Analysis by: Pearl Charlaine Espejo
ALIASES:

Trojan.Win32.StartPage.tv (Kaspersky); W32/StartPage.TV!tr (Fortinet); Trojan.Startpage (Symantec); Win.Trojan.Startpage-400 (ClamAV); DR/StartPage.TV.1 (Avira)

 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. It may be manually installed by a user.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 3,640,914 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 25 Jul 2016

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.

It may be manually installed by a user.

Installation

This potentially unwanted application drops the following files:

  • %System Root%\WinXp2\README.TXT
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\Setup File.jpg
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\irunin.dat
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\irunin.ini
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\irunin.lag
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\thanks7.exe
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\WinXP (1024x768).Theme
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\WinXP (800x600).Theme
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\WinXPDblue (1024x768).Theme
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\WinXPDblue (800x600).Theme
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\WinXPDblueNT (1024x768).Theme
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\WinXPDblueNT (800x600).Theme
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\WinXPLblue (1024x768).Theme
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\WinXPLblue (800x600).Theme
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\WinXPLblueNT (1024x768).Theme
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\WinXPLblueNT (800x600).Theme
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\WinXPNT (1024x768).Theme
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\WinXPNT (800x600).Theme
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\WinXPsilver (1024x768).Theme
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\WinXPsilver (800x600).Theme
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\WinXPsilverNT (1024x768).Theme
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\WinXPsilverNT (800x600).Theme
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\APP9.ICO
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\AmericanFlag.scr
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\Bliss(1024x768).jpg
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\Bliss(800x600).jpg
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\Dock6.ico
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\Page50.ICO
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\Utopia Close.WAV
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\Utopia Maximize.WAV
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\Utopia Menu Popup.WAV
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\Utopia Restore Down.WAV
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\Utopia Restore Up.WAV
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\WinXPsetV3 Cursor {numbers}.ani
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\Windows XP Balloon.wav
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\Windows XP Critical Stop.wav
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\Windows XP Default.wav
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\Windows XP Error.wav
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\Windows XP Exclamation.wav
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\Windows XP Menu Command.wav
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\Windows XP Minimize.wav
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\Windows XP Restore.wav
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\Windows XP Ringin.wav
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\Windows XP Ringout.wav
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\Windows XP Shutdown.wav
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\Windows XP Start.wav
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\Windows XP Startup.wav
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\XP ICO Libv1.ICL
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\XP Plentiful 2 Icon 64.ico
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\XP_Control_Panel.ico
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\XP_DefaultDocument.ico
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\XP_Dial-UpNetworking2.ICO
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\XP_My_Computer-Network.ico
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\XP_Ram_Drive.ico
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\XP_System.ico
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\XP_Web_Folder.ico
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\chord.wav
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp\notify.wav
  • %User Temp%\IRIMG{1-7}.BMP
  • %User Temp%\irsetup.avi
  • %User Temp%\irsetup.dat
  • %User Temp%\irsetup.exe
  • %User Temp%\irsetup.ini
  • %User Temp%\irsetup.lng
  • %User Temp%\irsetup.uni
  • %Windows%\iun3405.exe
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Windows XP Themes 2.0\Remove WinXP Theme 2.lnk
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Windows XP Themes 2.0\ReadMe.lnk
  • %Desktop%\WinXp Theme V2.0 - ReadMe.lnk

(Note: %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.. %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.. %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.. %Start Menu% is the Start Menu folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.. %Desktop% is the desktop folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Desktop in Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop in Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %System Root%\WinXp2
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes
  • %System Root%\WinXp2\themes\winxp
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Windows XP Themes 2.0

(Note: %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.. %Start Menu% is the Start Menu folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

Other System Modifications

This potentially unwanted application adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
WinXp Theme 2

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Search Bar = "http://www.searchgateway.net/search/"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\SearchUrl
= "http://www.searchgateway.net/search/%s"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Search
SearchAssistant = "http://www.searchgateway.net/search/"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
WinXp Theme 2
DisplayName = "WinXp Theme 2"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
WinXp Theme 2
UninstallString = "%Windows%\iun3405.exe %System Root%:\WinXp2"

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Start Page = "http://www.worldusa.com"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {user preference}.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Search Page = "http://www.searchgateway.net/search/"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {user preference}.)

Other Details

This potentially unwanted application connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://www.{BLOCKED}tupfree.com/
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}sa.com/startpage7/thanks.html
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}gateway.net/search/

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800

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

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

Identify and terminate files detected as PUA_STARTPAGE.GA

[ Learn More ]
  1. Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
  2. If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
  3. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
    • WinXp Theme 2

Step 5

Restore this modified 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\Main
    • From: Search Page = "http://www.searchgateway.net/search/"
      To: Search Page = "{user preference}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
    • From: Start Page = "http://www.worldusa.com"
      To: Start Page = "{user preference}

Step 6

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\Main
    • Search Bar = "http://www.searchgateway.net/search/"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchUrl
    • = "http://www.searchgateway.net/search/%s"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search
    • SearchAssistant = "http://www.searchgateway.net/search/"

Step 7

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.
  • %System Root%\WinXp2
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Windows XP Themes 2.0

Step 8

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%\IRIMG{1-7}.BMP
  • %User Temp%\irsetup.avi
  • %User Temp%\irsetup.dat
  • %User Temp%\irsetup.exe
  • %User Temp%\irsetup.ini
  • %User Temp%\irsetup.lng
  • %User Temp%\irsetup.uni
  • %Windows%\iun3405.exe
  • %Desktop%\WinXp Theme V2.0 - ReadMe.lnk

Step 9

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