Analysis by: John Rainier Navato

ALIASES:

HEUR:AdWare.Win32.InstallCore.gen (KASPERSKY)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

 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 does not have any propagation routine.

It does not have any backdoor routine.

As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

It does not have any information-stealing capability.

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 554,768 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 09 Feb 2024
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Drops 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.

Installation

This Adware drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\{8 Random Digits}.log
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\blank.gif
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\css\buttons.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\css\ie6_main.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\css\main.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\css\sdk-ui\browse.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\css\sdk-ui\button.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\css\sdk-ui\checkbox.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\css\sdk-ui\images\button-bg.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\css\sdk-ui\images\progress-bg.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\css\sdk-ui\progress-bar.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\images\Bg.gif
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\images\close_button.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\images\finish-button.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\images\icon.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\images\loader.gif
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\images\next-button-over.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\images\next-button.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\images\progress-bg.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\images\Progress.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\images\ProgressBar.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\license.txt
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\locale\EN.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\bootstrap_{Random}.html
  • %User Temp%\ICReinstall_sample.exe
  • %User Temp%\is{10 Random Digits}\{Random}.cfg
  • %User Temp%\is{10 Random Digits}\{Random}_Setup.CIS
  • %Program Files%\is{7 Random Digits}.log
  • %Desktop%Continue PDF Converter Installation.lnk

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000(32-bit), Server 2003(32-bit), XP, Vista(64-bit), 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit) , or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP(64-bit), Vista(64-bit), 7(64-bit), 8(64-bit), 8.1(64-bit), 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

Propagation

This Adware does not have any propagation routine.

Backdoor Routine

This Adware does not have any backdoor routine.

Rootkit Capabilities

This Adware does not have rootkit capabilities.

Download Routine

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

  • http://{BLOCKED}matepdfconverter.com/v1.0.1/?v=2.0&c={Random}
  • http://{BLOCKED}ltimatepdfconverter.com/app/Cmp/PDFCreatorV4.cis
  • http://{BLOCKED}ltimatepdfconverter.com/app/Cmp/PDFCreatorV4.cis
  • http://{BLOCKED}ltimatepdfconverter.com/ofr/BabylonToolbarV7.cis
  • http://{BLOCKED}ltimatepdfconverter.com/ofr/BabylonToolbarV7.cis
  • http://{BLOCKED}matepdfconverter.com/?pcrc={Random}

As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

Information Theft

This Adware does not have any information-stealing capability.

Other Details

This Adware does the following:

  • It displays the following GUI to install PDF Converter:
  • It shows pre-populated checkboxes to install Babylon toolbar and modify browser settings:
  • It displays a message box prompting the user to connect to the Internet to download component files during installation:
  • It opens the following URL through browser:
    • http://www.{BLOCKED}tepdfconverter.com/gb/welcome/?sr=ga&lp=sa&c=1

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

It does not exploit any vulnerability.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
SSAPI PATTERN File: 2.703.00
SSAPI PATTERN Date: 22 Feb 2024

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

Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.

Step 3

Search and delete these files

[ Learn More ]
There may be some files 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.  
  • %User Temp%\{8 Random Digits}.log
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\blank.gif
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\css\buttons.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\css\ie6_main.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\css\main.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\css\sdk-ui\browse.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\css\sdk-ui\button.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\css\sdk-ui\checkbox.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\css\sdk-ui\images\button-bg.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\css\sdk-ui\images\progress-bg.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\css\sdk-ui\progress-bar.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\images\Bg.gif
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\images\close_button.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\images\finish-button.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\images\icon.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\images\loader.gif
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\images\next-button-over.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\images\next-button.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\images\progress-bg.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\images\Progress.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\images\ProgressBar.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\license.txt
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\locale\EN.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{7 Random Digits}\bootstrap_{Random}.html
  • %User Temp%\ICReinstall_sample.exe
  • %User Temp%\is{10 Random Digits}\{Random}.cfg
  • %User Temp%\is{10 Random Digits}\{Random}_Setup.CIS
  • %Program Files%\is{7 Random Digits}.log
  • %Desktop%Continue PDF Converter Installation.lnk

Step 4

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Adware.Win32.Installcore.TIQVCG. 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:


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