, and the only way to get rid of it was to format the HD. This rootkit caused a shedload of damage, including messing with the MBR.

    I have similar problems in Ubuntu when I burn discs, so it is presumably quite a deep problem. Also, the drive often fails to mount, or even show-up in Ubuntu.

    Finally, the keyboard eject button no longer works properly, either in W7 or Ubuntu.

    I am certain that it is not a hardware failure, nor a disc type problem, I think that the rootkit has changed something which got through a HD format. I have tried re-installing the dvd writer firmware, with no effect.

    So, my questions are:

    Could something like a rootkit survive a format?

    Does a format destroy the MBR?

    If it may not destroy the MBR, how can I make sure the HD is completely cleaned?

    Does Ubuntu and Win7 use the same chipset dirvers?(I have a feeling that this is where the problem may reside)

    If no, what does Ubuntu and Win7 share to make the DVD writer work?

    Please, does anyone have any ideas at all?

    Thanks in advance.

    Ok, I have just discovered that the writer will eject if I right click on it's icon and click on eject. The keyboard button does not work still!

    Also, when I burn re-writable discs, everything seems ok but they also get seen as empty discs when put into a PC. I can't even erase them and they are just re-writable coasters.

    I have also just rolled back the bios, but still the same.

    I'm going insane with this, I'm usually pretty good with tech and have dealt with many viruses without any issue - this has me stumped!
     
    mrsussex, Mar 13, 2011
    #1
  2. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Welcome to Major Geeks!

    Please read ALL of this message including the notes before doing anything.

    Pleases follow the instructions in the below link:

    Also do this:
    Please download the TDSS Rootkit Removing Tool (TDSSKiller.exe) and save it to your Desktop. <-Important!!!


    Be sure to download TDSSKiller.exe (v2.4.0.0) from Kaspersky's website and not TDSSKiller.zip which appears to be an older version 2.3.2.2 of the tool.

    • Double-click on TDSSKiller.exe to run the tool for known TDSS variants.
      Vista/Windows 7 users right-click and select Run As Administrator.
    • If TDSSKiller does not run, try renaming it. To do this, right-click on TDSSKiller.exe, select Rename and give it a random name with the .com file extension (i.e. 123tdk.com).
    • Click the Start Scan button.
    • Do not use the computer during the scan
    • If the scan completes with nothing found, click Close to exit.
    • If malicious objects are found, they will show in the Scan results - Select action for found objects and offer three options.
    • Ensure Cure (default) is selected, then click Continue > Reboot now to finish the cleaning process.
    • A log file named TDSSKiller_version_date_time_log.txt (i.e. TDSSKiller.2.4.0.0_27.07.2010_14.17.05_log.txt) will be created and saved to the root directory ( usually Local Disk C ).
    • Attach this log to your next message



    READ & RUN ME FIRST. Malware Removal Guide


    and attach the requested logs when you finish these instructions.

    • **** If something does not run, write down the info to explain to us later but keep on going. ****
    • Do not assume that because one step does not work that they all will not. MGtools will frequently run even when all other tools will not.


    • After completing the READ & RUN ME and attaching your logs, make sure that you tell us what problems still remain ( if any still do )!
    Helpful Notes:


    1. If you run into problems trying to run the READ & RUN ME or any of the scans in normal boot mode, you can run the steps in safe boot mode but make sure you tell us what you did later when you post logs. See the below if you do not know how to boot in safe mode:

    2. If you have problems downloading on the problem PC, download the tools and the manual updates for SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes ( links are given in the READ & RUN ME) onto another PC and then burn to a CD. Then copy them to the problem PC. You will have to skip getting updates if (and only if) your internet connection does not work. Yes you could use a flash drive too but flash drives are writeable and infections can spread to them.
    3. If you cannot seem to login to an infected user account, try using a different user account (if you have one) in either normal or safe boot mode and running only SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes while logged into this aother user account. Then reboot and see if you can log into the problem user account. If you can then run SUPERAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes, ComboFix and MGtools on the infected account as requested in the instructions.
    4. To avoid additional delay in getting a response, it is strongly advised that after completing the READ & RUN ME you also read this sticky:

    Any additional post is a bump which will add more delay. Once you attach the logs, your thread will be in the work queue and as stated our system works the oldest threads FIRST.
    ​
     
    TimW, Mar 13, 2011
    #2
  3. mrsussex

    mrsussex Private E-2

    Ok, I've run the various tests as requested and attached the logs.

    TDSSKiller found nothing, just as before.

    My feeling is that the problem is a remnant of the damage done by the rootkit to the MBR (or possibly BIOS/Firmware) because it is persistent and survived a HD format and re-partitioning.

    I am happy to re-install the OS if necessary, but I feel I need to use some software that will wipe the ENTIRE drive.

    Finally, I read somewhere that some rootkits alter the size of the drive, enabling it to hide in an area that Windows is unaware of, might this be the problem?

    Finally, a million, billion thanks for your time and effort!
     

    Attached Files:

    mrsussex, Mar 13, 2011
    #3
  4. mrsussex

    mrsussex Private E-2

    Ok,

    This problem became apparent when I wanted to burn an ISO to a disk. Most software burnt the ISO but it then didn't work, some software said the ISO file was of the wrong format and refused to attempt to burn it.

    I have just tried to put the ISO onto a bootable USB, but the software is saying that there is a problem with the ISO file.

    This baffled me, so I d/l'd magicdisc and tried to mount the ISO with that, but it failed, again because of the ISO file.

    I have now tried several ISO files and I can not burn, mount or put them on a bootable USB - and I know that the ISO files are fine, so whatever the problem is, it's not just related to the writer and seems to be a system wide problem.

    What could possibly screw-up ISO files, or make them un-recognisable, in both Win7 and Ubuntu?
     
    mrsussex, Mar 13, 2011
    #4
  5. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Look at your ComboFix log and see how many drivers/services are marked with an X. It might be the cause of your issue. I am not finding any malware in your logs. However, lets double check your MBR:

    Please also download MBRCheck to your desktop

    • Double click MBRCheck.exe to run (vista and Win 7 right click and select Run as Administrator)
    • It will show a Black screen with some information that will contain either the below line if no problem is found:
      • Done! Press ENTER to exit...

    • Or you will see more information like below if a problem is found:
      • Found non-standard or infected MBR.
      • Enter 'Y' and hit ENTER for more options, or 'N' to exit:

    • Either way, just choose to exit the program at this point since we want to see only the scan results to begin with.
    • MBRCheck will create a log named similar to MBRCheck_07.16.10_00.32.33.txt which is random based on date and time.
    • Attach this log to your next message.
     
    TimW, Mar 14, 2011
    #5

MajorGeeks.Com Menu

Downloads All In One Tweaks \ Android \ Anti-Malware \ Anti-Virus \ Appearance \ Backup \ Browsers \ CD\DVD\Blu-Ray \ Covert Ops \ Drive Utilities \ Drivers \ Graphics \ Internet Tools \ Multimedia \ Networking \ Office Tools \ PC Games \ System Tools \ Mac/Apple/Ipad Downloads

Other News: Top Downloads \ News (Tech) \ Off Base (Other Websites News) \ Way Off Base (Offbeat Stories and Pics)

Social: Facebook \ YouTube \ Twitter \ Tumblr \ Pintrest \ RSS Feeds