Analysis by: Sabrina Lei Sioting
 Modified by: Jimelle Monteser
ALIASES:

Adware:Win32/OpenCandy (Microsoft), Adware-OpenCandy.dll (McAfee), Adware/OpenCandy (Fortinet)

 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:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Adware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Downloaded from the Internet

This Adware may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.

It does not have any propagation routine.

It does not have any backdoor routine.

It executes the dropped file(s). As a result, malicious routines of the dropped files are exhibited on the affected system.

It does not have any downloading capability.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 3,084,859 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 04 Mar 2013
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Drops files, Executes files

Arrival Details

This Adware may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.

Installation

This Adware drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\is-{random}.tmp\{malware file name}.tmp - deleted afterwards
  • %User Temp%\is-{random}.tmp\_isetup\_RegDLL.tmp - deleted afterwards
  • %User Temp%\is-{random}.tmp\_isetup\_shfoldr.dll - deleted afterwards
  • %User Temp%\is-{random}.tmp\OCSetupHlp.dll - deleted afterwards

(Note: %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.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %User Temp%\is-{random}.tmp - deleted afterwards
  • %User Temp%\is-{random}.tmp\_isetup - deleted afterwards

(Note: %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.)

Other System Modifications

This Adware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Martin Prikryl\
WinSCP 2\OpenCandy

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Martin Prikryl\
WinSCP 2\OpenCandy\Completed

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Martin Prikryl\
WinSCP 2\OpenCandy\Completed\
{random}

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Martin Prikryl\
WinSCP 2\OpenCandy
VOCV = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Martin Prikryl\
WinSCP 2\OpenCandy
OCN = "{hex values}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Martin Prikryl\
WinSCP 2\OpenCandy\Completed
VOCV = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Martin Prikryl\
WinSCP 2\OpenCandy\Completed\
{random}
VOVC = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Martin Prikryl\
WinSCP 2\OpenCandy\Completed\
{random}
Session = "{hex values}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Martin Prikryl\
WinSCP 2\OpenCandy\Completed\
{random}
CRC = "{hex values}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Martin Prikryl\
WinSCP 2\OpenCandy\Completed\
{random}
Installed = "{hex values}"

Propagation

This Adware does not have any propagation routine.

Backdoor Routine

This Adware does not have any backdoor routine.

Dropping Routine

This Adware executes the dropped file. As a result, malicious routines of the dropped file are exhibited on the affected system.

Download Routine

This Adware does not have any downloading capability.

Other Details

This Adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}ndy.{BLOCKED}p.net
  • http://{BLOCKED}a.{BLOCKED}ndy.com

NOTES:

ADW_OPENCANDY is an adware program that may come bundled with third-party application installers.

Its location in the registry is dependent on the third-party application it is bundled with.

It does not have rootkit capabilities.

It does not exploit any vulnerability.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.300
SSAPI PATTERN File: 1.405.00
SSAPI PATTERN Date: 30 May 2013

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

Identify and terminate files detected as ADW_OPENCANDY

[ 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 3

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\Martin Prikryl\WinSCP 2
    • OpenCandy

Step 4

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

*Note: 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.

NOTES:

To completely clean ADW_OPENCANDY, uninstall the third-party application it is bundled with.


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