Threat Descriptions

SdBot.ADA

Classification

Category :

Malware

Type :

Virus

Platform :

W32

Aliases :

SdBot.ADA, SdBot.ADA

Summary

SdBot represents the large family of backdoors - hacker's remote access tools.

Removal

Based on the settings of your F-Secure security product, it will either move the file to the quarantine where it cannot spread or cause harm, or remove it.

CAUTION Manual disinfection is a risky process; it is recommended only for advanced users.

Manual disinfection for SdBot.ADA backdoor requires renaming of an infected file named WINLOGON.PIF located in Windows System folder and restarting a system. Please note that the backdoor's file has read-only, system and hidden attributes, so Windows Explorer has to be configured to show such files.

A False Positive is when a file is incorrectly detected as harmful, usually because its code or behavior resembles known harmful programs. A False Positive will usually be fixed in a subsequent database update without any action needed on your part. If you wish, you may also:

  • Check for the latest database updates

    First check if your F-Secure security program is using the latest updates, then try scanning the file again.

  • Submit a sample

    After checking, if you still believe the file is incorrectly detected, you can submit a sample of it for re-analysis.

    Note: If the file was moved to quarantine, you need to collect the file from quarantine before you can submit it.

  • Exclude a file from further scanning

    If you are certain that the file is safe and want to continue using it, you can exclude it from further scanning by the F-Secure security product.

    Note: You need administrative rights to change the settings.

Technical Details

These tools allow to control victims' computers remotely by sending specific commands via IRC channels. Also these backdoors can steal data, spread to local network and to computers vulnerable to exploits.

This SDBot variant was first found on August 11th, 2005. It uses different exploits to spread to vulnerable computers.

The backdoor's file is a compressed PE executable about 146 kilobytes long, the unpacked file's size is over 340 kilobytes.

When the backdoor's file is started, it copies itself as WINLOGON.PIF to Windows System folder, sets hidden, system and read-only attributes for itself and then creates the following startup keys in the Registry:

  • [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] "Windows Logon Service"="winlogon.pif"
  • [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices] "Windows Logon Service"="winlogon.pif"
  • [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] "Windows Logon Service"="winlogon.pif"
  • [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices] "Windows Logon Service"="winlogon.pif"

The backdoor can scan for vulnerable computers using different types of exploits. Here's the list of scanner capabilities:

  • DCOM RPC (ports 139 and 445)
  • NTPass (ports 135, 139 and 445)
  • WKSSVC (ports 135 and 445)

A hacker can control the backdoor via a bot that it creates in a certain IRC channel. Backdoor capabilities are the following:

  • start an FTP server on an infected computer
  • scan for vulnerable computers (open ports and exploits)
  • operate backdoor's bot (nick change, join/part channels, etc.)
  • perform DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack, SYN, ICMP, UDP flood
  • make use of exploits and spread to remote computers (also via IM)
  • get system information including information about OS, network and drives
  • update the backdoor's file from Internet
  • download and run files from Internet
  • delete or create network shares
  • start, stop and pause services
  • list, start and kill threads
  • start remote command shell
  • change security settings
  • flush DNS cache
  • ping any host