Modified by: Jimelle Monteser
ALIASES:

Generic-FAOD!471BCDE65E62 (McAfee); Trojan.Win32.Agent.agewu (Kaspersky); Mal/Drop-AVTZ (Sophos); Trojan.Win32.Sprotect.a (v) (Sunbelt); Trojan horse Dropper.Generic_r.AF (AVG)

 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.

It comes with an uninstall package that completely removes the files it dropped and the registries it created. It deletes itself after execution.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 4,817,920 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 16 Jun 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 drops the following component file(s):

  • %All Users Profile%\Assistant\Assistant.dll - also detected as ADW_SPROTECT.GA
  • %All Users Profile%\Assistant\AssistantSvc.dll - also detected as ADW_SPROTECT.GA

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users or Common profile folder, which is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users in Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, and C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista and 7.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %All Users Profile%\Assistant

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users or Common profile folder, which is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users in Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, and C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista and 7.)

Autostart Technique

This adware registers its dropped component as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup. It does this by creating the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Enum\Root\LEGACY_E64A4D03
NextInstance = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Enum\Root\LEGACY_E64A4D03\
0000
Service = "e64a4d03"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Enum\Root\LEGACY_E64A4D03\
0000
Legacy = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Enum\Root\LEGACY_E64A4D03\
0000
ConfigFlags = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Enum\Root\LEGACY_E64A4D03\
0000
Class = "LegacyDriver"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Enum\Root\LEGACY_E64A4D03\
0000
ClassGUID = "{GUID}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Enum\Root\LEGACY_E64A4D03\
0000
DeviceDesc = "Assistant"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Enum\Root\LEGACY_E64A4D03\
0000\Control
*NewlyCreated* = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Enum\Root\LEGACY_E64A4D03\
0000\Control
ActiveService = "e64a4d03"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\e64a4d03
Type = "10"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\e64a4d03
Start = "2"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\e64a4d03
ErrorControl = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\e64a4d03
ImagePath = ""%System%\rundll32.EXE" "%All Users Profile%\Assistant\AssistantSvc.dll",service"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\e64a4d03
DisplayName = "Assistant"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\e64a4d03
ObjectName = "LocalSystem"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\e64a4d03\Security
Security = "{value}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\e64a4d03\Enum
0 = "Root\LEGACY_E64A4D03\0000"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\e64a4d03\Enum
Count = "1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\e64a4d03\Enum
NextInstance = "1

It registers its dropped component as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup. It does this by creating the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Enum\Root\LEGACY_E64A4D03

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Enum\Root\LEGACY_E64A4D03\
0000

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Enum\Root\LEGACY_E64A4D03\
0000\Control

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\e64a4d03

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\e64a4d03\Security

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\e64a4d03\Enum

Other System Modifications

This adware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\_e64a4d03

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\_e64a4d03\eae10f9d

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{3A7D3E19-1B79-4E4E-BD96-5467DA2C4EF0}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\
_e64a4d03

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\
_e64a4d03\eae10f9d

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{77D46E27-0E41-4478-87A6-AABE6FBCF252}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}{e64a4d03}

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\_e64a4d03
date = "14{random}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\_e64a4d03
data.0 = "{random}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\_e64a4d03
data.1 = "{random}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\_e64a4d03
usr.0 = "{random}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\_e64a4d03
usr.1 = "{random}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\_e64a4d03
uuid = "baadc0de-baadbeef-b0b2d6e3"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\_e64a4d03
lrts = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\_e64a4d03
mode = "f0000000"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\_e64a4d03
iiid = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\_e64a4d03\00000000
{random} = "{random}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{3A7D3E19-1B79-4E4E-BD96-5467DA2C4EF0}
n = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\
_e64a4d03
date = "14{random}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\
_e64a4d03
data.0 = "{random}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\
_e64a4d03
data.1 = "{random}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\
_e64a4d03
usr.0 = "{random}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\
_e64a4d03
usr.1 = "{random}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\
_e64a4d03
version = "{random}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\
_e64a4d03
uuid = "baadc0de-baadbeef-b0b2d6e3"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\
_e64a4d03
state = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\
_e64a4d03
lrts = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\
_e64a4d03
mode = "f0000000"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\
_e64a4d03
svn = "Assistant"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\
_e64a4d03
svx = ""

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\
_e64a4d03
svi = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\
_e64a4d03
svt = "539fc126"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\
_e64a4d03
iiid = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\
_e64a4d03
dlpath = "%All Users Profile%\Assistant\Assistant.dll"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\
_e64a4d03
svpath = "%All Users Profile%\Assistant\AssistantSvc.dll"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\
_e64a4d03
Install_Dir = "%All Users Profile%\Assistant"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\
_e64a4d03\00000000
{random} = "{random}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{77D46E27-0E41-4478-87A6-AABE6FBCF252}
e64a4d03 = "%All Users Profile%\Assistant\Assistant.dll"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{77D46E27-0E41-4478-87A6-AABE6FBCF252}
n = "1"

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
AppInit_DLLs = "%All Users Profile%\Assistant\Assistant.dll"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "".)

Other Details

This adware adds the following registry entries to add an uninstall option to the Control Panel:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}{e64a4d03}
UninstallString = ""%System%\rundll32.exe" "%All Users Profile%\Assistant\Assistant.dll",_uninstall /un"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}{e64a4d03}
QuietUninstallString = ""%System%\rundll32.exe" "%All Users Profile%\Assistant\Assistant.dll",_uninstall /un /uq"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}{e64a4d03}
NoModify = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}{e64a4d03}
NoRepair = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}{e64a4d03}
Publisher = "Verified Publisher"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}{e64a4d03}
InstallDate = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}{e64a4d03}
CategoryName = ""

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}{e64a4d03}
DisplayName = "Assistant"

It connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}bar.info/get?data={random characters}

It comes with an uninstall package that completely removes the files it dropped and the registries it added.

It deletes itself after execution.

  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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

Remove ADW_SPROTECT.GA by using its own Uninstall option

[ Learn More ]
To uninstall the grayware process

Step 4

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
    • AppDataLow
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • {3A7D3E19-1B79-4E4E-BD96-5467DA2C4EF0}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • {5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • {77D46E27-0E41-4478-87A6-AABE6FBCF252}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
    • {5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}{e64a4d03}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\Root
    • LEGACY_E64A4D03
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
    • e64a4d03

Step 5

Restore these modified registry values

[ Learn More ]

Important:Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this only if you know how to or you can seek your system administrator's help. You may also check out this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
    • From: AppInit_DLLs = "%All Users Profile%\Assistant\Assistant.dll"
      To: AppInit_DLLs = ""

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.
  • %All Users Profile%\Assistant

Step 7

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