ADW_INSTALLMONSTER
Windows

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
2,950,224 bytes
EXE
No
06 Oct 2016
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 adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{C379EAD1-CB34-4B09-AF6B-7E587F8BCD80}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{C379EAD1-CB34-4B09-AF6B-7E587F8BCD80}\
LocalServer32
hkey_classes_root\{malware file name}.dynamicns
hkey_classes_root\{malware file name}.dynamicns\clsid
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{C379EAD1-CB34-4B09-AF6B-7E587F8BCD80}\
ProgID
hkey_local_machine\software\microsoft\
esent\process\{malware file name}
hkey_local_machine\software\microsoft\
esent\process\{malware file name}\
debug
It modifies the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\Eventlog\Application\
ESENT
EventMessageFile = "%System%\ESENT.dll"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {random values}.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\Eventlog\Application\
ESENT
CategoryMessageFile = "%System%\ESENT.dll"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {random values}.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\Eventlog\Application\
ESENT
CategoryCount = "1"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 10.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\Eventlog\Application\
ESENT
TypesSupported = "7"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 7.)
Other Details
This adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- {BLOCKED}0.1
- {BLOCKED}166.51
- {BLOCKED}.4.84
This report is generated via an automated analysis system.
SOLUTION
9.8
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
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_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID
- {C379EAD1-CB34-4B09-AF6B-7E587F8BCD80}
- In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{C379EAD1-CB34-4B09-AF6B-7E587F8BCD80}
- LocalServer32
- In hkey_classes_root
- {malware file name}.dynamicns
- In hkey_classes_root\{malware file name}.dynamicns
- clsid
- In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{C379EAD1-CB34-4B09-AF6B-7E587F8BCD80}
- ProgID
- In hkey_local_machine\software\microsoft\esent\process
- {malware file name}
- In hkey_local_machine\software\microsoft\esent\process\{malware file name}
- debug
Step 3
Restore these modified registry values
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\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Eventlog\Application\ESENT
- From: EventMessageFile = "%System%\ESENT.dll"
To: EventMessageFile = ""{random values}""
- From: EventMessageFile = "%System%\ESENT.dll"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Eventlog\Application\ESENT
- From: CategoryMessageFile = "%System%\ESENT.dll"
To: CategoryMessageFile = ""{random values}""
- From: CategoryMessageFile = "%System%\ESENT.dll"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Eventlog\Application\ESENT
- From: CategoryCount = "1"
To: CategoryCount = ""10""
- From: CategoryCount = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Eventlog\Application\ESENT
- From: TypesSupported = "7"
To: TypesSupported = ""7""
- From: TypesSupported = "7"
Step 4
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as ADW_INSTALLMONSTER. 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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