Zero Access Rootkit, RUNME first didn't work

Discussion in 'Malware Help - MG (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by auron99ie, Oct 20, 2011.

  1. auron99ie

    auron99ie Private E-2

    Hey Guys,
    Been a long time since I had to ask for help here :)
    But this one's stubborn (and kinda interesting :cool)

    It seems I've been infected by the zero access rootkit virus.
    System Details
    Windows XP, service pack 3, up to date (only installed recent updates day before infection...)
    ZoneAlarm Firewall
    Microsoft Security Essentials Antivirus
    Use Mozilla Firefox browser

    Infection

    Yesterday, 20 October 2011, approx 7pm GMT.
    I was browsing the weband had opened multiple pages in tabs from a google search. Nothing dubious (I was infact googling hamster allergies!).
    Symptoms
    After opeing multiple tabs, I suddenly got a popup from ZoneAlarm warning me that X was trying to access the internet, I delayed decided to Allow/Deny to find out what it was. I eventually clicked deny and it never tried to access the new again.
    Simultaneously I got a popup from Microsoft Security Essentials saying I'm no longer protected. When I try to reenable protection I get an access denied error. I'm sure you know the rest, similar access denied errors for SuperAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes etc.
    I looked back at Firefox and one page in a tab seemed to be loaded to a blank page, so I assume it was that (don't have the address, just closed it quickly).

    Notes On READ & RUN ME FIRST. Malware Removal Guide
    I ran all the steps I could.
    I encountered problems trying to run SuperAntiSpyware (access denied). I could run it using the alternate start but it was killed after a minutes or so.
    But I was eventually able to download the portable verion ( I couldn't at first) and was able to run that.

    Because I couldn't initially download the portable version, I ran ComboFix before SAP.

    At first I could run MalwareBytes, I started a scan and it was killed after a while, since then I get access denied errors when I try to run it.

    I was able to run all other tools.

    Problems still persist, no changes in symptoms...

    Additional Step
    I also ran TDSS killer which found nothing (can attach log if needed too).

    Logs are attached , I await your help guys :)

    Thanks

    p.s. as an aside, what does this virus do, doesn't really seem to be doing much other than blocking my antivirus/antimalware tools. Is it purely to make the host more vunrable to other attacks? Also, any idea how I might have gotten infected, I didn't click on anything dubious, didn't allow any script to run/install, was it some software vunrability in Firefox or Windows?
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Ask Toolbar <--- Uninstall this


    Now we need to use ComboFix by sUBs

    • Make sure that combofix.exe that you downloaded while doing the READ & RUN ME is on your Desktop but Do not run it!
      • If it is not on your Desktop, the below will not work.
    • Also make sure you have shut down all protection software (antivirus, antispyware...etc) or they may get in the way of allowing ComboFix to run properly.
    • If ComboFix tells you it needs to update to a new version, make sure you allow it to update.
    • Open Notepad and copy/paste the text in the below quote box. Ensure you scroll down to select ALL the lines:
    Code:
    KILLALL::
    
    File::
    C:\Documents and Settings\wayne\Local Settings\Application Data\3702297827
    C:\Documents and Settings\wayne\Templates\3702297827
    C:\WINDOWS\Temp\{67EF86AB-8B56-428A-BF7E-418FA1E01D95}.tmp
    • Save the above as CFscript.txt and make sure you save it to the same location (should be on your Desktop) as ComboFix.exe
    • At this point, you MUST EXIT ALL BROWSERS NOW before continuing!
    • You should have both the ComboFix.exe and CFScript.txt icons on your Desktop.
    • Now use your mouse to drag CFscript.txt on top of ComboFix.exe

      http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v666/sUBs/CFScriptB-4.gif

    • Follow the prompts.
    • When it finishes, a log will be produced named c:\combofix.txt
    • I will ask for this log below

    Note:

    Do not mouseclick combofix's window while it is running. That may cause it to stall.

    If after running Combofix you discover none of your programs will open up, and you recieve the following error: "Illegal operation attempted on a registry key that has been marked for deletion". Then the answer is to REBOOT the machine, and all will be corrected.



    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. (See: HOW TO: Attach Items To Your Post )

    Are you now able to run Malware Bytes?

    Now run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it. (Right click and run as admin if using Vista or Windows7) Then attach the new C:\MGlogs.zip file that will be created by running this.

    Let me know of any problems you may have encountered with the above instructions and also let me know how things are running now!
     
    Last edited: Oct 20, 2011
  3. auron99ie

    auron99ie Private E-2

    Hi, thanks for the help.

    First, let me update you on steps I did in between my original post and yours.
    I got the impression that the rootkit may have been gone, or half removed in some way, so I uninstalled Malware Bytes and reinstalled and was able to run it, same thing with SuperAnitSpyware. I have the malware bytes log from the scan if needed?
    I then thought maybe the problem was gone and I had to restore the permissions, so I followed the instructions usually given in that situation, ran
    C:\win32kdiag.exe -f -r (found nothing), also ran FixPerm.bat with inherit.exe and junction (gave lots of popup "ok" boxes"). However, I was still unable to start Microsoft Security Essentials. So that's where I was at before your post.

    I have since followed the steps you gave, I was unable to close MS SecurityEssentials, nor was ComboFix itself, it decided to run anyway (this was also the case originally). I ran the other steps also, logs attached.

    No change in symptoms after running the additional steps, still unable to start MSSE, can now run S.AntiSpyWare and MalwareBytes after reinstalling them.

    Thanks
     

    Attached Files:

  4. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    MSSE may have been compromised. So we will have to uninstall it. Do that now. Do not reinstall yet.

    Do you have your XP boot CD? If not:

    This is a download of an .iso file of just the Recovery Console for XP.
    Burn to CD with Nero or other 'disc image' capable tool and boot.

    XP Recovery Console.

    You can use ImageBurn to create the disc.

    Boot to the bios after creating the disc, and change the boot order to CD/DVD as first boot device. Then insert the CD and reboot. Once you are in the Recovery Console, type:
    then exit. Reboot to normal mode and re-run MBRCheck and attach the new log.

    Now reinstall your antivirus.
     
  5. auron99ie

    auron99ie Private E-2

    Hi,
    I have the cd somewhere, but not sure where, so I downloaded the iso you linked. However the recovery console couldn't be started...said
    "setup cannot find any harddisks installed".

    However I saw that on normal startup I had an option to select Recovery Console (guess it must be on my harddisk somewhere) and I selected that and ran fixmbr. Does that have the same result?

    The MBRCheck log is attached.

    MSSE was reinstalled fine and working now (running a scan at the mo).
     

    Attached Files:

  6. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Now run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it. (Right click and run as admin if using Vista or Windows7) Then attach the new C:\MGlogs.zip file that will be created by running this.

    Let me know of any problems you may have encountered with the above instructions and also let me know how things are running now!
     
  7. auron99ie

    auron99ie Private E-2

    Attached.
    Things are running fine, all AV and AM programs running without problems, including MSSE.

    Haven't had any problems, does this mean I'm clean?
     

    Attached Files:

  8. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    If you are not having any other malware problems, it is time to do our final steps:
    1. We recommend you keep SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for scanning/removal of malware. Unless you purchase them, they provide no protection. They do not use any significant amount of resources ( except a little disk space ) until you run a scan.
    2. If we had you use ComboFix, uninstall ComboFix (This uninstall will only work as written if you installed ComboFix on your Desktop like we requested.)
      • Click START then RUN and enter the below into the run box and then click OK. Note the quotes are required (If we renamed it please rename it back to Combofix.exe.
      • "%userprofile%\Desktop\combofix" /uninstall
        • Notes: The space between the combofix" and the /uninstall, it must be there.
        • This will uninstall ComboFix and also reset hidden files and folders settings back to Windows defaults.
    3. Go back to step 6 of the READ ME and renable your Disk Emulation software with Defogger if you had disabled it.
    4. Any other miscellaneous tools we may have had you install or download can be uninstalled and deleted.
    5. If we had you download any registry patches like fixme.reg or fixWLK.reg (or any others), you can delete these files now.
    6. If running Vista, it is time to make sure you have reenabled UAC by double clicking on the C:\MGtools\enableUAC.reg file and allowing it to be added to the registry.
    7. Go to add/remove programs and uninstall HijackThis.
    8. Goto the C:\MGtools folder and find the MGclean.bat file. Double click on this file to run this cleanup program that will remove files and folders
      related to MGtools and some other items from our cleaning procedures.
    9. If you are running Win 7, Vista, Windows XP or Windows ME, do the below:
      • Refer to the cleaning procedures pointed to by step 7 of the READ ME
        for your Window version and see the instructions to Disable System Restore which will flush your Restore Points.
      • Then reboot and Enable System Restore to create a new clean Restore Point.
    10. After doing the above, you should work thru the below link:
     
  9. auron99ie

    auron99ie Private E-2

    Thanks, no symptoms, does this mean I'm clean?
    I did get one warning from MSSE during the uninstall of Combofix..
    complained about an iexplore.exe in a funny location on my C drive...little bit concerning but maybe it was just a side effect of having MSSE running when ComboFix was trying to uninstall (I disabled MSSE as per combofixes instructions afterwards).
    PNG of warning attached.
     

    Attached Files:

  10. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Does this folder C:\32788R22FWJFW still exist? (I am sure it is something to do with Combofix)
     

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