ADW_HOTCLIP

November 21, 2013
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Adware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This adware 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:

125,424 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

21 Aug 2013

Arrival Details

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

Other System Modifications

This adware modifies the following file(s):

  • %Windows%\inf\intl.PNF

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.)

It deletes the following files:

  • %Windows%\fonts\msgothic.ttf
  • %Windows%\fonts\msuigoth.ttf
  • %Windows%\fonts\MSMINCHO.TTF
  • %Windows%\fonts\Gulim.ttf
  • %Windows%\fonts\Gulimche.ttf
  • %Windows%\fonts\Dotum.ttf
  • %Windows%\fonts\Batang.ttf
  • %Windows%\fonts\Gungsuh.ttf
  • %Windows%\fonts\Simsun.ttf
  • %Windows%\fonts\nsimsun.ttf
  • %Windows%\fonts\MingLiU.ttf
  • %Windows%\fonts\pmingliu.ttf
  • %System%\SETB.tmp
  • %System%\kbd101b.dll
  • %System%\SET11.tmp
  • %System%\kbd101c.dll
  • %System%\SET17.tmp
  • %System%\kbd103.dll
  • %System%\SET1D.tmp
  • %System%\kbd106.dll
  • %System%\SET23.tmp
  • %System%\kbdjpn.dll
  • %System%\SET29.tmp
  • %System%\kbdkor.dll

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.. %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.)

It adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
Enable = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
Size = "a"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
InitHits = "64"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
Factor = "14"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\International
W2KLpk = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\International
W2KLpk = "0"

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
RFC1156Agent\CurrentVersion\Parameters
TrapPollTimeMilliSecs = "3a98"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 3a98.)

Dropping Routine

This adware drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\TMP1.tmp
  • %System%\SET8.tmp
  • %System%\SETE.tmp
  • %System%\SET14.tmp
  • %System%\SET1A.tmp
  • %System%\SET20.tmp
  • %System%\SET26.tmp
  • %System%\SETB.tmp
  • %System%\SET11.tmp
  • %System%\SET17.tmp
  • %System%\SET1D.tmp
  • %System%\SET23.tmp
  • %System%\SET29.tmp

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista and 7.. %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.)

Other Details

This adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://download.{BLOCKED}s.com/{BLOCKED}s/fileinfo.php?{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}s.com{BLOCKED}s/counter.php

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

Step 1

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

Step 2

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\International
    • CpMRU

Step 3

Delete this registry value

[ 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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
    • Enable = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
    • Size = "a"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
    • InitHits = "64"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
    • Factor = "14"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\International
    • W2KLpk = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\International
    • W2KLpk = "0"

Step 4

Restore these modified registry values

[ Learn More ]

Important:Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this only if you know how to or you can seek your system administrator's help. You may also check out this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\RFC1156Agent\CurrentVersion\Parameters
    • From: TrapPollTimeMilliSecs = "3a98"
      To: TrapPollTimeMilliSecs = ""3a98""

Step 5

Search and delete these components

[ Learn More ]
There may be some components 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%\TMP1.tmp
  • %System%\SET8.tmp
  • %System%\SETE.tmp
  • %System%\SET14.tmp
  • %System%\SET1A.tmp
  • %System%\SET20.tmp
  • %System%\SET26.tmp
  • %System%\SETB.tmp
  • %System%\SET11.tmp
  • %System%\SET17.tmp
  • %System%\SET1D.tmp
  • %System%\SET23.tmp
  • %System%\SET29.tmp

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as ADW_HOTCLIP. 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 this Knowledge Base page for more information.

Step 7

Restore deleted/modified files and/or registry entries from backup

*Note: Only Microsoft-related files/keys/values will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted registry keys/values related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on your computer.

    • %Windows%\inf\intl.PNF

Step 8

Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.

  • %Windows%\fonts\msgothic.ttf
  • %Windows%\fonts\msuigoth.ttf
  • %Windows%\fonts\MSMINCHO.TTF
  • %Windows%\fonts\Gulim.ttf
  • %Windows%\fonts\Gulimche.ttf
  • %Windows%\fonts\Dotum.ttf
  • %Windows%\fonts\Batang.ttf
  • %Windows%\fonts\Gungsuh.ttf
  • %Windows%\fonts\Simsun.ttf
  • %Windows%\fonts\nsimsun.ttf
  • %Windows%\fonts\MingLiU.ttf
  • %Windows%\fonts\pmingliu.ttf
  • %System%\SETB.tmp
  • %System%\kbd101b.dll
  • %System%\SET11.tmp
  • %System%\kbd101c.dll
  • %System%\SET17.tmp
  • %System%\kbd103.dll
  • %System%\SET1D.tmp
  • %System%\kbd106.dll
  • %System%\SET23.tmp
  • %System%\kbdjpn.dll
  • %System%\SET29.tmp
  • %System%\kbdkor.dll


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.