Analysis by: Christopher Daniel So
ALIASES:

PUP-FMK (McAfee), AdWare.Win32.MultiPlug.bwof (Kaspersky)

 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: Yes

  • 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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 322,960 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 23 Aug 2014
Payload: Downloads 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:

  • {All Users' Application Data}\InstallMate\{{random GUID}}\{date and time of installation}.log
  • {All Users' Application Data}\InstallMate\{{random GUID}}\_Setup.dll
  • {All Users' Application Data}\InstallMate\{{random GUID}}\Custom.dll
  • {All Users' Application Data}\InstallMate\{{random GUID}}\Readme.txt
  • {All Users' Application Data}\InstallMate\{{random GUID}}\Setup.dat
  • {All Users' Application Data}\InstallMate\{{random GUID}}\Setup.exe
  • {All Users' Application Data}\InstallMate\{{random GUID}}\Setup.ico
  • {All Users' Application Data}\InstallMate\{{random GUID}}\TsuDll.dll

It creates the following folders:

  • {All Users's Application Data}\InstallMate
  • {All Users's Application Data}\VenusApp Software

Other System Modifications

This adware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{random GUID}

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{random GUID}
UninstallString = "{All Users' Application Data}\InstallMate\{{random GUID}}\Setup.exe /remove /q0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{random GUID}
QuietUninstallString = "{All Users' Application Data}\InstallMate\{{random GUID}}\Setup.exe /remove /q"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{random GUID}
Version = "1000000"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{random GUID}
VersionMinor = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{random GUID}
EstimatedSize = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{random GUID}
Language = "00000409"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{random GUID}
TSAware = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{random GUID}
TizPath = "{malware path and file name}"

Download Routine

This adware saves the files it downloads using the following names:

  • %Desktop%\Windows 9 Professional (Eng_x64_Single Link) May 2014 _ Premium XP.exe - currently detected by Trend Micro as TROJ_SPNR.08GN14

(Note: %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop on Windows Vista and 7.)

NOTES:

It connects to the following sites to download images to be displayed in its user interface:
http://i1.{BLOCKED}taget.com/images/general_logo.bmp http://i1.{BLOCKED}taget.com/images/general_logo.jpg

It connects to the following sites to report its installation:

  • http://r1.{BLOCKED}dirall.net/?report_version=5&
  • http://c1.{BLOCKED}okallguard.net/

It sends the MAC address of the computer where it currently executes. If the MAC address matches with any previously reported MAC addresses, the installation does not proceed and this adware terminates itself.

Depending on the selection of the user as displayed in its user interface, this adware downloads and executes one or more of the following files:

  • http://i1.{BLOCKED}taget.com/addons/dfndr/180/tpq.exe - currently detected by Trend Micro as ADW_SPROTECT
  • http://i1.{BLOCKED}taget.com/addons/agup.exe - currently detected by Trend Micro as ADW_MULTIPLUG
  • http://dl.{BLOCKED}rvers.net/111000524/OptimizerPro.exe
  • http://dl.{BLOCKED}rvers.net/171000524/LiveSupport.exe
  • http://dl.{BLOCKED}rvers.net/121000511/DriverPro.exe

  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

Remove malware/grayware files dropped/downloaded by ADW_INSTALLREX.GA. (Note: Please skip this step if the threats listed below have already been removed.)

    • ADW_SPROTECT
    • ADW_MULTIPLUG
    • TROJ_SPNR.08GN14

Step 3

Delete this registry key

[ 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\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
    • {random GUID}

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.
  • {All Users's Application Data}\InstallMate
  • {All Users's Application Data}\VenusApp Software

Step 5

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

Step 6

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.


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