Trojan.Pasam

Posted: May 7, 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.

Ranking:	19,219
Threat Level:	9/10
Infected PCs:	12

First Seen:	May 7, 2012
Last Seen:	January 10, 2025
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

Trojan.Pasam is a backdoor Trojan that's distributed by mass-mailed e-mail (also known as 'spam') in the form of a fake Word document. Because Trojan.Pasam exploits recently-patched Flash vulnerabilities in its initial installation, SpywareRemove.com malware researchers note that keeping Flash patched can make the difference between a failed Trojan.Pasam attack and a successful one. Trojan.Pasam's distribution levels are currently low, but you should pay attention to suspicious e-mail messages that resemble Trojan.Pasam's preferred templates and delete them immediately without opening the attached .doc file. Like other Trojans of its type, Trojan.Pasam creates backdoor exploits that can be used to take over your PC, with attacks ranging from installing other PC threats or transmitting personal information straight into the hands of criminals.

Trojan.Pasam – from an Inquiry into Military Defense to an Offensive Against Your Computer

Trojan.Pasam uses similar distribution tactics to Trojans like TROJ_MDROP.GDL and TROJ_ARTIEF.ZIGS, although Trojan.Pasam differentiates itself by being a self-contained PC threat instead of just one of several components in an attack. SpywareRemove.com malware analysts have also found Trojan.Pasam's spam e-mail messages to be relatively unique in content, as their templates so far consistently appear to target various defense industry companies with subjects such as invitation letters for specialized meetings or inquiries into military exercises, as noted in the samples shown below:

Invitation Letter to [REDACTED] 2012
[E-MAIL USER], The disclosure of [REDACTED] secret weapon deals with the Middle East
[RANDOM SECURITY COMPANY] is in the unpromising situation after acquisition by [COMPANY]
FOR more information
some questions about [REDACTED]
[E-MAIL USER], I heard about the consolidation of [REDACTED], is that true?
China-Russia Joint Military Exercises

Trojan.Pasam itself is included in the form of a fake .doc file attachment with file names as follows:

[RANDOM SECURITY COMPANY].doc
Consolidation Schedule.doc
[REDACTED] Invitation Letter to [REDACTED] 2012
military exercise details.doc
questions about your course.doc

Unfortunately, Trojan.Pasam isn't an actual Word document and, once opened, will use an object type confusion exploit for Flash (labeled CVE-2012-0779) to infect and launch attacks against your PC. As is always the case with any backdoor Trojan, a Trojan.Pasam infection should always be considered an extreme risk for your computer's safety and privacy, and SpywareRemove.com malware researchers suggest Trojan.Pasam's quick deletion with any trustworthy anti-malware product. You can also protect yourself from Trojan.Pasam by installing the relevant Flash update, which patches this exploit. Computers that don't use Flash, Internet Explorer or Windows can be considered effectively protected against this method of Trojan.Pasam installation by default.

What Trojan.Pasam's Simple Text File Turns Into After Launching

Trojan.Pasam infects Windows .dll files to launch its platform of attacks, which have been found to include:

Sending system information (such as which memory processes are running or how much space is on your HD) to a remote C&C server for criminal perusal.
Shutting down processes without your permission – this can be used to block you from using security-related applications that could assist with Trojan.Pasam's deletion.
Deleting files without your permission.
Launching files, potentially including malicious ones, without your permission.

These attacks are considered middling security risks, but prolonged contact with Trojan.Pasam can also open up potential exposure to even more serious PC threats than Trojan.Pasam itself. SpywareRemove.com malware researchers recommend using anti-malware software to detect any potential Trojan.Pasam attacks since any direct symptom of a Trojan.Pasam infection can be negligible.

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:

%System%\msjtea40.dll

File name: %System%\msjtea40.dll
File type: Dynamic link library
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Group: Malware file

%System%\iglicd64.dll

File name: %System%\iglicd64.dll
File type: Dynamic link library
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Group: Malware file