Win32/Fareit is a multiple component malware family that consists of a password stealing component, PWS:Win32/Fareit, that steals sensitive information from the affected user's computer and sends it to a remote attacker, and a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) component, DDoS:Win32/Fareit.gen!A, that may be commanded to perform flooding attacks against other servers.

System changes

The following system changes may indicate the presence of this malware:

• The presence of the following files:
  
  %ProgramFiles%/lp/<four hexadecimal digits>/<number>.tmp
  %AppData%\dwme.exe
  %TEMP%\dwme.exe
  %AppData%\svhostu.exe
  %TEMP%\svhostu.exe
  %AppData%\pny\pnd.exe
• The presence of the following registry modifications:
  
  

  In subkey: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
  Sets value: "Microsoft PnD"
  With data: %AppData%\pny\pnd.exe

  In subkey: HKCU\Software\WinRAR
  Sets value: "HWID"
  With data: <unique identifier> (for example, {D9CD7060-83A2-46D0-8CEA-5EDF6043EEC7})

Win32/Fareit is a multiple component malware family that consists of a password stealing component, PWS:Win32/Fareit, that steals sensitive information from the affected user's computer and sends it to a remote attacker, and a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) component, DDoS:Win32/Fareit.gen!A, that may be commanded to perform flooding attacks against other servers.

Installation

Win32/Fareit may be installed by other malware.

PWS:Win32/Fareit  is usually installed to a particular location by other malware, then run from this location.

For example, Backdoor:Win32/Cycbot installs it to %ProgramFiles%/lp/<four hexadecimal digits>/<number>.tmp (such as  %ProgramFiles%\lp\008a\7.tmp), while Rogue:Win32/FakeScanti installs it to %AppData%\dwme.exe and %temp%\dwme.exe, or %AppData%\svhostu.exe and %temp%\svhostu.exe.

 DDoS:Win32/Fareit.gen!A terminates any previous versions of itself that may be running, and copies itself to %AppData%\pny\pnd.exe.

It creates the following registry entry to ensure that this copy executes at each Windows start:

In subkey: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Sets value: "Microsoft PnD"
With data: %AppData%\pny\pnd.exe

It then runs the new copy.

Both components create a registry entry such as the following:

In subkey: HKCU\Software\WinRAR
Sets value: "HWID"
With data: <unique identifier> (for example, {D9CD7060-83A2-46D0-8CEA-5EDF6043EEC7})

Some variants of PWS:Win32/Fareit delete themselves once they have finished running.

Payload

Steals sensitive information

PWS:Win32/Fareit  attempts to retrieve stored website passwords from various browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Opera.

It also attempts to steal stored account information, such as server names, port numbers, login IDs and passwords from the following FTP clients or cloud storage programs if these are installed:

• 32bit FTP
• 3D FTP
• ALFTP
• BitKinex
• Blaze FTP
• BulletProof FTP
• ClassicFTP
• Coffee Cup FTP
• Core FTP
• CuteFTP
• Direct FTP
• Easy FTP
• ExpanDrive
• FFFTP
• FTP++
• FTP Client
• FTP Control
• FTP Explorer
• FTP Navigator
• FTP Now
• FTP Rush
• FTPCommander
• FTP Voyager
• Far FTP
• FileZilla
• FlashFxp
• FlingFTP
• Free FTP
• Frigate FTP
• LeapFTP
• Leech FTP
• NetDrvie
• Opus
• Robo FTP
• SecureFX
• SmartFTP
• Total Commander
• TurboFTP
• UltraFXP
• WS_FTP
• Web Site Publisher
• WebDrive
• WinSCP
• Windows Commander
• Wise-FTP by AceBit

It then posts all of this information to a remote server. Examples of servers contacted by the malware include:

• 178<removed>7.165.42
• 178<removed>8.243.211
• 178<removed>38.228.86
• 46.<removed>8.225.50
• 46.<removed>.107.13
• 95.<removed>3.35.118
• bin<removed>obing.com
• dom<removed>wsweetnew12312d.ru
• fni<removed>todn.cz.cc
• fok<removed>al.cz.cc
• fuc<removed>ngav.com
• fuc<removed>ngavast.com
• goi<removed>opka.com
• kla<removed>r.co.cc
• onl<removed>etumb.com
• our<removed>tatransfers.com
• piw<removed>yzocyluz.com
• rep<removed>sys-online.com
• ret<removed>domain.com
• saf<removed>di.com
• sce<removed>fub.cz.cc
• sum<removed>evebat.com
• tel<removed>nero.com
• tra<removed>ersdataforme.com
• win<removed>ing.com

Participates in DDoS attacks

DDoS:Win32/Fareit.gen!A  contacts a command and control server which may request that it participate in DDoS attacks against other servers of its choosing. It then floods the attacked server with multiple HTTP GET or POST requests. It changes the header of the various requests so that each appears to come from a unique referrer (the webpage that the request appears to be linked from), and from multiple web browser versions and languages. This makes these requests more difficult for the attacked server to filter out.

Examples of command and control servers used at the time of publication include the following:

• 176. <removed>.112.90
• 176. <removed>.112.95
• 178. <removed>.166.154
• 2220 <removed>966122.ru
• drea <removed>milos4.ru

For more information, please see the description for DDoS:Win32/Fareit.gen!A elsewhere in the encyclopedia.
 
Downloads and executes arbitrary files

Some samples of PWS:Win32/Fareit have been observed downloading an additional file, saving it to the %TEMP% directory, and then executing it. At the time of publication, these files were variants of PWS:Win32/Zbot.

If a new version of DDoS:Win32/Fareit.gen!A is available, its command and control server may provide a copy of the updated file. This file is then saved to the %TEMP% directory then executed.

Analysis by David Wood

Take the following steps to help prevent infection on your computer:

• Enable a firewall on your computer.
• Get the latest computer updates for all your installed software.
• Use up-to-date antivirus software.
• Limit user privileges on the computer.
• Use caution when opening attachments and accepting file transfers.
• Use caution when clicking on links to webpages.
• Avoid downloading pirated software.
• Protect yourself against social engineering attacks.
• Use strong passwords.

Enable a firewall on your computer

Use a third-party firewall product or turn on the Microsoft Windows Internet Connection Firewall.

• How to turn on the Windows Firewall in Windows 7
• How to turn on the Windows Firewall in Windows Vista
• How to turn on the Windows firewall in Windows XP

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. Instructions on how to download the latest versions of some common software is available from the following:

• Microsoft Malware Protection Center - Updating Software

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.

• How to turn on Automatic Updates in Windows 7
• How to turn on Automatic Updates in Windows Vista
• How to turn on Automatic Updates in Windows XP

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, such as Microsoft Security Essentials, that is updated with the latest signature files. For more information, see http://www.microsoft.com/windows/antivirus-partners/.

Limit user privileges on the computer

Starting with Windows Vista and Windows 7, Microsoft introduced User Account Control (UAC), which, when enabled, allowed users to run with least user privileges. This scenario limits the possibility of attacks by malware and other threats that require administrative privileges to run.

You can configure UAC in your computer to meet your preferences:

• User Account Control in Windows 7
• User Account Control in Windows Vista
• Applying the Principle of Least Privilege in Windows XP
• More on User Account Control

Use caution when opening attachments and accepting file transfers

Exercise caution with email 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 webpages

Exercise caution with links to webpages that you receive from unknown sources, especially if the links are to a webpage that you are not familiar with, unsure of the destination of, or suspicious of. Malicious software may be installed in your computer simply by visiting a webpage 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 to compromise a computer, they also attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in human behavior to do the same. When an attacker attempts to take advantage of human behavior 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 computer. 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 eight characters, and combines letters, numbers, and symbols. For more information, see http://www.microsoft.com/protect/yourself/password/create.mspx.

To detect and remove this threat and other malicious software that may be installed on your computer, run a full-system scan with an appropriate, up-to-date, security solution. The following Microsoft products detect and remove this threat:

• Microsoft Security Essentials
• Microsoft Safety Scanner
• Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool

For more information on antivirus software, see http://www.microsoft.com/windows/antivirus-partners/.