PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Hacking Tool

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Hacking Tool 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: 5,838,280 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 14 May 2020

Arrival Details

This Hacking Tool 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 Hacking Tool adds the following processes:

  • IExplore.EXE http://{BLOCKED}h.st/users/powertool
  • "%Program Files%\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE" SCODEF:2176 CREDAT:275457 /prefetch:2

Other System Modifications

This Hacking Tool deletes the following files:

  • %AppDataLocal%Low\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Services\search_{0633EE93-D776-472f-A0FF-E1416B8B2E3A}.ico

(Note: %AppDataLocal% is the Local Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

Dropping Routine

This Hacking Tool drops the following files:

  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DOMStore\3UYAQU1F\www.accuweather[1].xml
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Recovery\High\Active\RecoveryStore.{FEE2C323-3703-11EA-90A4-005056BC1360}.dat
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DomainSuggestions\en-US.6
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Recovery\High\Active\{FEE2C325-3703-11EA-90A4-005056BC1360}.dat
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MSIMGSIZ.DAT
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Recovery\High\Active\{08508629-3704-11EA-90A4-005056BC1360}.dat
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\imagestore\joppu72\imagestore.dat

Other Details

This Hacking Tool connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}h.st/users/powertool
  • http://{BLOCKED}h.st/px.gif?{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}h.st/glp?{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}h.st/favicon.ico
  • http://{BLOCKED}h.st/gzb
  • http://ads.{BLOCKED}rket.net/ads/scripts/site-110930.js
  • http://{BLOCKED}h.st/rz?{random characters}
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}ather.com/web-api/three-day-redirect?{random characters}
  • http://go.{BLOCKED}oft.com
  • http://api.{BLOCKED}g.com
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}g.com
  • http://fonts.{BLOCKED}apis.com
  • http://pbid.{BLOCKED}rket.net
  • http://link.{BLOCKED}emoji.global
  • http://js-sec.{BLOCKED}w.com
  • http://c.{BLOCKED}-adsystem.com
  • http://accu-web-raine.{BLOCKED}ebsites.net
  • http://securepubads.{BLOCKED}g.doubleclick.net
  • http://cdn.{BLOCKED}ix.com
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}-analytics.com
  • http://s.{BLOCKED}lse.net
  • http://sb.{BLOCKED}ardresearch.com
  • http://wordpress.{BLOCKED}ather.com
  • http://cdn.{BLOCKED}er.com
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}tagmanager.com
  • http://sqm.{BLOCKED}try.microsoft.com
  • http://ieonline.{BLOCKED}oft.com

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

Identify and terminate files detected as HackTool.Win32.ToolPow.SM

[ 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 3

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.
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DOMStore\3UYAQU1F\www.accuweather[1].xml
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Recovery\High\Active\RecoveryStore.{FEE2C323-3703-11EA-90A4-005056BC1360}.dat
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DomainSuggestions\en-US.6
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Recovery\High\Active\{FEE2C325-3703-11EA-90A4-005056BC1360}.dat
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MSIMGSIZ.DAT
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Recovery\High\Active\{08508629-3704-11EA-90A4-005056BC1360}.dat
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\imagestore\joppu72\imagestore.dat

Step 4

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as HackTool.Win32.ToolPow.SM. 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 the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:

Step 5

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.

  • %AppDataLocal%Low\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Services\search_{0633EE93-D776-472f-A0FF-E1416B8B2E3A}.ico


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