PUA.Win32.InstallIQ.AB

 Analysis by: Maureen Reyes

 ALIASES:

PUA:Win32/InstallIQ (Microsoft)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Potentially Unwanted Application

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Potentially Unwanted Application arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

1,649,344 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

15 Mar 2019

Arrival Details

This Potentially Unwanted Application arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

Installation

This Potentially Unwanted Application drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\pkg_{Random ID}\stub.log
  • %User Temp%\pkg_{Random ID}\wrapper.xml
  • %User Temp%\pkg_{Random ID}\autorun.txt
  • %User Temp%\pkg_{Random ID}\timings.txt
  • %User Temp%\pkg_{Random ID}\{PUA Filename}.log
  • %User Temp%\pkg_{Random ID}\detectionrules.dat
  • %User Temp%\{Random}.tmp
  • %Cookies%\{Username}@ww1.{BLOCKED}liq.txt
  • %AppDataLocalLow%\cookieman.exe

Other System Modifications

This Potentially Unwanted Application adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\InstallIQ

Other Details

This Potentially Unwanted Application connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://dl.{BLOCKED}liq.com/api/detectionrequest.aspx?keyid=1&shortname=7zip_installer&langid=0x0409
  • http://ww1.{BLOCKED}liq.com/
  • {BLOCKED}-smiles.com
  • ww1.{BLOCKED}-smiles.com
  • Pxlgnpgecom-a.{BLOCKED}hd.net

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

14.880.05

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

19 Mar 2019

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

14.881.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

20 Mar 2019

Step 1

Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.

Step 2

Before doing any scans, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.

Step 3

Delete this registry key

[ Learn More ]

Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

 
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software
    • InstallIQ

Step 4

Search and delete these files

[ Learn More ]
There may be some files that are hidden. Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the "More advanced options" option to include all hidden files and folders in the search result.
  • %User Temp%\pkg_{Random ID}\stub.log
  • %User Temp%\pkg_{Random ID}\wrapper.xml
  • %User Temp%\pkg_{Random ID}\autorun.txt
  • %User Temp%\pkg_{Random ID}\timings.txt
  • %User Temp%\pkg_{Random ID}\{PUA Filename}.log
  • %User Temp%\pkg_{Random ID}\detectionrules.dat
  • %User Temp%\{Random}.tmp
  • %Cookies%\{Username}@ww1.{BLOCKED}liq.txt
  • %AppDataLocalLow%\cookieman.exe

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as PUA.Win32.InstallIQ.AB. If the detected files have already been cleaned, deleted, or quarantined by your Trend Micro product, no further step is required. You may opt to simply delete the quarantined files. Please check the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:


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