Analysis by: Jimelle Monteser
ALIASES:

Riskware/MultiPlug (Fortinet), a variant of Win32/AdWare.MultiPlug.N application (NOD32), AdWare.MegaSearch (Ikarus)

 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:

  • 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: 425,472 bytes
File Type: DLL
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 03 Apr 2014

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 creates the following folders:

  • %User Profile%\AppData
  • %User Profile%\AppData\LocalLow

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)

Other System Modifications

This adware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}\
Implemented Categories

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}\
Implemented Categories\{59FB2056-D625-48D0-A944-1A85B5AB2640}

It deletes the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Browser Helper Objects

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.700

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

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
    • {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}

Step 3

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.
  • %User Profile%\AppData

Step 4

Restore this deleted registry key/value from backup

*Note: Only Microsoft-related keys/values will be restored. If the malware/grayware also deleted registry keys/values related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on your computer.

  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects

Step 5

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