Analysis by: Paul Steven Nadera

ALIASES:

HEUR:Downloader.Win32.DealPly.gen (Kaspersky); PUA.Adlsoft.Gen (Quickheal)

 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

Infection Channel: Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware

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.

As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

It connects to certain websites to send and receive information. It redirects browsers to certain sites. However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs

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:

  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\css\ie6_main.css
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\css\main.css
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\css\sdk-ui\browse.css
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\css\sdk-ui\button.css
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\css\sdk-ui\checkbox.css
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\css\sdk-ui\images\button-bg.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\css\sdk-ui\images\progress-bg-corner.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\css\sdk-ui\images\progress-bg.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\css\sdk-ui\images\progress-bg2.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\css\sdk-ui\progress-bar.css
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\csshover3.htc
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\dat\upd.DAT
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\form.bmp.Mask
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\images\BG.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\images\Close.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\images\Close_Hover.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\images\Color_Button.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\images\Color_Button_Hover.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\images\Grey_Button.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\images\Grey_Button_Hover.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\images\Loader.gif
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\images\Logo.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\images\Progress.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\images\ProgressBar.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\images\text-bg.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\locale\{Language Code}.locale
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\skin.7z
  • %User Temp%\ICReinstall_{malware filename}.exe

(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).)

Other System Modifications

This Potentially Unwanted Application adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
Enable = 1

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
Size = 10

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
InitHits = 100

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
Factor = 20

Download Routine

This Potentially Unwanted Application accesses the following websites to download files:

  • http://s3.{BLOCKED}aws.com/Tweaks/distros/FileOpenerSetupG.exe

As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

Other Details

This Potentially Unwanted Application adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU

It connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • http://os.{BLOCKED}-softwaredownloads.com/CM/?v={Version}&c={random number}
  • http://os2.{BLOCKED}-softwaredownloads.com/Aff-AD/?v={Version}&c={random number}
  • http://rp.{BLOCKED}-softwaredownloads.com/?pcrc={random number}
  • http://d.{BLOCKED}d.com/widget/render/hash/{hash}

It redirects browsers to the following sites:

  • http://www.{BLOCKED}ile-opener.com/recommended-products.html?&chnl=file-opener&iv=0

It does the following:

  • It displays the following progress window during installation:

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

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
SSAPI PATTERN File: 2.421.00
SSAPI PATTERN Date: 01 Jul 2021

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

Close all opened browser windows

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\Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
    • Enable = 1
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
    • Size = 10
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
    • InitHits = 100
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
    • Factor = 20

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. Before you could do this, you must restart in Safe Mode. For instructions on how to do this, you may refer to this page If the preceding step requires you to restart in safe mode, you may proceed to edit the system registry.

  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU

Step 6

Search and delete this file

[ 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%\is{random string}\css\ie6_main.css
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\css\main.css
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\css\sdk-ui\browse.css
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\css\sdk-ui\button.css
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\css\sdk-ui\checkbox.css
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\css\sdk-ui\images\button-bg.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\css\sdk-ui\images\progress-bg-corner.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\css\sdk-ui\images\progress-bg.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\css\sdk-ui\images\progress-bg2.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\css\sdk-ui\progress-bar.css
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\csshover3.htc
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\dat\upd.DAT
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\form.bmp.Mask
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\images\BG.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\images\Close.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\images\Close_Hover.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\images\Color_Button.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\images\Color_Button_Hover.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\images\Grey_Button.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\images\Grey_Button_Hover.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\images\Loader.gif
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\images\Logo.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\images\Progress.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\images\ProgressBar.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\images\text-bg.png
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\locale\{Language Code}.locale
  • %User Temp%\is{random string}\skin.7z
  • %User Temp%\ICReinstall_{malware filename}.exe

Step 7

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as PUA.Win32.InstallCore.MANHOBWZ. 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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