Infostealer.Refest

SUMMARY

Infostealer.Refest is a Trojan Horse that installs itself as a BHO (Browser Helper Object) for Internet Explorer and steals online banking information when it is submitted in web forms.

NOTE : Definitions prior to May 10, 2006 may detect this threat as PWSteal.Refest

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) July 7, 2004
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) July 1, 2004

Threat Assessment

Wild

• Wild Level: Low
• Number of Infections: 0 - 49
• Number of Sites: 0 - 2
• Geographical Distribution: Low
• Threat Containment: Easy
• Removal: Easy

Damage

• Damage Level: Medium
• Releases Confidential Info: Steals banking information.

Distribution

• Distribution Level: Low

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Infostealer.Refest does the following when it is executed:

1. Creates a dll file in the %System% directory. This file has a random name with up to 8 lower-case characters, e.g., "abcde.dll" or "qrstuvwx.dll". The file is 45056 bytes in length.
   
   Note: %System% is a variable. The Trojan locates the System folder and creates a dll in that location. By default, this is C:WindowsSystem (Windows 95/98/Me), C:WinntSystem32 (Windows NT/2000), or C:WindowsSystem32 (Windows XP).
   
2. Installs the dll as a Browser Helper Object, so that it is loaded every time Internet Explorer starts. To do this, it creates the following registry keys:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID{<random clsid>}
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerBrowser Helper Objects{<random clsid>}
   
   and sets the value
   
   (Default) = %System%<random name>.dll
   
   in the registry key
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID{<random clsid>}InProcServer32.
   
   The {<random clsid>} is a random value of the form, {########-####-####-####-############}, for example, {380b99b4-5f7d-7791-b8ef-499d848499e6}.
   
   
3. The dll monitors outgoing https connections to the following websites:
   
   • .anz.com
   • .bendigobank.com.au
   • .citibank.com
   • .citibank.de
   • .commbank.com.au
   • .dab-bank.com
   • .deutsche-bank.de
   • .e-gold.com
   • .hsbc.com.au
   • .hsbc.com.hk
   • .online-banking.standardchartered.com.hk
   • .sparkasse-banking.de
   • .stgeorge.com.au
   • banking.lbbw.de
   • banking.mashreqbank.com
   • banknetpower.net
   • barclays.co.uk
   • cd.citibank.co.ae
   • cibconline.cibc.com
   • citibank.com.au
   • dit-online.de
   • easyweb.tdcanadatrust.com
   • ebank.uae.hsbc.com
   • ekocbank.kocbank.com.tr
   • hercules.pamukbank.com.tr
   • internetsube.akbank.com.tr
   • lloydstsb.co.uk
   • national.com.au
   • nbd.ae
   • online-banking.standardchartered.ae
   • online.nbad.com
   • pbg1.edc.citiaccess.com
   • standardchartered.com
   • suncorpmetway.com.au
   • westpac.com.au
   • www.alahlionline.com
   • www.almubasher.com.sa
   • www.arabi-online.com
   • www.cbdonline.ae
   • www.citibank.com.hk
   • www.dahsing.com
   • www.ebank.iba.com.hk
   • www.privatebank.citibank.com.sg
   • www.sabbnet.com
   • www.samba.com
   • www.scotiaonline.scotiabank.com
   • www.unb.com
   • www1.bmo.com
   • www1.royalbank.com
     
     
4. When Internet Explorer makes an HTTP POST request to one of these domains (for example, when the user submits a web form at a bank site), the Trojan also sends the information to a cgi script at www.refestltd.com.

Recommendations

Symantec Security Response encourages all users and administrators to adhere to the following basic security "best practices":

• Turn off and remove unneeded services. By default, many operating systems install auxiliary services that are not critical, such as an FTP server, telnet, and a Web server. These services are avenues of attack. If they are removed, blended threats have less avenues of attack and you have fewer services to maintain through patch updates.
• If a blended threat exploits one or more network services, disable, or block access to, those services until a patch is applied.
• Always keep your patch levels up-to-date, especially on computers that host public services and are accessible through the firewall, such as HTTP, FTP, mail, and DNS services (for example, all Windows-based computers should have the current Service Pack installed.). Additionally, please apply any security updates that are mentioned in this writeup, in trusted Security Bulletins, or on vendor Web sites.
• Enforce a password policy. Complex passwords make it difficult to crack password files on compromised computers. This helps to prevent or limit damage when a computer is compromised.
• Configure your email server to block or remove email that contains file attachments that are commonly used to spread viruses, such as .vbs, .bat, .exe, .pif and .scr files.
• Isolate infected computers quickly to prevent further compromising your organization. Perform a forensic analysis and restore the computers using trusted media.
• Train employees not to open attachments unless they are expecting them. Also, do not execute software that is downloaded from the Internet unless it has been scanned for viruses. Simply visiting a compromised Web site can cause infection if certain browser vulnerabilities are not patched.

REMOVAL

The following instructions pertain to all current and recent Symantec antivirus products, including the Symantec AntiVirus and Norton AntiVirus product lines.

1. Disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP).
2. Update the virus definitions.
3. Close all Internet Explorer windows.
4. Run a full system scan and delete all the files detected as Infostealer.Refest.
5. Optional: delete the value that was added to the registry.
   

For specific details on each of these steps, read the following instructions.

1. To disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP)
If you are running Windows Me or Windows XP, we recommend that you temporarily turn off System Restore. Windows Me/XP uses this feature, which is enabled by default, to restore the files on your computer in case they become damaged. If a virus, worm, or Trojan infects a computer, System Restore may back up the virus, worm, or Trojan on the computer.

Windows prevents outside programs, including antivirus programs, from modifying System Restore. Therefore, antivirus programs or tools cannot remove threats in the System Restore folder. As a result, System Restore has the potential of restoring an infected file on your computer, even after you have cleaned the infected files from all the other locations.

Also, a virus scan may detect a threat in the System Restore folder even though you have removed the threat.

For instructions on how to turn off System Restore, read your Windows documentation, or one of the following articles:

• "How to disable or enable Windows Me System Restore"
• "How to turn off or turn on Windows XP System Restore"

Note: When you are completely finished with the removal procedure and are satisfied that the threat has been removed, re-enable System Restore by following the instructions in the aforementioned documents.


For additional information, and an alternative to disabling Windows Me System Restore, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article, "Antivirus Tools Cannot Clean Infected Files in the _Restore Folder," Article ID: Q263455.

2. To update the virus definitions
Symantec Security Response fully tests all the virus definitions for quality assurance before they are posted to our servers. There are two ways to obtain the most recent virus definitions:

• Running LiveUpdate, which is the easiest way to obtain virus definitions: These virus definitions are posted to the LiveUpdate servers once each week (usually on Wednesdays), unless there is a major virus outbreak. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by LiveUpdate, refer to the Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate).
• Downloading the definitions using the Intelligent Updater: The Intelligent Updater virus definitions are posted on U.S. business days (Monday through Friday). You should download the definitions from the Symantec Security Response Web site and manually install them. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by the Intelligent Updater, refer to the Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater).
  
  The Intelligent Updater virus definitions are available: Read "How to update virus definition files using the Intelligent Updater" for detailed instructions.

3. Close all open Internet Explorer windows
Because Infostealer.Refest functions as a Microsoft Internet Explorer plugin, it is necessary to close all open Internet Explorer windows to remove it. If you are reading this writeup in Internet Explorer, print this writeup using our printer-friendly option at the top of the page, or write down the following instructions, and then close all Internet Explorer windows.

4. To scan for and delete the infected files

1. Start your Symantec antivirus program and make sure that it is configured to scan all the files.
   • For Norton AntiVirus consumer products: Read the document, "How to configure Norton AntiVirus to scan all files."
   • For Symantec AntiVirus Enterprise products: Read the document, "How to verify that a Symantec Corporate antivirus product is set to scan all files."
2. Run a full system scan.
3. If any files are detected as infected with Infostealer.Refest, note the filename, then click Delete.
   
   
   Note: If your Symantec antivirus product reports that it cannot delete an infected file, Windows may be using the file. To fix this, run the scan in Safe mode. For instructions, read the document, "How to start the computer in Safe Mode." Once you have restarted in Safe mode, run the scan again.
   
   (After the files are deleted, you can leave the computer in Safe mode and proceed with section 4. When that is done, restart the computer in Normal mode.)
   

5. Optional: deleting the keys from the registry

WARNING: Symantec strongly recommends that you back up the registry before making any changes to it. Incorrect changes to the registry can result in permanent data loss or corrupted files. Modify the specified keys only. Read the document, "How to make a backup of the Windows registry," for instructions.

Note: If you do not feel comfortable modifying the registry as described below, it is safe to skip this step.

1. Click Start > Run.
2. Type regedit
   
   Then click OK.
   
   
3. Navigate to the key:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID
   
   
4. Search for the name of the dll that was detected in step 4. If you find an entry of the form:
   
   (Default) = %System%<filename>.dll
   
   in the registry key
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID{<random clsid>}InProcServer32
   
   then make note of the <random clsid> value, and delete the entire key
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID{<random clsid>}.
   
   
5. Navigate to and delete the key
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerBrowser Helper Objects{<random clsid>}
   
6. Exit the Registry Editor.