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ADW_MONTIERA.GA

June 15, 2015
 ALIASES:

a variant of Win32/Toolbar.Montiera.R (ESET)

 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 arrives as a component bundled with malware/grayware packages. It may be manually installed by a user.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

434,024 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Initial Samples Received Date:

25 Nov 2014

Payload:

Connects to URLs/IPs

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.

It arrives as a component bundled with malware/grayware packages.

It may be manually installed by a user.

Installation

This adware drops the following component file(s):

  • %Program Files%\bbjoin\bbjoin\1.3.26.6\app.ini
  • %Program Files%\bbjoin\bbjoin\1.3.26.6\bbjoin.exe
  • %Program Files%\bbjoin\bbjoin\1.3.26.6\bbjsetup.exe
  • %Program Files%\bbjoin\bbjoin\1.3.26.6\chromext64.dll
  • %Program Files%\bbjoin\bbjoin\1.3.26.6\fgbpPngk.dll
  • %Program Files%\bbjoin\bbjoin\1.3.26.6\hlpr64.exe
  • %Program Files%\bbjoin\bbjoin\1.3.26.6\ixgjobPb.dll
  • %Program Files%\bbjoin\bbjoin\1.3.26.6\res.dll
  • %Program Files%\bbjoin\bbjoin\updt.js

(Note: %Program Files% is the Program Files folder, where it usually is C:\Program Files on all Windows operating system versions; C:\Program Files (x86) for 32-bit applications running on Windows 64-bit operating systems.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Program Files%\bbjoin
  • %Program Files%\bbjoin\bbjoin
  • %Program Files%\bbjoin\bbjoin\1.3.26.6

(Note: %Program Files% is the Program Files folder, where it usually is C:\Program Files on all Windows operating system versions; C:\Program Files (x86) for 32-bit applications running on Windows 64-bit operating systems.)

Autostart Technique

This adware creates the following registry entries to enable automatic execution of dropped component at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
bbjoin_crr_uninst = "%Program Files%\bbjoin\bbjoin\1.3.26.6\bbjoin.exe"

Other System Modifications

This adware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\keepmysearch

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\keepmysearch\instl

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\keepmysearch\instl\
data

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\keepmysearch\uninstl

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\
FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
bbjoin_prdct_uninst

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch\instl

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch\instl\data

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch\uninstl

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\keepmysearch\instl\
data
prm2 = ""

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\keepmysearch\instl\
data
prm1 = ""

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\keepmysearch\instl\
data
prm3 = ""

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\keepmysearch\instl\
data
prm4 = ""

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\keepmysearch\instl\
data
prm5 = ""

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\keepmysearch\instl\
data
country = ""

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\keepmysearch\instl\
data
lng = ""

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\keepmysearch\instl\
data
APPORDR = "10D2612F6B6147EA"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\keepmysearch\instl\
data
ie-st = "[false,false,false]"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\keepmysearch\instl\
data
ffx-st = "[false,false,false]"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\keepmysearch\instl\
data
chrome-st = "[false,false,false]"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\keepmysearch\uninstl
bbjoin1 = "%Program Files%\bbjoin\bbjoin\1.3.26.6\bbjsetup.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\
FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION
bbjsetup.exe = 4a38

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\
FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION
bbjoin.exe = 4a38

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
bbjoin_prdct_uninst
DisplayName = "bbjoin_crr_uninst"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
bbjoin_prdct_uninst
UninstallString = ""%Program Files%\bbjoin\bbjoin\1.3.26.6\bbjsetup.exe" /uninstl"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
bbjoin_prdct_uninst
DisplayIcon = ""%Program Files%\bbjoin\bbjoin\1.3.26.6\bbjsetup.exe""

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
bbjoin_prdct_uninst
Publisher = "bbjoin_cmpny"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
bbjoin_prdct_uninst
NoModify = 1

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
bbjoin_prdct_uninst
NoRepair = 1

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch\instl\data
prm1 = ""

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch\instl\data
prm2 = ""

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch\instl\data
prm3 = ""

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch\instl\data
prm4 = ""

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch\instl\data
prm5 = ""

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch\instl\data
country = ""

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch\instl\data
lng = ""

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch\instl\data
APPORDR = "10D2612F6B6147EA"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch\instl\data
ie-st = "[false,false,false]"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch\instl\data
ffx-st = "[false,false,false]"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch\instl\data
chrome-st = "[false,false,false]"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch\uninstl
bbjoin1 = %Program Files%\bbjoin\bbjoin\1.3.26.6\bbjsetup.exe"

NOTES:

This adware checks system information such as harware ID and installed anti-malware applications. It appends this information to the URL, which also serves as a notification that the adware has been installed. The data included in the query strings of the URL also contains installation details such as version and install date.

It connects to the following URLs to post system information and installation:

  • http://services.{BLOCKED}rvices.com/mpv/widgets/1.4.2/shared/windows/newxtn/background.htm
  • http://services.{BLOCKED}rvices.com/cnfg/boot2.srf
  • http://services.{BLOCKED}rvices.com/cnfg/xtnupdt.srf

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.750

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

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_CLASSES_ROOT
    • keepmysearch
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl
    • FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
    • bbjoin_prdct_uninst
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes
    • keepmysearch

Step 5

Delete this 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\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • bbjoin_crr_uninst = "%Program Files%\bbjoin\bbjoin\1.3.26.6\bbjoin.exe"

Step 6

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%\bbjoin

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as ADW_MONTIERA.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.


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