Analysis by: Jay Garcia
ALIASES:

HEUR:WebToolbar.Win32.Agent.gen (Kaspersky); Win32:UnwantedSig [PUP], Win32:UnwantedSig [PUP] (Avast)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Adware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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: 385,576 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 18 Apr 2019

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%\nsi{random}.tmp\secondary_bg.png
  • %User Temp%\nsi{random}.tmp\secondary_accept.png
  • %User Temp%\nsi{random}.tmp\secondary_decline.png
  • %User Temp%\nsi{random}.tmp\reporting
  • %User Temp%\nsi{random}.tmp\Progress-BackGround-jap_{random numbers}.bmp
  • %User Temp%\nsi{random}.tmp\installerParams
  • %User Temp%\nsi{random}.tmp\nsDialogs.dll
  • %User Temp%\nsi{random}.tmp\System.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\FromDocToPDFTooltab\TooltabExtension.dll

(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, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.. %AppDataLocal% is the Local Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

Other System Modifications

This Adware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\FromDocToPDF

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\TabbedBrowsing

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
FromDocToPDFTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\FromDocToPDF
Start Page = http://{BLOCKED}p.{BLOCKED}y.com/fromdoctopdf/lmjajpie/index.html?n=78582276&p2=^Y6^mni000^LMJAJP&ptb=CC1A8394-4A07-4F5E-8918-376D34278B6E&coid=ee8ef164fc0842ed8cbd610a6ce697ff

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\TabbedBrowsing
NewTabPageShow = 1

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
FromDocToPDFTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer
DisplayName = FromDocToPDF Internet Explorer Homepage and New Tab

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
FromDocToPDFTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer
UninstallString = Rundll32.exe "%AppDataLocal%\FromDocToPDFTooltab\TooltabExtension.dll" U uninstall:FromDocToPDF

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
FromDocToPDFTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer
Publisher = Mindspark Interactive Network, Inc.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
FromDocToPDFTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer
HelpLink = http://{BLOCKED}t.{BLOCKED}ark.com/

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
FromDocToPDFTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer
URLInfoAbout = http://{BLOCKED}t.{BLOCKED}ark.com/

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\FromDocToPDF
UnInstallSurveyUrl = https://@{downloadDomain}.dl.myway.com/uninstall.jhtml?c=CC1A8394-4A07-4F5E-8918-376D34278B6E&ptb=^Y6^mni000^LMJAJP

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Start Page = http://{BLOCKED}p.{BLOCKED}y.com/fromdoctopdf/lmjajpie/index.html?n=78582276&p2=^Y6^mni000^LMJAJP&ptb=CC1A8394-4A07-4F5E-8918-376D34278B6E&coid=ee8ef164fc0842ed8cbd610a6ce697ff

Other Details

This Adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}x.{BLOCKED}ark.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}g.{BLOCKED}d.ocsp.identrust.com/MFEwTzBNMEswSTAJBgUrDgMCGgUABBRv9GhNQ
    xLSSGKBnMArPUcsHYovpgQUxKexpHsscfrb4UuQdf%2FEFWCFiRACEAoBQUIAAAFThXNqC4Xspwg%3D
  • http://{BLOCKED}p.{BLOCKED}3.letsencrypt.org/MFMwUTBPME0wSzAJBgUrDgMCGgUABBR%2B5m
    rncpqz%2FPiiIGRsFqEtYHEIXQQUqEpqYwR93brm0Tm3pkVl7%2FOo7KECEgO4S2MxWKnE3LN%2BlIWVC7X2fg%3D%3D

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
SSAPI PATTERN File: 2.158.48
SSAPI PATTERN Date: 28 Mar 2019

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

Remove Adware.Win32.MyWebSearch.UYAM by using its own Uninstall option

[ Learn More ]
To uninstall the grayware process

Step 4

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Adware.Win32.MyWebSearch.UYAM. 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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