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PPAuditor

Friday, June 27 2008

Symantec Security Response

http://www.symantec.com/business/security_response/index.jsp

PPAuditor

Updated: February 13, 2007 11:50:19 AM
Type: Security Assessment Tool
Infection Length: 871,424 bytes
Version: 1.61
Publisher: Elcomsoft
Risk Impact: Low
Systems Affected: Windows 2000, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP

SUMMARY

Behavior


PPAuditor (Proactive Password Auditor) is a program that will recover passwords based on their hashes. The program will perform a range of password recovery methods on password hash values.

Symptoms


Your Symantec program detects PPAuditor.

Transmission


PPAuditor must be manually installed.

Protection

  • Initial Rapid Release version May 5, 2006
  • Latest Rapid Release version May 5, 2006
  • Initial Daily Certified version May 5, 2006
  • Latest Daily Certified version December 18, 2007 revision 020
  • Initial Weekly Certified release date May 10, 2006

Click here for a more detailed description of Rapid Release and Daily Certified virus definitions.

TECHNICAL DETAILS


When PPAuditor is installed, it performs the following actions:
  1. Create the following files:

    • %UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Proactive Password Auditor\End-User License Agreement.lnk
    • %UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs \Proactive Password Auditor\How to order.lnk
    • %UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Proactive Password Auditor\Proactive Password Auditor Help (English).lnk
    • %UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Proactive Password Auditor\Proactive Password Auditor Help (German).lnk
    • %UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Proactive Password Auditor\Proactive Password Auditor.lnk
    • %UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Proactive Password Auditor\Readme.lnk
    • %UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Proactive Password Auditor\Uninstall PPA.lnk
    • %ProgramFiles%\ElcomSoft\PPA\elcom_reg.dll
    • %ProgramFiles%\ElcomSoft\PPA\english.dic
    • %ProgramFiles%\ElcomSoft\PPA\english.xml
    • %ProgramFiles%\ElcomSoft\PPA\file_id.diz
    • %ProgramFiles%\ElcomSoft\PPA\german.xml
    • %ProgramFiles%\ElcomSoft\PPA\languages.xml
    • %ProgramFiles%\ElcomSoft\PPA\license.txt
    • %ProgramFiles%\ElcomSoft\PPA\order.txt
    • %ProgramFiles%\ElcomSoft\PPA\order_lang.xml
    • %ProgramFiles%\ElcomSoft\PPA\ppa.chm
    • %ProgramFiles%\ElcomSoft\PPA\ppa.exe
    • %ProgramFiles%\ElcomSoft\PPA\PPA.logf
    • %ProgramFiles%\ElcomSoft\PPA\ppa_de.chm
    • %ProgramFiles%\ElcomSoft\PPA\readme.txt
    • %ProgramFiles%\ElcomSoft\PPA\russian.xml
    • %ProgramFiles%\ElcomSoft\PPA\Uninstall.exe

      Note:
    • %UserProfile% is a variable that refers to the current user's profile folder. By default, this is C:\Documents and Settings\[CURRENT USER] (Windows NT/2000/XP).
    • %ProgramFiles% is a variable that refers to the program files folder. By default, this is C:\Program Files.

  2. Adds the following registry subkeys:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.hdt
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\ElcomSoft.PPA.1
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\ElcomSoft.PPA.1\shell
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\ElcomSoft.PPA.1\shell\open
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\ElcomSoft.PPA.1\shell\open
    \command
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
    \Uninstall\Proactive Password Auditor
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ElcomSoft
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ElcomSoft\Proactive Password Auditor
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
    \ComDlg32\LastVisitedMRU
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
    \ComDlg32\OpenSaveMRU
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
    \ComDlg32\OpenSaveMRU\*
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
    \ComDlg32\OpenSaveMRU\hiv
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
    \FileExts\.hiv
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
    \FileExts\.hiv\OpenWithList
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\ElcomSoft
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\ElcomSoft\ppa
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\ElcomSoft\ppa\Recent projects
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\ElcomSoft\Proactive Password Auditor
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\ElcomSoft\Proactive Password Auditor
    \Credentials
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\ElcomSoft\Proactive Password Auditor
    \Dictionaries
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\ElcomSoft\Proactive Password Auditor
    \GUI
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\ElcomSoft\Proactive Password Auditor
    \GUI\Main window
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\ElcomSoft\Proactive Password Auditor
    \Last settings
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\ElcomSoft\Proactive Password Auditor
    \Preliminary attack
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\ElcomSoft\Proactive Password Auditor
    \Rainbow tables
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\ElcomSoft\Proactive Password Auditor
    \Registration
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\ElcomSoft\Proactive Password Auditor
    \Stats
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\ElcomSoft\Proactive Password Auditor
    \Tips

  3. Adds the value

    "%ProgramFiles%\ElcomSoft\PPA\ppa.exe %1"

    to the registry subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\ElcomSoft.PPA.1\shell
    \open\command

  4. Allows the user to attempt to recover password from the hash values stored by Microsoft Windows when a password is created.

  5. Creates the following subkeys:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\CLSID\[RANDOM CLSID]
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\TypeLib\[RANDOM CLSID]

  6. Selects a random .exe or .dll file from the compromised computer and registers it with the above, random CLSID.


REMOVAL


The following instructions pertain to all Symantec antivirus products that support security risk detection.
  1. Update the definitions.
  2. Run a full system scan.
  3. Delete any values added to the registry.
  4. Register the .hdt file extension.
For specific details on each of these steps, read the following instructions.

1. To update the definitions
To obtain the most recent definitions, start your Symantec program and run LiveUpdate.


2. To run the scan
  1. Start your Symantec antivirus program, and then run a full system scan.
  2. If any files are detected, and depending on which software version you are using, you may see one or more of the following options:

    Note: This applies only to versions of Norton AntiVirus that support security risk detection. If you are running a version of Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition that supports security risk detection, and security risk detection has been enabled, you will only see a message box that gives the results of the scan. If you have questions in this situation, contact your network administrator.
    • Exclude (Not recommended): If you click this button, it will set the risk so that it is no longer detectable. That is, the antivirus program will keep the security risk on your computer and will no longer detect it to remove from your computer.

    • Ignore or Skip: This option tells the scanner to ignore the risk for this scan only. It will be detected again the next time that you run a scan.

    • Cancel: This option is new to Norton Antivirus 2005. It is used when Norton Antivirus 2005 has determined that it cannot delete a security risk. This Cancel option tells the scanner to ignore the risk for this scan only, and thus, the risk will be detected again the next time that you run a scan.

      To actually delete the security risk:
      • Click its file name (under the Filename column).
      • In the Item Information box that displays, write down the full path and file name.
      • Then use Windows Explorer to locate and delete the file.

    • Delete: This option will attempt to delete the detected files. In some cases, the scanner will not be able to do this.
      • If you see a message, "Delete Failed" (or similar message), manually delete the file.
      • Click the file name of the risk that is under the Filename column.
      • In the Item Information box that displays, write down the full path and file name.
      • Then use Windows Explorer to locate and delete the file.

Important: If you are unable to start your Symantec antivirus product or the product reports that it cannot delete a detected file, you may need to stop the risk from running in order to remove it. To do 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, restart the computer in Normal mode and proceed with the next section.

Warning messages may be displayed when the computer is restarted, since the risk may not be fully removed at this point. You can ignore these messages and click OK. These messages will not appear when the computer is restarted after the removal instructions have been fully completed. The messages displayed may be similar to the following:

Title: [FILE PATH]
Message body: Windows cannot find [FILE NAME]. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the Start button, and then click Search.

3. To delete the value from the registry
Important: 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 subkeys only. Read the document: How to make a backup of the Windows registry.
  1. Click Start > Run.
  2. Type regedit

    Then click OK.

    Note: If the registry editor fails to open the risk may have modified the registry to prevent access to the registry editor. Security Response has developed a tool to resolve this problem. Download and run this tool, and then continue with the removal.

  3. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\ElcomSoft.PPA.1\shell\open\command

  4. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "C:\Program Files\ElcomSoft\PPA\ppa.exe %1"

  5. Navigate to the and delete the following subkeys:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.hdt
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\ElcomSoft.PPA.1
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\ElcomSoft.PPA.1\shell
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\ElcomSoft.PPA.1\shell\open
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\ElcomSoft.PPA.1\shell\open\command
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Proactive Password Auditor
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ElcomSoft
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ElcomSoft\Proactive Password Auditor
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ComDlg32\LastVisitedMRU
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ComDlg32\OpenSaveMRU
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ComDlg32\OpenSaveMRU\*
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ComDlg32\OpenSaveMRU\hiv
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.hiv
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.hiv\OpenWithList
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\ElcomSoft
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\ElcomSoft\ppa
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\ElcomSoft\ppa\Recent projects
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\ElcomSoft\Proactive Password Auditor
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\ElcomSoft\Proactive Password Auditor\Credentials
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\ElcomSoft\Proactive Password Auditor\Dictionaries
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\ElcomSoft\Proactive Password Auditor\GUI
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\ElcomSoft\Proactive Password Auditor\GUI\Main window
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\ElcomSoft\Proactive Password Auditor\Last settings
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\ElcomSoft\Proactive Password Auditor\Preliminary attack
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\ElcomSoft\Proactive Password Auditor\Rainbow tables
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\ElcomSoft\Proactive Password Auditor\Registration
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\ElcomSoft\Proactive Password Auditor\Stats
    HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\ElcomSoft\Proactive Password Auditor\Tips

  6. Exit the Registry Editor.


4. To register the .hdt file extension
  1. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel > Folder Options
  2. Select the tab “File Types”
  3. Select New and enter the file extension: .hdt
  4. Select Ok.






Read More:
PPAuditor
Also See:
PasswordSpectator
Kerbcrack
Switchsniff
DCOMAssess
EasyPass