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"Wicked Rose" and the NCPH Hacking Group
by Ken Dunham & Jim Melnick
Zero-day attacks, where an attack occurs before public knowledge of a vulnerability is known, is
a growing cause of concern for security professionals in the 21st century. An unprecedented
number of zero-day attacks took place in 2006, largely involving Microsoft Office Files. Ken
Dunham, Director of the Rapid Response Team, and Jim Melnick, Director of Threat Operations,
led the VeriSign iDefense intelligence team to track down Chinese hackers for hire out of China,
responsible for many of the attacks in 2006. Wicked Rose is the ring-leader of the NCPH
hacking group and this is the story of their maturation into significant global threat by 2006.
Introduction to N.C.P.H.
N.C.P.H. (Network Crack Program Hacker) has about ten members or associates. Four core
members exist as of 2006:
(Wicked) Rose
KuNgBiM
Rodag
Charles
There are also some six other associates within NCPH and two other positions (possibly unfilled
positions) whose purpose is unclear. However,
Rose
or
Wicked Rose
seems to be the
primary leader. Membership rules, recruiting goals and standards are unknown. However, some
members appear to be current or former students of Sichuan University of Science and
Engineering.1
The group is responsible for development and deployment of exploit codes related vulnerabilities
in Microsoft Word Malformed OLE Structure Code Execution and Microsoft Excel Malformed
BIFF Structure Code Execution.
Public Knowledge of a Zero-Day Word Exploit
The story of NCPH zero-day attacks begins publicly on May 18, 2006. On this day the Internet
Storm Center reports a new possible zero-day attack. iDefense worked closely with SANS and
other organizations to analyze the threat landscape as it related to exploitation of this
vulnerability. Within the next 36 hours, iDefense gained access to multiple codes and extracted a
new rootkit called GinWui. Independent research proved the following:
Exploitation targeted a new vulnerability that allowed attackers to successfully exploit
computers running fully patched versions of Microsoft Word 2002 and others.
Exploitation dated to May 12, 2006 and involved at least six unique hostile exploit files.
iDefense confirmed that attacks targeted two organizations, one in the United States and
one in Japan.
Chinese-authored rootkits GinWui.A and GinWui.B exist in several attacks. iDefense
identified the rootkits' source and authors as Chinese actor "Wicked Rose" and others
profiled later in this report.
www.suse.edu.cn & http://www.study-in-china.org/school/Sichuan/suse/
Successful installation of the rootkit requires Administrator or Debugger rights. Initial
exploitation, however, does not require Administrator rights.
iDefense identified unique malicious code attacks pointing to nease.net and authored
several Snort signatures for this traffic. iDefense continues to monitor other domains
related to the attack.
The original attack upon a large DoD entity within the USA began on May 12, 2006. Targets of
the attacker were apparently "Googled" by the attacker. Three variations of a Microsoft Word
zero-day attack are involved in the attack. A few dozen attack files are first distributed to less
than a dozen targets to identify which version works within the organization.
Once attackers identify the vulnerable version of Microsoft Word used within the organization
close to 200 messages sent out to multiple targets within the organization within 24 hours. This
second wave of attack is distributed as "Planning document 5-16-2006.doc". This code is
improved beyond the first variant sent out earlier to identify the vulnerable version of Word
within the targeted network.
A third attack commences on May 17, 2006. During this period, the Internet Storm Center and
others get involved and the case becomes public. In the end, iDefense identified six unique
samples, of which three are more prevalent than other variants.
The GinWui Backdoor Rootkit Payload
Zero day attacks commenced in May 2006 attempted to install a GinWui backdoor Trojan horse
and Windows rootkit. A DLL file called winguis.dll and several SYS files install themselves
when a computer is successfully attacked through an exploit. Two versions of the GinWui
rootkit are installed during several attacks in May and June 2006.
NCHP 5.0 Screenshot (GinWui Rootkit)
Wicked Rose is the author of the GinWui malicious code. His code and support posts related to
GinWui distributions exist on the Chinese NCPH and Evil Octal forums. Wicked Rose
associates with WHG and others on this form. WHT hosted version "3.0beta.3" of the "NCPH
remote control" rootkit code on May 2, 2006. This distribution of GinWui was largely unknown
and undetected by anti-virus companies at the time of release.
Versions of GinWui used in targeted attacks of May and June 2006 are private versions, not
released to the public. This proves that Wicked Rose either constructed the zero day attacks or
sold private code to users that performed the attack.
Wicked Rose later documents additional updates to his rootkit code, version .50, at
http://rodag.blogbus.com/index.html. By this time Wicked Rose was performing full-time
development of this malicious code as a hacker for hire.
June 21, 2007
Continued US Targeted Attacks
Just over a month later, following initial GinWui based targeted attacks, another Microsoft Word
exploit occurs on June 21, 2006. A spoofed e-mail is sent to a target containing a hostile
Microsoft Word document. Analysis of the attack reveals that it's likely a test file used to
identify what version of Word may be running within the targeted organization, rather than a
refined targeted attack upon a known version of Microsoft Word. Chinese text within the Word
document reveal Chinese characters discussing a systematic evaluation of offsets for Microsoft
Word exploitation:
RipGof attacks reveal a Chinese string related to systematic testing of offsets for exploitation.
Backtracking Targeted Attacks: RipGof
In June 2006 another targeted attack emerges, but it's not GinWui this time but a new code,
RipGof.B. The attack attempts to exploit MS06-027 to install RipGof.B, a Trojan horse. This is
the same exploit code used in the former Zero-Day attacks linked to Wicked Rose and the NCPH
hacking group. The exploit code is still private at this time, proving that the author of both
GinWui and RipGof attacks are the same individual or group or affiliated through underground
criminal operations.
RipGof.B is an improvement of the former exploit used in GinWui attacks. RipGof.B attacks
included improvements to shellcode that attempts to fork to different locations based upon the
address value of the stack to exploit multiple versions of Microsoft Word. Once installed,
RipGof.B attempts to connect to enjoy.irdet.com and enjoy.bmwsee.com over TCP port 80. It
runs as a rootkit and backdoor Trojan horse and phones home to a Chinese server with stolen
data.

"Wicked Rose" and the NCPH Hacking Group

by Ken Dunham & Jim Melnick

Zero-day attacks, where an attack occurs before public knowledge of a vulnerability is known, is

a growing cause of concern for security professionals in the 21st century. An unprecedented

number of zero-day attacks took place in 2006, largely involving Microsoft Office Files. Ken

Dunham, Director of the Rapid Response Team, and Jim Melnick, Director of Threat Operations,

led the VeriSign iDefense intelligence team to track down Chinese hackers for hire out of China,

responsible for many of the attacks in 2006. Wicked Rose is the ring-leader of the NCPH

hacking group and this is the story of their maturation into significant global threat by 2006.

Introduction to N.C.P.H.

N.C.P.H. (Network Crack Program Hacker) has about ten members or associates. Four core

members exist as of 2006:

(Wicked) Rose

KuNgBiM

Rodag

Charles

There are also some six other associates within NCPH and two other positions (possibly unfilled

positions) whose purpose is unclear. However,

Rose

or

Wicked Rose

seems to be the

primary leader. Membership rules, recruiting goals and standards are unknown. However, some

members appear to be current or former students of Sichuan University of Science and

Engineering.1

The group is responsible for development and deployment of exploit codes related vulnerabilities

in Microsoft Word Malformed OLE Structure Code Execution and Microsoft Excel Malformed

BIFF Structure Code Execution.

Public Knowledge of a Zero-Day Word Exploit

The story of NCPH zero-day attacks begins publicly on May 18, 2006. On this day the Internet

Storm Center reports a new possible zero-day attack. iDefense worked closely with SANS and

other organizations to analyze the threat landscape as it related to exploitation of this

vulnerability. Within the next 36 hours, iDefense gained access to multiple codes and extracted a

new rootkit called GinWui. Independent research proved the following:

Exploitation targeted a new vulnerability that allowed attackers to successfully exploit

computers running fully patched versions of Microsoft Word 2002 and others.

Exploitation dated to May 12, 2006 and involved at least six unique hostile exploit files.

iDefense confirmed that attacks targeted two organizations, one in the United States and

one in Japan.

Chinese-authored rootkits GinWui.A and GinWui.B exist in several attacks. iDefense

identified the rootkits' source and authors as Chinese actor "Wicked Rose" and others

profiled later in this report.

www.suse.edu.cn & http://www.study-in-china.org/school/Sichuan/suse/

Successful installation of the rootkit requires Administrator or Debugger rights. Initial

exploitation, however, does not require Administrator rights.

iDefense identified unique malicious code attacks pointing to nease.net and authored

several Snort signatures for this traffic. iDefense continues to monitor other domains

related to the attack.

The original attack upon a large DoD entity within the USA began on May 12, 2006. Targets of

the attacker were apparently "Googled" by the attacker. Three variations of a Microsoft Word

zero-day attack are involved in the attack. A few dozen attack files are first distributed to less

than a dozen targets to identify which version works within the organization.

Once attackers identify the vulnerable version of Microsoft Word used within the organization

close to 200 messages sent out to multiple targets within the organization within 24 hours. This

second wave of attack is distributed as "Planning document 5-16-2006.doc". This code is

improved beyond the first variant sent out earlier to identify the vulnerable version of Word

within the targeted network.

A third attack commences on May 17, 2006. During this period, the Internet Storm Center and

others get involved and the case becomes public. In the end, iDefense identified six unique

samples, of which three are more prevalent than other variants.

The GinWui Backdoor Rootkit Payload

Zero day attacks commenced in May 2006 attempted to install a GinWui backdoor Trojan horse

and Windows rootkit. A DLL file called winguis.dll and several SYS files install themselves

when a computer is successfully attacked through an exploit. Two versions of the GinWui

rootkit are installed during several attacks in May and June 2006.

NCHP 5.0 Screenshot (GinWui Rootkit)

Wicked Rose is the author of the GinWui malicious code. His code and support posts related to

GinWui distributions exist on the Chinese NCPH and Evil Octal forums. Wicked Rose

associates with WHG and others on this form. WHT hosted version "3.0beta.3" of the "NCPH

remote control" rootkit code on May 2, 2006. This distribution of GinWui was largely unknown

and undetected by anti-virus companies at the time of release.

Versions of GinWui used in targeted attacks of May and June 2006 are private versions, not

released to the public. This proves that Wicked Rose either constructed the zero day attacks or

sold private code to users that performed the attack.

Wicked Rose later documents additional updates to his rootkit code, version .50, at

http://rodag.blogbus.com/index.html. By this time Wicked Rose was performing full-time

development of this malicious code as a hacker for hire.

June 21, 2007

Continued US Targeted Attacks

Just over a month later, following initial GinWui based targeted attacks, another Microsoft Word

exploit occurs on June 21, 2006. A spoofed e-mail is sent to a target containing a hostile

Microsoft Word document. Analysis of the attack reveals that it's likely a test file used to

identify what version of Word may be running within the targeted organization, rather than a

refined targeted attack upon a known version of Microsoft Word. Chinese text within the Word

document reveal Chinese characters discussing a systematic evaluation of offsets for Microsoft

Word exploitation:

RipGof attacks reveal a Chinese string related to systematic testing of offsets for exploitation.

Backtracking Targeted Attacks: RipGof

In June 2006 another targeted attack emerges, but it's not GinWui this time but a new code,

RipGof.B. The attack attempts to exploit MS06-027 to install RipGof.B, a Trojan horse. This is

the same exploit code used in the former Zero-Day attacks linked to Wicked Rose and the NCPH

hacking group. The exploit code is still private at this time, proving that the author of both

GinWui and RipGof attacks are the same individual or group or affiliated through underground

criminal operations.

RipGof.B is an improvement of the former exploit used in GinWui attacks. RipGof.B attacks

included improvements to shellcode that attempts to fork to different locations based upon the

address value of the stack to exploit multiple versions of Microsoft Word. Once installed,

RipGof.B attempts to connect to enjoy.irdet.com and enjoy.bmwsee.com over TCP port 80. It

runs as a rootkit and backdoor Trojan horse and phones home to a Chinese server with stolen

data.