Analysis by: Al Victor de Leon
ALIASES:

Win32/Conduit.SearchProtect application (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:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Adware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware

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 arrives as a component bundled with malware/grayware packages. It may be manually installed by a user.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 1,004,352 bytes
File Type: DLL
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 29 May 2014
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Downloads files

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 arrives as a component bundled with malware/grayware packages.

It may be manually installed by a user.

Installation

This adware adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:

  • TBSUPPORT_RUN_ONCE

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
APISupport = "%System%\Rundll32.exe" "{grayware path}\{grayware file name}.dll",DLLRunAPISupport

Other System Modifications

This adware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SmartBar

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SmartBar\
CR

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SmartBar\
APISupport

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SmartBar\
CR
APISupportID = “{grayware support ID}”

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SmartBar\
APISupport
APISFileVersion = “{grayware version number}”

Download Routine

This adware downloads an updated copy of itself from the following website(s):

  • http://{BLOCKED}pport-updater.tbccint.com/update/?productId=TBSupportAU&ver={version_no}&itemId={random_no}
  • http://{BLOCKED}pport-updater.tbccint.com/update/?productId=SPAU&ver={version_no}&itemId={random_no}

It connects to the following URL(s) to download its configuration file:

  • http://{BLOCKED}e.{BLOCKED}int.com/TBNewTabSupport/TBSupportConfig/configuration.json

It connects to the following URL(s) to download its component file(s):

  • http://{BLCOKED}e.{BLOCKED}int.com/TBNewTabSupport/TBSupportAU/{version}/APISupport.dll
  • http://{BLOCKED}e.{BLOCKED}int.com/TBNewTabSupport/SPAU/{version_no}/MiniSP.dll

It saves the files it downloads using the following names:

  • {grayware path}\APISupport_(version number}\APISupport.dll
  • {grayware path}\MiniSPt_(version number}\MiniSP.dll

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.700
SSAPI PATTERN File: 1.514.16
SSAPI PATTERN Date: 30 May 2014

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

Identifying the Grayware Files

Download the latest spyware pattern file and scan your computer. Note the path and file name of all files detected as ADW_BUNDLED.

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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
    • APISupport = "%System%\Rundll32.exe" "{grayware path}\{grayware file name}.dll",DLLRunAPISupport

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.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • SmartBar

Step 6

Search and delete this folder

[ 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.
  • {grayware path}\APISupport_(version number}
  • {grayware path}\MiniSPt_(version number}

Step 7

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