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PUA_HAO.GC

August 02, 2017
 Analysis by: Byron Jon Gelera
 ALIASES:

a variant of Win32/Hao123.C potentially unwanted (ESET-NOD32); Riskware/Hao123 (Fortinet)

 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:

2,428,216 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

01 Aug 2017

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 adds the following folders:

  • %Application Data%\baidu\hao123

(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming 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 drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\2134\gnet_log_{random}.txt
  • %All Users Profile%\Documents\Baidu\Common\I18N\conf.db
  • %User Temp%\hao123Config.xml
  • %User Temp%\Toylocalize.ini
  • %User Temp%\bdg18B.tmp
  • %User Temp%\bdg18C.exe
  • %Application Data%\baidu\hao123\hao123.1.0.0.1113.exe
  • %Application Data%\baidu\hao123\Toylocalize.ini
  • %Application Data%\baidu\hao123\res\normal.png
  • %Application Data%\baidu\hao123\res\hover.png
  • %Application Data%\baidu\hao123\res\active.png
  • %Application Data%\baidu\hao123\res\mask.png
  • %User Temp%\Hao123.ini
  • %Desktop%\Hao123.lnk
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\日本hao123\Hao123.lnk
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Hao123.lnk

(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.. %All Users Profile% is the All Users folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\ProgramData 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.. %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming 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.. %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 modifies the following file(s):

  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile folder}\prefs.js

(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming 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 adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SparkMini

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Baidu\
Hao123-jp\hao123desk

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
hao123desk-jp

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SparkMini
try_times = "300"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Baidu\
Hao123-jp\hao123desk
IEHomePage = "http://jp.{BLOCKED}3.com/?tn=installc_pay_hp_88_hao123_jp"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Baidu\
Hao123-jp\hao123desk
chrome.exe = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Baidu\
Hao123-jp\hao123desk
firefox.exe = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Baidu\
Hao123-jp\hao123desk
Desktop = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Baidu\
Hao123-jp\hao123desk
StartMenu = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Baidu\
Hao123-jp\hao123desk
QuickLaunch = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Baidu\
Hao123-jp\hao123desk
UseInstaller = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Baidu\
Hao123-jp\hao123desk
ToyPath = "%Application Data%\baidu\hao123\hao123.1.0.0.1113.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Baidu\
Hao123-jp\hao123desk
BaiduTn = "tn=installc_pay_hp_88_hao123_jp"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Baidu\
Hao123-jp\hao123desk
PackageType = "SilenceTn"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Baidu\
Hao123-jp\hao123desk
LaunchCount = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Baidu\
Hao123-jp\hao123desk
GUID = {GUID}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Baidu\
Hao123-jp\hao123desk
NewBaiduTn = "tn=installc_pay_hp_88_hao123_jp"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Baidu\
Hao123-jp\hao123desk
InstallTime = {Date and Time}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
hao123desk-jp
DisplayIcon = "%Application Data%\baidu\hao123\hao123.1.0.0.1113.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
hao123desk-jp
DisplayName = "日本hao123ショートカット"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
hao123desk-jp
DisplayVersion = "1.0.0.1113"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
hao123desk-jp
HelpLink = "http://www.hao123.com/desk.html"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
hao123desk-jp
Publisher = "hao123"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
hao123desk-jp
UninstallString = ""%Application Data%\baidu\hao123\hao123.1.0.0.1113.exe" -uninstall"

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Start Page = http://jp.{BLOCKED}3.com/?tn=installc_pay_hp_88_hao123_jp

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

Other Details

This Potentially Unwanted Application connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://box.{BLOCKED}start.jp/cgi-bin-py/hao123cli_report.cgi?ty={value}&enc={value}&bt={value}
  • http://dl.client.{BLOCKED}u.com/hao123/desk/jp/update-jp?ver={value}
  • http://jp.{BLOCKED}3.com/?tn=installc_pay_hp_88_hao123_jp

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

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

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
    • SparkMini
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Baidu\Hao123-jp
    • hao123desk
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
    • hao123desk-jp

Step 4

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: Start Page = "http://jp.hao123.com/?tn=installc_pay_hp_88_hao123_jp"
      To: Start Page = {User Defined}

Step 5

Search and delete this folder

[ 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.
  • %Application Data%\baidu\hao123

Step 6

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.
  • %User Temp%\2134\gnet_log_{random}.txt
  • %All Users Profile%\Documents\Baidu\Common\I18N\conf.db
  • %User Temp%\hao123Config.xml
  • %User Temp%\Toylocalize.ini
  • %User Temp%\bdg18B.tmp
  • %User Temp%\bdg18C.exe
  • %User Temp%\Hao123.ini
  • %Desktop%\Hao123.lnk
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\日本hao123\Hao123.lnk
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Hao123.lnk

Step 7

Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.

  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile folder}\prefs.js

Step 8

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