Android.Appenda is a Trojan horse for Android devices that steals information and and may display advertisements on the device.

Android package file
The Trojan may arrive with one of the following package names:

APK:

• cd.wallpaper.angelbeats.part8
• com.abst.wall.Landscapes
• com.abst.wall.flowers
• com.phoneliving.talkingbabydragonfree
• com.phoneliving.talkingdondonkeyfree
• com.wallpaper.girls.art
• v.volumesettings.ikkitousen.part2
• v.volumesettings.onepiece
• v.volumesettings.onepiece.part3
• v.volumesettings.space.part2

Installation
Once installed, the application may display the following icons on the device:

Antivirus Protection Dates

• Initial Rapid Release version June 27, 2012 revision 008
• Latest Rapid Release version June 27, 2012 revision 008
• Initial Daily Certified version June 27, 2012 revision 021
• Latest Daily Certified version June 27, 2012 revision 021
• Initial Weekly Certified release date June 27, 2012

Technical Details

Android package file
The Trojan may arrive with one of the following package names:

APK:

• cd.wallpaper.angelbeats.part8
• com.abst.wall.Landscapes
• com.abst.wall.flowers
• com.phoneliving.talkingbabydragonfree
• com.phoneliving.talkingdondonkeyfree
• com.wallpaper.girls.art
• v.volumesettings.ikkitousen.part2
• v.volumesettings.onepiece
• v.volumesettings.onepiece.part3
• v.volumesettings.space.part2

Permissions
When the Trojan is being installed, it requests permissions to perform the following actions:

• A location (e.g. Cell-ID, GPS, WiFi)
• Access extra location provider commands
• Access information about networks
• Allow read-only access to the phone stage
• Install shortcuts
• Make the phone vibrate
• Modify the current configuration, such as locale
• Open network sockets
• Read and write the user's browsing history and bookmarks
• Read or write the system settings
• Read the phone settings
• Read the user's contacts data
• Receive the ACTION_BOOT_COMPLETED message that is broadcast after the system finishes booting
• Set the wallpaper
• Uninstall shortcuts
• Use the PowerManager WakeLocks to prevent the processor from sleeping or the screen from dimming
• Write to an external storage device

Installation
Once installed, the application may display new icons on the device.



The Trojan then creates the following service:
com.appenda.AppNotify


Functionality
The Trojan gathers the following information from the device:

• Android version
• IMEI
• Name of current app package
• Phone number
• Phone type

It then sends the above information to the following location:
[http://]appenda.com/install/getVers[REMOVED]

The Trojan may also display advertisements on the device.

Recommendations

Symantec Security Response encourages all users and administrators to adhere to the following basic security "best practices":

• Use a firewall to block all incoming connections from the Internet to services that should not be publicly available. By default, you should deny all incoming connections and only allow services you explicitly want to offer to the outside world.
• Enforce a password policy. Complex passwords make it difficult to crack password files on compromised computers. This helps to prevent or limit damage when a computer is compromised.
• Ensure that programs and users of the computer use the lowest level of privileges necessary to complete a task. When prompted for a root or UAC password, ensure that the program asking for administration-level access is a legitimate application.
• Disable AutoPlay to prevent the automatic launching of executable files on network and removable drives, and disconnect the drives when not required. If write access is not required, enable read-only mode if the option is available.
• Turn off file sharing if not needed. If file sharing is required, use ACLs and password protection to limit access. Disable anonymous access to shared folders. Grant access only to user accounts with strong passwords to folders that must be shared.
• Turn off and remove unnecessary services. By default, many operating systems install auxiliary services that are not critical. These services are avenues of attack. If they are removed, threats have less avenues of attack.
• If a threat exploits one or more network services, disable, or block access to, those services until a patch is applied.
• Always keep your patch levels up-to-date, especially on computers that host public services and are accessible through the firewall, such as HTTP, FTP, mail, and DNS services.
• Configure your email server to block or remove email that contains file attachments that are commonly used to spread threats, such as .vbs, .bat, .exe, .pif and .scr files.
• Isolate compromised computers quickly to prevent threats from spreading further. Perform a forensic analysis and restore the computers using trusted media.
• Train employees not to open attachments unless they are expecting them. Also, do not execute software that is downloaded from the Internet unless it has been scanned for viruses. Simply visiting a compromised Web site can cause infection if certain browser vulnerabilities are not patched.
• If Bluetooth is not required for mobile devices, it should be turned off. If you require its use, ensure that the device's visibility is set to "Hidden" so that it cannot be scanned by other Bluetooth devices. If device pairing must be used, ensure that all devices are set to "Unauthorized", requiring authorization for each connection request. Do not accept applications that are unsigned or sent from unknown sources.
• For further information on the terms used in this document, please refer to the Security Response glossary.

Removal