Analysis by: Eleazar Valles
 PLATFORM:

Windows

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Potentially Unwanted Application

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Potentially Unwanted Application 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: 1,302,243 bytes
File Type: RAR
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 06 Jul 2022

Arrival Details

This Potentially Unwanted Application 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 Potentially Unwanted Application drops the following files:

  • %Application Data%\Adobe Activation Patch\Adobe Activation Patch 1.0.0\install\holder0.aiph
  • %Application Data%\Adobe Activation Patch\Adobe Activation Patch 1.0.0\install\Adobe Activation Patch.msi
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\dialog
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\completi
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\custicon
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\exclamic
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\info
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\insticon
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\removico
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\repairic
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\Up
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\New
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\banner
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\tabback
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\cmdlinkarrow
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\aicustact.dll
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\lzmaextractor.dll
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\file_deleter.ps1
  • %Application Data%\Adobe Activation Patch\Adobe Activation Patch 1.0.0\install\Adobe Activation Patch1.cab

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %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).)

It adds the following processes:

  • "%System%\msiexec.exe" /i "%Application Data%\Adobe Activation Patch\Adobe Activation Patch 1.0.0\install\Adobe Activation Patch.msi" AI_SETUPEXEPATH="{Malware Path and Name}" SETUPEXEDIR={Malware Path} EXE_CMD_LINE="/exenoupdates /forcecleanup /wintime {random}"

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It creates the following folders:

  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}
  • %Application Data%\Adobe Activation Patch\Adobe Activation Patch 1.0.0\install
  • %Application Data%\Adobe Activation Patch\Adobe Activation Patch 1.0.0
  • %Application Data%\Adobe Activation Patch

(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).. %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

Other Details

This Potentially Unwanted Application does the following:

  • Connects to the following websites:
    • google.com
    • youtube.com
    • bing.com
    • yahoo.com
  • The dropped files and created folders are deleted after its execution

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
SSAPI PATTERN File: 2.533.00
SSAPI PATTERN Date: 21 Jul 2022

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.  
  • %Application Data%\Adobe Activation Patch\Adobe Activation Patch 1.0.0\install\holder0.aiph
  • %Application Data%\Adobe Activation Patch\Adobe Activation Patch 1.0.0\install\Adobe Activation Patch.msi
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\dialog
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\completi
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\custicon
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\exclamic
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\info
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\insticon
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\removico
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\repairic
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\Up
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\New
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\banner
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\tabback
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\cmdlinkarrow
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\aicustact.dll
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\lzmaextractor.dll
  • %User Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}\file_deleter.ps1
  • %Application Data%\Adobe Activation Patch\Adobe Activation Patch 1.0.0\install\Adobe Activation Patch1.cab

Step 4

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 Temp%\AI_EXTUI_BIN_{random}
  • %Application Data%\Adobe Activation Patch\Adobe Activation Patch 1.0.0\install
  • %Application Data%\Adobe Activation Patch\Adobe Activation Patch 1.0.0
  • %Application Data%\Adobe Activation Patch

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as PUA.Win32.AdobePatch.A. 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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