ADW_SEARCHCLOUD

 Modified by: Christopher Daniel So

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Adware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • 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.

It executes downloaded files whose malicious routines are exhibited by the affected system.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

Varies

File Type:

EXE, DLL

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

24 Apr 2012

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:

  • %Program Files%\SearchCloud\Setup_SearchCloudHidden.exe
  • %Program Files%\SearchCloud\Uninstall.exe
  • %Program Files%\SearchCloud\Uninstall.ini

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Program Files%\SearchCloud

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.)

Autostart Technique

This adware adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
SearchCloud = "%Program Files%\SearchCloud\pluskeyU.exe" (if download was not successful)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
SearchCloud = "%Program Files%\SearchCloud\SearchCloudU.exe" (if download was successful)

Other System Modifications

This adware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Key

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Key\sKey

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
SearchCloud

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SearchCloud

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Key\sKey
serial = "{random characters}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Key\sKey
sChk = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SearchCloud
exec = "1001"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SearchCloud
update = "1001"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SearchCloud
pid = "searchcloud"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SearchCloud
Run Date = "{date of last execution of SearchCloud.exe}"

It adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
SearchCloud
DisplayName = "SearchCloud"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
SearchCloud
DisplayIcon = "%Program Files%\SearchCloud\Uninstall.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
SearchCloud
UninstallString = "%Program Files%\SearchCloud\Uninstall.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
SearchCloud
NoModify = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
SearchCloud
NoRepair = "1"

Download Routine

This adware accesses the following websites to download files:

  • http://search.{BLOCKED}her.com/support/serialMk.asp?mode=serial&domain=searchcloud
  • http://search.{BLOCKED}her.com/product/version.asp?domain=searchcloud&serial={random characters}
  • http://search.{BLOCKED}her.com/support/installPro.asp?domain=searchcloud&serial={random characters}&sort=INS
  • http://search.{BLOCKED}her.com/product/log.asp?serial={random characters}

It connects to the following URL(s) to download its component file(s):

  • http://search.{BLOCKED}her.com/product/program/SearchCloud/1001/searchcloud/DelLog.exe
  • http://search.{BLOCKED}her.com/product/program/SearchCloud/1001/searchcloud/SearchCloud.dll
  • http://search.{BLOCKED}her.com/product/program/SearchCloud/1001/searchcloud/SearchCloud.exe
  • http://search.{BLOCKED}her.com/product/program/SearchCloud/1001/searchcloud/SearchCloudU.exe
  • http://search.{BLOCKED}her.com/product/program/SearchCloud/1001/searchcloud/Uninstall.exe
  • http://search.{BLOCKED}her.com/product/program/SearchCloud/1001/searchcloud/Uninstall.ini

It saves the files it downloads using the following names:

  • %Program Files%\SearchCloud\DelLog.exe
  • %Program Files%\SearchCloud\SearchCloud.dll
  • %Program Files%\SearchCloud\SearchCloud.exe
  • %Program Files%\SearchCloud\SearchCloudU.exe
  • %Program Files%\SearchCloud\Uninstall.exe
  • %Program Files%\SearchCloud\Uninstall.ini

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.)

It executes downloaded files :

  • %Program Files%\SearchCloud\SearchCloudU.exe
  • %Program Files%\SearchCloud\SearchCloud.exe

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.)

whose malicious routines are exhibited by the affected system.

NOTES:

This adware installs a global keyboard hook using the exported function GetAddress of the dropped file %Program Files%\SearchCloud\SearchCloud.dll. It monitors text boxes in the webpages displayed in Internet Explorer.

It accesses the following URL to get the URL to access to display advertisements:

  • http://search.{BLOCKED}ther.com/support/keyInfo.asp?keyword={search symbol typedin the browser}&domain=searchcloud&urlYN=N&serial={random characters}&linkurl={search URL}

It then opens an Internet Explorer window with the returned URL.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

SSAPI PATTERN File:

1.282.10

SSAPI PATTERN Date:

24 Apr 2012

Step 1

For Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 users, before doing any scans, please make sure you disable System Restore to allow full scanning of your computer.

Step 2

Close all opened browser windows

Step 3

Terminate a malware/grayware process

[ Learn More ]

*Note: If the detected process is not displayed in theWindows Task Manager, continue doing the next steps.

    • SearchCloud.exe

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft
    • Key
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • SearchCloud
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
    • SearchCloud

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
    • SearchCloud = "%Program Files%\SearchCloud\pluskeyU.exe" or "%Program Files%\SearchCloud\SearchCloudU.exe"

Step 6

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.
  • %Program Files%\SearchCloud

Step 7

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