BKDR_AGENT.BCSG

Posted: June 29, 2012

Threat Metric

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The following fields listed on the Threat Meter containing a specific value, are explained in detail below:

Threat Level: The threat level scale goes from 1 to 10 where 10 is the highest level of severity and 1 is the lowest level of severity. Each specific level is relative to the threat's consistent assessed behaviors collected from SpyHunter's risk assessment model.

Detection Count: The collective number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular malware threat. The detection count is calculated from infected PCs retrieved from diagnostic and scan log reports generated by SpyHunter.

Volume Count: Similar to the detection count, the Volume Count is specifically based on the number of confirmed and suspected threats infecting systems on a daily basis. High volume counts usually represent a popular threat but may or may not have infected a large number of systems. High detection count threats could lay dormant and have a low volume count. Criteria for Volume Count is relative to a daily detection count.

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% Impact (Last 7 Days): This demonstrates a 7-day period change in the frequency of a malware threat infecting PCs. The percentage impact correlates directly to the current Trend Path to determine a rise or decline in the percentage.

Threat Level:	1/10
Infected PCs:	34

First Seen:	June 29, 2012
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

BKDR_AGENT.BCSG is a backdoor Trojan that initially conceals itself as a fake .jpg picture while BKDR_AGENT.BCSG makes malicious modifications to your operating system. These changes allow your computer to be compromised via standard backdoor attacks, after which BKDR_AGENT.BCSG deletes itself to avoid being detected. BKDR_AGENT.BCSG's changes may enable other PC threats to be installed on your computer, and BKDR_AGENT.BCSG's own installation is aided by JS_DLOADER.SMGA, a Trojan downloader that can use Internet Explorer exploits to install BKDR_AGENT.BCSG without your consent. SpywareRemove.com malware researchers recommend disabling Java when it's not in use, updating IE and keeping anti-malware programs on your PC if you want to protect it from BKDR_AGENT.BCSG attacks, which are compatible with several versions of Windows.

BKDR_AGENT.BCSG: the PC Saboteur with a Paper-Thin Mask

With a fake .jpg file type to hide its initial entry into your computer, BKDR_AGENT.BCSG is installed with a little help from JS_DLOADER.SMGA, a PC threat that exploits a recently-patched IE8 vulnerability (identified by Microsoft as CVE-2012-1875). This vulnerability can also be used to install other PC threats in addition to BKDR_AGENT.BCSG, and SpywareRemove.com malware researchers recommend that you patch Internet Explorer 8 if you use it to browse the web in any significant degree. Other versions of Internet Explorer are inapplicable for this exploit, although similar vulnerabilities can still accomplish the same type of drive-by-download attack. Disabling Java can also hinder some of JS_DLOADER.SMGA's functions, although it's not recommended as a stand-alone defense against browser exploits.

Once BKDR_AGENT.BCSG lands on your hard drive, BKDR_AGENT.BCSG makes malicious changes to the Windows Registry and drops an additional .dll file on your computer. These attacks create security vulnerabilities that may allow criminals to control your PC via a C&C server, even as BKDR_AGENT.BCSG deletes itself to minimize its detection by anti-malware scanners and other security software. Active anti-malware and security programs are your best safeguard against BKDR_AGENT.BCSG, which will launch and conduct its attacks without any manual interaction on your part.

Taking This Agent Out to the Cleaners

BKDR_AGENT.BCSG was only detected by many PC security companies in mid-June of 2012. Anti-malware programs with threat databases prior to the above date should be considered exceptionally at risk for failing to detect BKDR_AGENT.BCSG, and regularly-updating your security software is always recommended by SpywareRemove.com malware experts. Confirmed-as-vulnerable operating systems include:

Windows 2000
Windows Server 2003
Windows XP

While BKDR_AGENT.BCSG's current levels of distribution are rated as low, SpywareRemove.com malware researchers emphasize that BKDR_AGENT.BCSG is still a newly-originated PC threat and may be distributed in website hacks or by newly-emerged and malicious sites in the future. Of course, BKDR_AGENT.BCSG's Registry changes and other malicious components should be removed by suitable anti-malware software, since improper Registry changes can require you to reinstall your operating system.

Technical Details

File System Modifications

Tutorials: If you wish to learn how to remove malware components manually, you can read the tutorials on how to find malware, kill unwanted processes, remove malicious DLLs and delete other harmful files. Always be sure to back up your PC before making any changes.

The following files were created in the system:

%User Profile%\AppMgmt.dll

File name: %User Profile%\AppMgmt.dll
File type: Dynamic link library
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Group: Malware file

Registry Modifications

The following newly produced Registry Values are:

HKEY..\..\{Value}HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\AppMgmt\ParametersServiceDll = "%SystemRoot%\System32\appmgmts.dll"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\AppMgmt\ParametersServiceDll = "%User Profile%\AppMgmt.dll"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\AppMgmt\ParametersMyStubPath = "{malware path and file name}"

Additional Information

The following URL's were detected:

streamingsearches.com