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Adware.Win32.Linkury.NP

March 01, 2020
 ALIASES:

Trojan:Win32/Tiggre!rfn (Microsoft); RDN/Generic.grp (McAfee); HEUR:Trojan.MSIL.Disfa.gen (Kaspersky); Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

 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:

43,520 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

01 Mar 2020

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.

Installation

This Adware adds the following processes:

  • %User Temp%\taskhost.exe
  • netsh firewall add allowedprogram "%User Temp%\taskhost.exe" "taskhost.exe" ENABLE

(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(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

Autostart Technique

This Adware adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
44e7c8cafd93078753409593947b9bd1 = "%User Temp%\taskhost.exe .."

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
44e7c8cafd93078753409593947b9bd1 = "%User Temp%\taskhost.exe .."

Other System Modifications

This Adware adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER
di = "!"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Environment
SEE_MASK_NOZONECHECKS = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\44e7c8cafd93078753409593947b9bd1
[kl] = ""

Dropping Routine

This Adware drops the following files:

  • %User Startup%\44e7c8cafd93078753409593947b9bd1.exe
  • %User Temp%\taskhost.exe

(Note: %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows NT, C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 2003(32-bit), XP and 2000(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit), 10(64-bit).. %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

Step 1

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 2

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

Identify and terminate files detected as Adware.Win32.Linkury.NP

[ Learn More ]
  1. Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
  2. If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
  3. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

Step 4

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\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • 44e7c8cafd93078753409593947b9bd1 = "%User Temp%\taskhost.exe .."
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • 44e7c8cafd93078753409593947b9bd1 = "%User Temp%\taskhost.exe .."
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER
    • di = "!"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Environment
    • SEE_MASK_NOZONECHECKS = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\44e7c8cafd93078753409593947b9bd1
    • [kl] = ""

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 Startup%\44e7c8cafd93078753409593947b9bd1.exe
  • %User Temp%\taskhost.exe

Step 6

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Adware.Win32.Linkury.NP. 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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