TrojanDownloader:Win32/Fakeinit is a trojan that modifies system configuration settings, downloads malicious programs from remote websites and occasionally may redirect users to download
Rogue Antivirus products.
Note: Reports of
Rogue Antivirus programs have been more prevalent as of late. These are programs that generate misleading alerts and false detections in order to convince users to purchase illegitimate security software. Some of these programs, such as
Trojan:Win32/Antivirusxp and
Program:Win32/FakeRednefed may display product names or logos in an apparently unlawful attempt to impersonate Microsoft products.
System Changes
The following system changes may indicate the presence of this malware:
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The presence of the following files:
<system folder>\mousehook.dll
<system folder>\ntdll64.exe
<system folder>\init32.exe
<system folder>\frmwrk32.exe
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The presence of the following registry modifications:
Adds value: "Framework Windows"
With data: "frmwrk32.exe"
To subkey: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
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Inability to run Windows Task Manager [available via Ctrl+Alt+Del]
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Inability to change the Windows Desktop wallpaper
TrojanDownloader:Win32/Fakeinit is a trojan that modifies system configuration settings, downloads malicious programs from remote websites and occasionally may redirect users to download rogue security products.
Installation
TrojanDownloader:Win32/Fakeinit may be present as the following files:
<system folder>\mousehook.dll
<system folder>\ntdll64.exe
<system folder>\init32.exe
<system folder>\frmwrk32.exe
The registry is modified to execute Win32/Fakeinit at each Windows start.
Adds value: "Framework Windows"
With data: "frmwrk32.exe"
To subkey: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Payload
Replaces USERINIT.EXE
Win32/Fakeinit may sometimes copy itself as existing <system folder>\userinit.exe thereby replacing it.
Modifies Configuration Settings
TrojanDownloader:Win32/Fakeinit modifies various registry data to change configuration settings.
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Disables Task Manager:
Modifies value: "DisableTaskMgr"
With data: "1"
In subkey: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
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Modifies Windows Desktop Settings
Modifies value: "BackupWallpaper"
With data: "%systemroot%\web\wallpaper\bliss.bmp"
In subkey: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\General
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Disallows Changing Windows Desktop Options
Modifies value: "NoSetActiveDesktop"
With data: "1"
In subkeys:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
Modifies value: "NoChangingWallpaper"
With data: "1"
In subkeys:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop
Modifies value: "TileWallpaper"
With data: "0"
In subkeys:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\General
HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop
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Makes additional changes
Modifies value: "DeskHtmlVersion"
With data: "272"
In subkey: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\Components
Modifies value: "Source"
With data: "about:home"
In subkey: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\Components\0
Modifies value: "Type"
With data: "1"
In subkey: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\
Stats\{72267F6A-A6F9-11D0-BC94-00C04FB67863}\iexplore
Downloads Rogue Security Software
TrojanDownloader:Win32/Fakeinit downloads rogue security products such as
Trojan:Win32/FakeXPA. This malware may also connect to the following domains:
pmsoftware.biz
lsp-test-nax.ind.in
onlinenotifyq.net
Opens Ports
TrojanDownloader:Win32/Fakeinit opens and listens on UDP port 0 and attempts connecting to IP ranges 10.0.0.4 and 10.0.0.23 at TCP port 80, and 127.0.0.1 at UDP port 1038.
Analysis by Subratam Biswas
Take the following steps to help prevent infection on your system:
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Enable a firewall on your computer.
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Get the latest computer updates for all your installed software.
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Use up-to-date antivirus software.
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Use caution when opening attachments and accepting file transfers.
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Use caution when clicking on links to web pages.
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Avoid downloading pirated software.
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Protect yourself against social engineering attacks.
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Use strong passwords.
Enable a firewall on your computer
Use a third-party firewall product or turn on the Microsoft Windows Internet Connection Firewall.
To turn on the Windows Firewall in Windows Vista
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Click Start, and click Control Panel.
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Click Security.
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Click Turn Windows Firewall on or off.
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Select On.
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Click OK.
To turn on the Internet Connection Firewall in Windows XP
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Click Start, and click Control Panel.
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Click Network and Internet Connections. If you do not see Network and Internet Connections, click Switch to Category View.
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Click Change Windows Firewall Settings.
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Select On.
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Click OK.
Get the latest computer updates
Updates help protect your computer from viruses, worms, and other threats as they are discovered. It is important to install updates for all the software that is installed in your computer. These are usually available from vendor websites.
You can use the Automatic Updates feature in Windows to automatically download future Microsoft security updates while your computer is on and connected to the Internet.
To turn on Automatic Updates in Windows Vista
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Click Start, and click Control Panel.
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Click System and Maintainance.
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Click Windows Updates.
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Select a setting. Microsoft recommends selecting Install updates automatically and choose a time that is convenient for you. If you do not choose Automatic, but you choose to be notified when updates are ready, a notification balloon appears when new downloads are available to install. Click the notification balloon to review and install the updates.
To turn on Automatic Updates in Windows XP
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Click Start, and click Control Panel.
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Click System.
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Click Automatic Updates.
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Select a setting. Microsoft recommends selecting Automatic. If you do not choose Automatic, but you choose to be notified when updates are ready, a notification balloon appears when new downloads are available to install. Click the notification balloon to review and install the updates.
Use up-to-date antivirus software
Most antivirus software can detect and prevent infection by known malicious software. To help protect you from infection, you should always run antivirus software that is updated with the latest signature files. Antivirus software is available from several sources. For more information,
see http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/viruses/vista.mspx.
Use caution when opening attachments and accepting file transfers
Exercise caution with e-mail and attachments received from unknown sources, or received unexpectedly from known sources. Use extreme caution when accepting file transfers from known or unknown sources.
Use caution when clicking on links to Web pages
Exercise caution with links to web pages that you receive from unknown sources, especially if the links are to a Web page that you are not familiar with, unsure of the destination of, or suspicious of. Malicious software may be installed in your system simply by visiting a Web page with harmful content.
Avoid downloading pirated software
Threats may also be bundled with software and files that are available for download on various torrent sites. Downloading "cracked" or "pirated" software from these sites carries not only the risk of being infected with malware, but is also illegal. For more information, see '
The risks of obtaining and using pirated software'.
Protect yourself from social engineering attacks
While attackers may attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in hardware or software in order to compromise a system, they also attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in human behavior in order to do the same. When an attacker attempts to take advantage of human behavior in order to persuade the affected user to perform an action of the attacker's choice, it is known as 'social engineering'. Essentially, social engineering is an attack against the human interface of the targeted system. For more information, see '
What is social engineering?'.
Use Strong Passwords
Attackers may try to gain access to your Windows account by guessing your password. It is therefore important that you use a strong password – one that cannot be easily guessed by an attacker. A strong password is one that has at least 8 characters, and combines letters, numbers, and symbols. For more information, see
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/yourself/password/create.mspx.
Recover '<system folder>\userinit.exe' from a known clean backup copy. A backup may be available from the Windows installation CD/DVD located in the <root>\i386 folder.
