Modified by: Christopher Daniel So

ALIASES:

Adware:Win32/DoubleD (Microsoft); Adware.DoubleD (Symantec); Adware-DoubleD. (McAfee); Adware.Win32.DoubleD (Ikarus); Win32.Adware.DoubleD.4 (QuickHeal)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Adware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • 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 displays pop-up advertisements.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: Varies
File Type: PE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 28 Jul 2009

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 drops the following files:

  • %Program Files%\DoubleD\Desktop Smiley Toolbar\{malware version number}\stb0.dll - also detected as ADW_DOUBLED
  • %Program Files%\DoubleD\Desktop Smiley Toolbar\{malware version number}\stbAol.dll - also detected as ADW_DOUBLED
  • %Program Files%\DoubleD\Desktop Smiley Toolbar\{malware version number}\stbapp.dll - also detected as ADW_DOUBLED
  • %Program Files%\DoubleD\Desktop Smiley Toolbar\{malware version number}\stbapp.exe - also detected as ADW_DOUBLED
  • %Program Files%\DoubleD\Desktop Smiley Toolbar\{malware version number}\stbappHelper.exe - also detected as ADW_DOUBLED
  • %Program Files%\DoubleD\Desktop Smiley Toolbar\{malware version number}\stbasst.exe - also detected as ADW_DOUBLED
  • %Program Files%\DoubleD\Desktop Smiley Toolbar\{malware version number}\stbdl.exe - also detected as ADW_DOUBLED
  • %Program Files%\DoubleD\Desktop Smiley Toolbar\{malware version number}\stbIE.dll - also detected as ADW_DOUBLED
  • %Program Files%\DoubleD\Desktop Smiley Toolbar\{malware version number}\stbMsn.dll - also detected as ADW_DOUBLED
  • %Program Files%\DoubleD\Desktop Smiley Toolbar\{malware version number}\stbOL.dll - also detected as ADW_DOUBLED
  • %Program Files%\DoubleD\Desktop Smiley Toolbar\{malware version number}\stbOLEX.dll - also detected as ADW_DOUBLED
  • %Program Files%\DoubleD\Desktop Smiley Toolbar\{malware version number}\stbsvc.exe - also detected as ADW_DOUBLED
  • %Program Files%\DoubleD\Desktop Smiley Toolbar\{malware version number}\stbYahoo8.dll - also detected as ADW_DOUBLED
  • %Program Files%\DoubleD\Desktop Smiley Toolbar\{malware version number}\stbYahoo9.dll - also detected as ADW_DOUBLED

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.)

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
SmileyApp = "%Program Files%\DoubleD\Desktop Smiley Toolbar\{malware version number}\stbapp.exe"

It registers itself as a BHO to ensure its automatic execution every time Internet Explorer is used by adding the following registry keys:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{5617ECA9-488D-4BA2-8562-9710B9AB78D2}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{95B92D92-8B7D-4A19-A3F1-43113B4DBCAF}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{5297E905-1DFB-4A9C-9871-A4F95FD58945}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\MenuExt\&Funband Search

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Browser Helper Objects\{5617ECA9-488D-4BA2-8562-9710B9AB78D2}

It adds the following registry entries to install itself as a Browser Helper Object (BHO):

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{5617ECA9-488D-4BA2-8562-9710B9AB78D2}\
InprocServer32
(Default) = "%Program Files%\DoubleD\Desktop Smiley Toolbar\{malware version number}\stb0.dll"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\MenuExt\&Funband Search
(Default) = "res://%Program Files%\DoubleD\Desktop Smiley Toolbar\{malware version number}\stb0.dll/MENUSEARCH.HTM"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Toolbar
Desktop Smiley Toolbar = "%Program Files%\DoubleD\Desktop Smiley Toolbar\{malware version number}\stb0.dll"

Adware Routine

This adware displays pop-up advertisements.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 8.900
SSAPI PATTERN File: 1.156.30
SSAPI PATTERN Date: 08 Mar 2011

Step 1

For Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 users, before doing any scans, please make sure you disable System Restore to allow full scanning of your computer.

Step 2

Close all opened browser windows

Step 3

Identify and terminate files detected as ADW_DOUBLED

[ Learn More ]
  1. 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.
  2. 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
    • SmileyApp = %Program Files%\DoubleD\Desktop Smiley Toolbar\{malware version number}\stbapp.exe
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar
    • Desktop Smiley Toolbar = %Program Files%\DoubleD\Desktop Smiley Toolbar\{malware version number}\stb0.dll

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_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID
    • {5617ECA9-488D-4BA2-8562-9710B9AB78D2}
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface
    • {95B92D92-8B7D-4A19-A3F1-43113B4DBCAF}
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib
    • {5297E905-1DFB-4A9C-9871-A4F95FD58945}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MenuExt
    • &Funband Search
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects
    • {5617ECA9-488D-4BA2-8562-9710B9AB78D2}

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as ADW_DOUBLED. 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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