Possible Trojan - Need Help!

[akeru]

I have been noticing lately that I always have a browser process running, even if the browser is not opened. It began when I was using Firefox. I would kill the process, and it would come back a few seconds later. The process claims to be from the normal program directory, but it is much smaller in size than the true Firefox process. I thought there could have been some strange Firefox problem going on, so I got rid of the browser and started using Opera again. Now I notice the same thing with Opera. I have a small Opera.exe process running all the time that will not stay killed.

Could this be some sort of trojan? Spybot isn't picking it up, and neither is my antivirus software. I've also tried various other scanners, and nothing seems to be found. Here is my HJT log, I appreciate any and all help!

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 7:04:56 PM, on 7/14/2007
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16473)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\csrss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\Smtray.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft IntelliType Pro\itype.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\LogiShrd\LComMgr\Communications_Helper.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\RUNDLL32.EXE
C:\Program Files\AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic\avgnt.exe
C:\Program Files\Logitech\SetPoint\SetPoint.exe
C:\Program Files\PerSono\perstray.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Logitech\khalshared\KHALMNPR.EXE
C:\Program Files\AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic\sched.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\Program Files\Raxco\PerfectDisk\PDAgent.exe
C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\SMAgent.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Raxco\PerfectDisk\PDEngine.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\alg.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Miranda IM\miranda32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\taskmgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Opera\Opera.exe
C:\Program Files\Opera\Opera.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\wbem\wmiprvse.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = about:blank
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
O2 - BHO: IE7pro - {00011268-E188-40DF-A514-835FCD78B1BF} - C:\Program Files\IE7Pro\IE7Pro.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: FDMIECookiesBHO Class - {CC59E0F9-7E43-44FA-9FAA-8377850BF205} - C:\Program Files\Free Download Manager\iefdm2.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Smapp] "C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\Smtray.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Kernel and Hardware Abstraction Layer] KHALMNPR.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [OSSelectorReinstall] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Acronis\Acronis Disk Director\oss_reinstall.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroFilterCheck] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\Lib\NeroCheck.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [KernelFaultCheck] C:\WINDOWS\system32\dumprep 0 -k
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [itype] "c:\Program Files\Microsoft IntelliType Pro\itype.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Logitech Hardware Abstraction Layer] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Logitech\khalshared\KHALMNPR.EXE"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LogitechCommunicationsManager] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\LogiShrd\LComMgr\Communications_Helper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] "RUNDLL32.EXE" C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] "nwiz.exe" /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] "RUNDLL32.EXE" C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avgnt] "C:\Program Files\AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic\avgnt.exe" /min
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\RunOnce: [WUAppSetup] C:\Program Files\Common Files\logishrd\WUApp32.exe -v 0x046d -p 0x08c2 -f video -m logitech -d 10.5.0.1091 (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\RunOnce: [WUAppSetup] C:\Program Files\Common Files\logishrd\WUApp32.exe -v 0x046d -p 0x08c2 -f video -m logitech -d 10.5.0.1091 (User 'Default user')
O4 - Startup: Adobe Gamma.lnk = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Calibration\Adobe Gamma Loader.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Logitech SetPoint.lnk = ?
O4 - Global Startup: Perstray.lnk = ?
O9 - Extra button: IE7pro Preferences - {0026439F-A980-4f18-8C95-4F1CBBF9C1D8} - C:\Program Files\IE7Pro\IE7Pro.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: IE7pro Preferences - {0026439F-A980-4f18-8C95-4F1CBBF9C1D8} - C:\Program Files\IE7Pro\IE7Pro.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O16 - DPF: {4EFA317A-8569-4788-B175-5BAF9731A549} (Microsoft Virtual Server VMRC Advanced Control) - http://www.windowsvistatestdrive.com/ActiveX/VMRCActiveXClient1.cab
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://www.update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1183328835531
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://www.update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/muweb_site.cab?1183328811203
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{F77A67DE-B747-484F-AA93-7461C09FC151}: NameServer = 208.67.222.222,208.67.220.220
O18 - Protocol: skype4com - {FFC8B962-9B40-4DFF-9458-1830C7DD7F5D} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\Skype\SKYPE4~1.DLL
O23 - Service: Adobe LM Service - Adobe Systems - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe Systems Shared\Service\Adobelmsvc.exe
O23 - Service: AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic Scheduler (AntiVirScheduler) - Avira GmbH - C:\Program Files\AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic\sched.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\1050\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: LVSrvLauncher - Logitech Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\LogiShrd\SrvLnch\SrvLnch.exe
O23 - Service: NBService - Nero AG - C:\Program Files\Nero\Nero 7\Nero BackItUp\NBService.exe
O23 - Service: Intel NCS NetService (NetSvc) - Intel(R) Corporation - c:\Program Files\Intel\NCS\Sync\NetSvc.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: PDAgent - Raxco Software, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Raxco\PerfectDisk\PDAgent.exe
O23 - Service: PDEngine - Raxco Software, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Raxco\PerfectDisk\PDEngine.exe
O23 - Service: SoundMAX Agent Service (SoundMAX Agent Service (default)) - Analog Devices, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\SMAgent.exe

--
End of file - 7078 bytes

[akeru]

Update (already!)

I decided that a program must be running and then masking itself as another process, or possibly running another process after it executes. I closed the suspect Opera.exe and watched my taskmanager closely. I noticed a system.exe file running quickly before Opera.exe appeared and found a hidden directory called /System in Program Files. There was one file in the directory named system.exe. Deleting this folder has stopped the rogue process from appearing.

I still have the folder and file, but nothing is able to detect this as malware.

Can anyone help further?

[akeru]

Bumping, since I'm worried there may be remnants lurking elsewhere!

[ndmmxiaomayi]

Hi akeru. :)

Welcome to Safer Networking Forums. My name is mayi and I will be helping you. As I am still in training, I will need my fixes checked before posting back to you. Thank you for your patience.

[ndmmxiaomayi]

Hi akeru,

Do you still have the system.exe file in your computer? If yes, please upload it to Virus Total (http://www.virustotal.com/) or Jotti (http://virusscan.jotti.org/) for a scan. Please post back the scan results in your next reply.

Your HijackThis log is 12 days' old. Please post a new HijackThis log as well as many things could have happened within the 12 days.

In your next reply, please post:

Virus Total or Jotti's scan results of system.exe (if you still have the file)
A new HijackThis log

[tashi]

akeru, this topic has been archived.

If you need it re-opened, please send me a private message (pm) and provide a link to the thread.

Applies only to the original poster, anyone else with similar problems please start a new topic.

For future reference:
"BEFORE you POST"(READ this Procedure BEFORE Requesting Assistance) (http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?t=288)

The Waiting Room: Post here if waiting for help longer than four days (http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=37)