Win32:Citadel-K

Posted: November 9, 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.

Trend Path: The Trend Path, utilizing an up arrow, down arrow or equal symbol, represents the level of recent movement of a particular threat. Up arrows represent an increase, down arrows represent a decline and the equal symbol represent no change to a threat's recent movement.

% 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:	8/10
Infected PCs:	5

First Seen:	November 9, 2012
Last Seen:	July 1, 2023
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

Win32:Citadel-K is a partially-coded backdoor Trojan that attempts to create a serious security vulnerability on the compromised PC but, due to a lack of other functions, is unable to finish its attack. However, future development for Win32:Citadel-K easily could add the additional functions that are required to allow Win32:Citadel-K to grant access to your PC over to criminal entities and SpywareRemove.com malware researchers recommend that you consider Win32:Citadel-K a threat, just to be safe. Win32:Citadel-K infections are being passed around by a second Trojan that uses e-mail spam – a common vehicle for many types of Trojans. If you're exposed to e-mail files that match this article's description, you should use anti-malware software to remove Win32:Citadel-K and its fellow Trojan with your PC's safety in mind.

Defining the Path to How Win32:Citadel-K Storms Your Personal Citadel

Win32:Citadel-K's (also IDed as Trojan.Gamarue.E) installation process starts with a fake Vodafone e-mail message. This e-mail informs you about a fake message and even includes links to real Vodafone sites – most likely to allow Win32:Citadel-K to bypass primitive spam filters. Unlike a real Vodafone e-mail, this one asks you to open a ZIP file attachment, which includes an executable file: the Trojan Win32:Karagany-MX. SpywareRemove.com malware researchers note that you can determine the true file type of Win32:Karagany-MX by setting your system to display file types by default, although Win32:Karagany-MX is named to look like a JPG and is described as such in the body of the e-mail.

Win32:Karagany-MX launches itself as a fake Windows system file and can continue to do so even after you restart your computer. Win32:Karagany-MX then loads Win32:Citadel-K, which SpywareRemove.com malware experts note is injected into memory – a typical trick to avoid displaying a separate and identifiable memory process. Some basic encryption defenses also may allow Win32:Citadel-K and Karagany to avoid being detected by primitive or outdated security software.

How Win32:Citadel-K's Assault Stops Short of the Goal

Unlike almost every other backdoor Trojan in the wild, Win32:Citadel-K hasn't been found to include a complete set of functions that would allow Win32:Citadel-K to compromise your PC's security and give criminals control over it. Although Win32:Citadel-K does open a network port (which is a meaningful security vulnerability) and listens for further contact, SpywareRemove.com malware experts note that Win32:Citadel-K doesn't attempt to initiate contact with a C&C server. This prevents criminals from taking advantage of a Win32:Citadel-K infection without any further assistance, although future attacks may develop Win32:Citadel-K to include these missing features.

Due to the variety of common but meaningful defenses that are employed by Win32:Citadel-K and Win32:Karagany-MX, SpywareRemove.com malware research team suggests using trusted anti-malware software to remove any Win32:Citadel-K infection. However, the best solution is to identify and delete Win32:Citadel-K e-mails on sight.

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:

Vodafone_MMS.jpg.exe

File name: Vodafone_MMS.jpg.exe
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Group: Malware file