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ADW_BLABBERS

March 25, 2013
 Analysis by: Nikko Tamana
 ALIASES:

Win32/BrowserCompanion.B (NOD32),

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)

 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. It may be manually installed by a user.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

1,082,104 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

15 Mar 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.

It may be manually installed by a user.

Installation

This adware drops the following file(s)/component(s):

  • %Program Files%\BrowserCompanion\BCHelper.exe
  • %Program Files%\BrowserCompanion\blabbers-ch.crx
  • %Program Files%\BrowserCompanion\blabbers-ff-full.xpi
  • %Program Files%\BrowserCompanion\jsloader.dll
  • %Program Files%\BrowserCompanion\logo.ico
  • %Program Files%\BrowserCompanion\sqlite3.dll
  • %Program Files%\BrowserCompanion\tdataprotocol.dll
  • %Program Files%\BrowserCompanion\toolbar.dll
  • %Program Files%\BrowserCompanion\uninstall.exe
  • %Program Files%\BrowserCompanion\updatebhoWin32.dll
  • %Program Files%\BrowserCompanion\updater.ini
  • %Program Files%\BrowserCompanion\widgetserv.exe
  • %User Temp%\blabbers-ff-le.xpi
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{Default value}.default\extensions.sqlite
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{Default value}.default\extensions\bbrs_002@blabbers.com\chrome\content\bubble.js
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{Default value}.default\extensions\bbrs_002@blabbers.com\chrome\content\bubble.xul
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{Default value}.default\extensions\bbrs_002@blabbers.com\chrome\content\fix2.js
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{Default value}.default\extensions\bbrs_002@blabbers.com\chrome\content\icon.png
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{Default value}.default\extensions\bbrs_002@blabbers.com\chrome\content\jquery4toolbar.js
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{Default value}.default\extensions\bbrs_002@blabbers.com\chrome\content\lock.js
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{Default value}.default\extensions\bbrs_002@blabbers.com\chrome\content\style.xul
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{Default value}.default\extensions\bbrs_002@blabbers.com\chrome\content\witapi.js
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{Default value}.default\extensions\bbrs_002@blabbers.com\chrome\content\witmain.js
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{Default value}.default\extensions\bbrs_002@blabbers.com\chrome\content\wittoolbar.js
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{Default value}.default\extensions\bbrs_002@blabbers.com\chrome.manifest
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{Default value}.default\extensions\bbrs_002@blabbers.com\components\handleProtocol.js
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{Default value}.default\extensions\bbrs_002@blabbers.com\install.rdf
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{Default value}.default\extensions\bbrs_002@blabbers.com\log.txt
  • %User Profile%\AppData\LocalLow\bbrs_002.tb\content\BCHelper.exe
  • %User Profile%\AppData\LocalLow\bbrs_002.tb\content\fix2.js
  • %User Profile%\AppData\LocalLow\bbrs_002.tb\content\icon.png
  • %User Profile%\AppData\LocalLow\bbrs_002.tb\content\jquery4toolbar.js
  • %User Profile%\AppData\LocalLow\bbrs_002.tb\content\lock.js
  • %User Profile%\AppData\LocalLow\bbrs_002.tb\content\witapi.js
  • %User Profile%\AppData\LocalLow\bbrs_002.tb\content\witmain.js
  • %User Profile%\AppData\LocalLow\bbrs_002.tb\content\wittoolbar.js
  • %User Profile%\AppData\LocalLow\bbrs_002.tb\content\witwidgetapi.js
  • %AppDataLocalLow%\bbrs_002.tb\content\BCHelper.exe - For Windows Vista and Windows 7 only
  • %AppDataLocalLow%\bbrs_002.tb\content\fix2.js - For Windows Vista and Windows 7 only
  • %AppDataLocalLow%\bbrs_002.tb\content\icon.png - For Windows Vista and Windows 7 only
  • %AppDataLocalLow%\bbrs_002.tb\content\jquery4toolbar.js - For Windows Vista and Windows 7 only
  • %AppDataLocalLow%\bbrs_002.tb\content\lock.js - For Windows Vista and Windows 7 only
  • %AppDataLocalLow%\bbrs_002.tb\content\witapi.js - For Windows Vista and Windows 7 only
  • %AppDataLocalLow%\bbrs_002.tb\content\witmain.js - For Windows Vista and Windows 7 only
  • %AppDataLocalLow%\bbrs_002.tb\content\wittoolbar.js - For Windows Vista and Windows 7 only
  • %AppDataLocalLow%\bbrs_002.tb\content\witwidgetapi.js - For Windows Vista and Windows 7 only

It creates the following folders:

  • %Program Files%\BrowserCompanion
  • %User Profile%\AppData
  • %User Profile%\AppData\LocalLow
  • %User Profile%\AppData\LocalLow\bbrs_002.tb
  • %User Profile%\AppData\LocalLow\bbrs_002.tb\content
  • %User Profile%\AppData\LocalLow\bbrs_002.tb\content\cache
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{Default values}.default\extensions\bbrs_002@blabbers.com
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{Default values}.default\extensions\bbrs_002@blabbers.com\chrome
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{Default values}.default\extensions\bbrs_002@blabbers.com\chrome\content
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{Default values}.default\extensions\bbrs_002@blabbers.com\chrome\content\cache
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{Default values}.default\extensions\bbrs_002@blabbers.com\components
  • %AppDataLocalLow%\bbrs_002.tb - For Windows Vista and Windows 7 only
  • %AppDataLocalLow%\bbrs_002.tb\content - For Windows Vista and Windows 7 only
  • %AppDataLocalLow%\bbrs_002.tb\content\cache - For Windows Vista and Windows 7 only

Other System Modifications

This adware adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Blabbers
lastUpdateDay = "10"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\
Google\Chrome\Extensions\
{Random letters}
path = "%Program Files%\BrowserCompanion\blabbers-ch.crx"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\
Google\Chrome\Extensions\
{Random letters}
version = "1.0.5"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Google\
Chrome\Extensions\{Random letters}
path = "%Program Files%\BrowserCompanion\blabbers-ch.crx"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Google\
Chrome\Extensions\{Random letters}
version = "1.0.5"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Browser companion helper = "%Program Files%\BrowserCompanion\BCHelper.exe /T=3 /CHI={Random letters}"

It adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Blabbers

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\
Google\Chrome\Extensions\
{Random letters}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Google\
Chrome\Extensions\{Random letters}

Other Details

This adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://www.{BLOCKED}rs.com/plugins/ie/update/full/version.txt

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

SSAPI PATTERN File:

1.380.15

SSAPI PATTERN Date:

09 Mar 2013

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

Remove ADW_BLABBERS by using its own Uninstall option

[ Learn More ]
To uninstall the grayware process

Step 4

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%\BrowserCompanion
  • %User Profile%\AppData - For Windows XP and older systems only
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{Default values}.default\extensions\bbrs_002@blabbers.com
  • %AppDataLocalLow%\bbrs_002.tb - For Windows Vista and Windows 7 only

Step 5

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. Before you could do this, you must restart in Safe Mode. For instructions on how to do this, you may refer to this page If the preceding step requires you to restart in safe mode, you may proceed to edit the system registry.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • Blabbers
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Google\Chrome\Extensions
    • {Random letters}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Google\Chrome\Extensions
    • {Random letters}

Step 6

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Browser companion helper = "%Program Files%\BrowserCompanion\BCHelper.exe /T=3 /CHI={Random letters}"

Step 7

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