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PUA_REGUSE

June 10, 2015
 Analysis by: Miguel Carlo Ang
 ALIASES:

a variant of Win32/Adware.RegRevive.A(ESET-NOD32);Win32.Troj.Generic.(kcloud)(Kingsoft);RegWork(Sophos)

 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:

4,690,352 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

05 Jun 2015

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:

  • %Program Files%\RegUse\MFC71.dll
  • %Program Files%\RegUse\mfc71u.dll
  • %Program Files%\RegUse\msvcp71.dll
  • %Program Files%\RegUse\msvcr71.dll
  • %Program Files%\RegUse\RegFixer.dll
  • %Program Files%\RegUse\RegUse.exe
  • %Program Files%\RegUse\RegUseEnglish.dll
  • %Program Files%\RegUse\uninst.exe
  • %User Temp%\RegUse\custom_zaskchecker.exe
  • %User Temp%\RegUse\toolbar.bmp
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\RegUse\RegUse.lnk
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\RegUse\Uninstall.lnk
  • %Desktop%\RegUse.lnk

(Note: %Program Files% is the Program Files folder, where it usually is C:\Program Files on all Windows operating system versions; C:\Program Files (x86) for 32-bit applications running on Windows 64-bit operating systems.. %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.. %Start Menu% is the Start Menu folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.. %Desktop% is the desktop folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Desktop in Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop in Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Program Files%\RegUse
  • %User Temp%\RegUse
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\RegUse

(Note: %Program Files% is the Program Files folder, where it usually is C:\Program Files on all Windows operating system versions; C:\Program Files (x86) for 32-bit applications running on Windows 64-bit operating systems.. %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.. %Start Menu% is the Start Menu folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

Other System Modifications

This potentially unwanted application adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\RegUse

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\RegUse\
1.00.0000

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\
RegUse.exe

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
RegUse

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\RegUse
value3 = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\RegUse
FirstRun = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\RegUse\
1.00.0000
@ = ""

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\
RegUse.exe
@ = "%Program Files%\RegUse\RegUse.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
RegUse
DisplayName = "RegUse"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
RegUse
UninstallString = "%Program Files%\RegUse\uninst.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
RegUse
DisplayIcon = "%Program Files%\RegUse\RegUse.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
RegUse
DisplayVersion = "1.0.3.2"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
RegUse
URLInfoAbout = "http://reguse.com"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
RegUse
Publisher = "Honlyn (Macao Commercial Offshore) Limited"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
RegUse
NSIS:Language = "1033"

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.750

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

1.630.16

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

05 Jun 2015

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

1.631.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

06 Jun 2015

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

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 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

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
    • RegUse
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\RegUse
    • 1.00.0000
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths
    • RegUse.exe
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
    • RegUse

Step 5

Search and delete this file

[ 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.
  • %Program Files%\RegUse\MFC71.dll
  • %Program Files%\RegUse\mfc71u.dll
  • %Program Files%\RegUse\msvcp71.dll
  • %Program Files%\RegUse\msvcr71.dll
  • %Program Files%\RegUse\RegFixer.dll
  • %Program Files%\RegUse\RegUse.exe
  • %Program Files%\RegUse\RegUseEnglish.dll
  • %Program Files%\RegUse\uninst.exe
  • %User Temp%\RegUse\custom_zaskchecker.exe
  • %User Temp%\RegUse\toolbar.bmp
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\RegUse\RegUse.lnk
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\RegUse\Uninstall.lnk
  • %Desktop%\RegUse.lnk

Step 6

Search and delete these folders

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden folders in the search result.
  • %Program Files%\RegUse
  • %User Temp%\RegUse
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\RegUse

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as PUA_REGUSE. 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.


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