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Adware.JS.Spigot.AG

November 19, 2024
 Analysis by: Neljorn Nathaniel Aguas
 ALIASES:

PUA.Toolbar.Widgi (IKARUS)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Adware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • 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.

It connects to certain websites to send and receive information. It redirects browsers to certain sites.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

4,939,264 bytes

File Type:

Other

Initial Samples Received Date:

14 Nov 2024

Payload:

Connects to URLs/IPs, Drops 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 adds the following folders:

  • %Program Files%\Application Updater
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\IE
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\IE\8.4
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\Lang

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000(32-bit), Server 2003(32-bit), XP, Vista(64-bit), 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit) , or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP(64-bit), Vista(64-bit), 7(64-bit), 8(64-bit), 8.1(64-bit), 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It drops the following files:

  • %Program Files%\Application Updater\ApplicationUpdater.exe
  • %Program Files%\Application Updater\config.ini
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\IE\8.4\config.ini
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\IE\8.4\pdfforgeToolbarIE.dll
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\IE\8.4\pdfforgeToolbarIE64.dll
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\amazon.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\ebay.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\facebook.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\googleplus.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\icon_settings.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\pdfc_branding.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\pdfc_branding_hover.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\pdfc_icon.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\pdfc_portal_logo.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\radiobeta.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\radio-close.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\redio-minimize.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\search_amazon.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\search_baidu.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\search_ebay.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\search_yahoo.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\search_yandex.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\search-button.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\search-button-hover.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\search-chevron.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\search-chevron-hover.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\twitter.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\widgets.xml
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\Lang\res1031.ini
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\Lang\res1033.ini
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\Lang\res1034.ini
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\Lang\res1036.ini
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\Lang\res1040.ini

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000(32-bit), Server 2003(32-bit), XP, Vista(64-bit), 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit) , or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP(64-bit), Vista(64-bit), 7(64-bit), 8(64-bit), 8.1(64-bit), 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

Adware Routine

This Adware adds and runs the following services:

  • Service Name: Application Updater
    Binary Path: %Program Files%\Application Updater\ApplicationUpdater.exe
    Start Type: Autostart

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000(32-bit), Server 2003(32-bit), XP, Vista(64-bit), 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit) , or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP(64-bit), Vista(64-bit), 7(64-bit), 8(64-bit), 8.1(64-bit), 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

Other Details

This Adware connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • http://{BLOCKED}rge.mybrowserbar.com/cgi/api.cgi/971163/170E11BD47104C97B521409308E2E4D0/vloc/4
  • http://{BLOCKED}ge.mybrowserbar.com/cgi/api.cgi/971163/170E11BD47104C97B521409308E2E4D0/vrst/4
  • http://{BLOCKED}rowserbar.com/cgi/api.cgi/971163/170E11BD47104C97B521409308E2E4D0/ping/10/73/

It redirects browsers to the following sites:

  • http://{BLOCKED}ge.mybrowserbar.com/install.html?rt=1&cnid=971163&isn=170E11BD47104C97B521409308E2E4D0&code_ver=174&type=install&cid=155202fbfcdf42d5ab225af524115bd7

It does the following:

  • It sets the default search engine of Internet Explorer to Yahoo! if a user enabled it during installation.
  • It installs the following toolbar:
    • pdfforge Toolbar v8.4

It accesses the following websites to download its configuration/component files:

  • http://www.{BLOCKED}o.com/favicon.icohttp://pdfforge.mybrowserbar.com/styles/toolbar_site.css
  • http://{BLOCKED}ge.mybrowserbar.com/image/1/1/pdfforge/1231869545/pdfc_portal_logo.gifhttp://{BLOCKED}ge.mybrowserbar.com/images/partners/header_background.png
  • http://{BLOCKED}ge.mybrowserbar.com/images/partners/msg_bkg.pnghttp://{BLOCKED}rge.mybrowserbar.com/images/partners/img_unavailable_150x50.jpg
  • http://{BLOCKED}ge.mybrowserbar.com/image/1/2/pdfforge/1261096968/pdfc_portal_tb.gifhttp://{BLOCKED}ge.mybrowserbar.com/images/partners/img_unavailable_500x100.jpg

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.800

SSAPI PATTERN File:

2.349.00

SSAPI PATTERN Date:

29 Oct 2020

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

Restart in Safe Mode, and then 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\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\
    • Application Updater

Step 4

Search and delete these files

[ 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.
  • %Program Files%\Application Updater\ApplicationUpdater.exe
  • %Program Files%\Application Updater\config.ini
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\IE\8.4\config.ini
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\IE\8.4\pdfforgeToolbarIE.dll
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\IE\8.4\pdfforgeToolbarIE64.dll
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\amazon.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\ebay.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\facebook.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\googleplus.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\icon_settings.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\pdfc_branding.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\pdfc_branding_hover.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\pdfc_icon.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\pdfc_portal_logo.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\radiobeta.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\radio-close.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\redio-minimize.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\search_amazon.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\search_baidu.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\search_ebay.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\search_yahoo.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\search_yandex.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\search-button.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\search-button-hover.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\search-chevron.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\search-chevron-hover.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\twitter.gif
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\widgets.xml
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\Lang\res1031.ini
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\Lang\res1033.ini
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\Lang\res1034.ini
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\Lang\res1036.ini
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\Lang\res1040.ini

Step 5

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.
  • %Program Files%\Application Updater
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\IE\8.4
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\IE
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res\Lang
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar\Res
  • %Program Files%\pdfforge Toolbar

Step 6

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Adware.JS.Spigot.AG. 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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