Question

ComboFix finding rootkit, can't remove XP Antivirus 2008

Asked by: brandonharris

Hi all,

I've come across yet another machine infected with XP Antivirus 2008. I downloaded and ran ComboFix against it, as in the past. This time, however, ComboFix keeps popping up a window which says "ComboFix has detected the presence of rootkit activity and needs to reboot the machine." Each time, I click on the OK button and the machine reboots, only to repeat the same process. The same thing happens in Normal mode and Safe mode. Does anyone out there know how to proceed from here?

Thanks,

B

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Asked On
2008-08-29 at 11:37:06ID23689738
Tags

XP Antivirus 2008

Topics

Anti-Virus

,

Operating Systems Network Security

Participating Experts
3
Points
500
Comments
14

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Answers

 

by: IndiGenusPosted on 2008-08-29 at 11:51:22ID: 22348192

Hi,

Sounds like this one has more than just XP-AV 2008. Have you tried MalwareBytes' Anti-Malware yet? I would do that next.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

Also, run and give us a Hijackthis log for review.

http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/_download/HJTInstall.exe

Click on "Do a system scan and save a log file" button. Post the text from the log file. Do not have HJT fix anything at this point.

Please do not post the log into the comment window. Use "Attach File" under the comment window to post the log.

 

by: tplaya07Posted on 2008-08-29 at 14:04:52ID: 22349271

I really like MalwareBytes as well. I just started using it a few months back. I've also had great success using SuperAntispyware to remove XP-AV2008.

***You WILL want to temporarily turn off your system restore though before running the scans.

 

by: brandonharrisPosted on 2008-08-29 at 14:39:55ID: 22349483

Hi all,

I tried running Malware Bytes and got the blue screen of death twice. I did not, however, turn off System Restore before running. I'll try that later tonight when I have access to the computer again and will report back.

 

by: rpggamergirlPosted on 2008-08-29 at 15:53:47ID: 22349791

Did combofix manage to create a report? It should be in C:\Combofix.txt

I wouldn't suggest turning off System Restore in any infected system unless the blue screen you mentioned happens while scanning that folder.

 

by: brandonharrisPosted on 2008-08-29 at 16:05:58ID: 22349824

ComboFix just kept coming up with the popup screen I mentioned, saying that it detected rootkit activity and needed to reboot, so I don't think it ever got as far as logging. I'll double-check later to see if it was able to write anything to the log file.

 

by: tplaya07Posted on 2008-08-30 at 08:57:17ID: 22352313

Try running SuperAntispyware (www.superantispyware.com ) and AVG Antivirus which should detect and remove the rootkit traces. free.avg.com

 

by: rpggamergirlPosted on 2008-08-30 at 18:29:11ID: 22353790

yes, try scanning for rootkits.
Rootkit Revealer:
http://www.sysinternals.com/files/rootkitrevealer.zip

The pc needs to be idle while scanning so the log won't be filled with unnecessary entries.

 

by: brandonharrisPosted on 2008-08-31 at 21:44:44ID: 22357542

Hi all,

I ran both RootkitRevealer and HJT.  The logs from both are attached. Are any rootkits indicated? If so, what's the best way to go about removing it / them?

Thanks!

 

by: brandonharrisPosted on 2008-08-31 at 21:45:49ID: 22357547

Ooops,

Here's the RootkitRevealer log....

 

by: brandonharrisPosted on 2008-08-31 at 23:24:00ID: 22357817

Hello again,

After looking over the RootkitRevealer logs and doing just a little bit of research at www.bleepingcomputer.com, it became clear that TDSSserv was the rootkit culprit (or at least one of them). I ran their recommended fix called SDFix and it seemed to remove the problem. The rootkit seems to have been removed, but I'll run MalwareBytes Anti-Malware again to be sure everything is clean. Attached is the SDFix log. Do any of you see remaining problems there or would it be better to run HJT and post those logs?

BTW, the XP Antivirus 2008 popups and desktop background went away after running SDFix.

Thanks

 

by: rpggamergirlPosted on 2008-09-01 at 02:39:21ID: 22358674

Is your combofix a fresh download? I'm just curious because if it was able to run it would've taken care of that rootkit. MalwareBytes also removes tdssserv.sys
Just curious what's stopping both from running in this case.

 

by: brandonharrisPosted on 2008-09-01 at 14:31:34ID: 22362922

Hi,

Combofix was downloaded 8/28/2008, created 6/15/2008. I don't know why it was unable to run in either Normal or Safe mode, but it just kept saying that it detected rootkit activity and needed to reboot, in an endless loop. Upon re-reading my earlier posts, I see that I never did answer whether or not ComboFix was able to write its log. It was not.

As to why Malwarebytes couldn't finish, could it have been related to the fact that I was trying to run it in Normal mode instead of Safe mode? Anyway, after running SDFix, Malwarebytes was able to run just fine. In fact, it's running right now on C:. The F: (secondary HD) drive scanned clean. If the scan of C: shows any problems, I'll post an HJT and MBAM log for expert review.

Thanks, all

 

by: brandonharrisPosted on 2008-10-06 at 09:49:16ID: 31491620

Hi all,
Thanks for your help with this one and sorry for the delay in awarding points. I have been unable to get back to the computer to see final results, but kept hoping I would be able to before closing this question. Even so, both MBAM & RootkitRevealer were great tools, so thanks for those pointers.

 

by: rpggamergirlPosted on 2008-10-07 at 02:54:49ID: 22657778

No log and the question is closed so I assume the pc is fine now.

To uninstall combofix.

Go to Start > Run and copy and paste next command in the field:

ComboFix /u

The procedure will delete the following:
ComboFix and its associated files and folders.
VundoFix backups, if present
The C:\Deckard folder, if present
The C:_OtMoveIt folder, if present
Reset the clock settings.
Hide file extensions, if required.
Hide System/Hidden files, if required.
Set a new, clean Restore Point.

Thanks!

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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