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ADW_STARWARE

July 29, 2011
 ALIASES:

Adware.Starware (Symantec); Program:Win32/Starware (Microsoft)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • 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 adds registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup.

It deletes registry entries, causing some applications and programs to not function properly.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

386,584 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

27 Jul 2011

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:

  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\buttons\blocker.cur
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\buttons\FindIt.bmp
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\buttons\FindItHot.bmp
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\buttons\findithotxp.png
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\buttons\finditxp.png
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\buttons\Highlight.bmp
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\buttons\HighlightHot.bmp
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\buttons\highlighthotxp.png
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\buttons\highlightxp.png
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\buttons\logo.bmp
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\buttons\logoxp.bmp
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\buttons\PopupBlocker.bmp
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\buttons\PopupBlockerHot.bmp
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\buttons\popupblockerhotxp.png
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\buttons\popupblockerxp.png
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\buttons\Reference.bmp
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\buttons\ReferenceHot.bmp
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\buttons\referencehotxp.png
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\buttons\referencexp.png
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\buttons\screensaver.bmp
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\buttons\Weather.bmp
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\buttons\weatherhotxp.png
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\buttons\weatherxp.png
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\contexts\error.xml
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\contexts\related.xml
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\contexts\travel.xml
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\images\walertXP.bmp
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\SimpleUpdate\ProductMessagingConfig.xml
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\SimpleUpdate\ProductMessagingConfig.xml.backup
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\SimpleUpdate\SimpleUpdateConfig.xml
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\SimpleUpdate\SimpleUpdateConfig.xml.backup
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\SimpleUpdate\TimerManagerConfig.xml
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware\SimpleUpdate\TimerManagerConfig.xml.backup
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\BrowserSearch\BrowserSearch.xml
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\BrowserSearch\BrowserSearch.xml.backup
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\ErrorSearch\ErrorSearchOptions.xml
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\ErrorSearch\ErrorSearchOptions.xml.backup
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\Layouts\PreferencesLayout.xml
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\Layouts\PreferencesLayout.xml.backup
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\Layouts\ToolbarLayout.xml
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\Layouts\ToolbarLayout.xml.backup
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\Manager\ManagerOptions.xml
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\Manager\ManagerOptions.xml.backup
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\PopupBlocker\PopupBlockerOptions.xml
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\PopupBlocker\PopupBlockerOptions.xml.backup
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\Reference\ReferenceOptions.xml
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\Reference\ReferenceOptions.xml.backup
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\RelatedSearch\RelatedSearchOptions.xml
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\RelatedSearch\RelatedSearchOptions.xml.backup
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\Screensavers\ScreensaversOptions.xml
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\Screensavers\ScreensaversOptions.xml.backup
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\SearchMatch\SearchMatchOptions.xml
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\SearchMatch\SearchMatchOptions.xml.backup
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\Toolbar\TBProductsOptions.xml
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\Toolbar\TBProductsOptions.xml.backup
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\ToolbarLogo\ToolbarLogoOptions.xml
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\ToolbarLogo\ToolbarLogoOptions.xml.backup
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\ToolbarSearch\ToolbarSearchOptions.xml
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\ToolbarSearch\ToolbarSearchOptions.xml.backup
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\TravelSearch\TravelSearchOptions.xml
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\TravelSearch\TravelSearchOptions.xml.backup
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\Weather\AlertArchive.xml
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\Weather\WeatherOptions.xml
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware\Weather\WeatherOptions.xml.backup
  • %Program Files%\Starware\bin\Starware.dll
  • %Program Files%\Starware\brand.bmp
  • %Program Files%\Starware\icons\star_16.ico
  • %Program Files%\Starware\StarwareConfig.xml
  • %Program Files%\Starware\StarwareUninstall.exe

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name} on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name} on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Starware
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Starware
  • %Program Files%\Starware

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name} on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name} on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.. %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_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2D51D869-C36B-42bd-AE68-0A81BC771FA5}\
InprocServer32
(default) = "%Program Files%\Starware\bin\Starware.dll"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{7BED0340-176B-44bc-915E-C21C1DD6F617}\
InprocServer32
(default) = "%Program Files%\Starware\bin\Starware.dll"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{CA356D79-679B-4b4c-8E49-5AF97014F4C1}\
InprocServer32
(default) = "%Program Files%\Starware\bin\Starware.dll"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D49E9D35-254C-4c6a-9D17-95018D228FF5}\
InprocServer32
(default) = "%Program Files%\Starware\bin\Starware.dll"

It registers itself as a BHO to ensure its automatic execution every time Internet Explorer is used by adding the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Browser Helper Objects\{CA356D79-679B-4b4c-8E49-5AF97014F4C1}

Other System Modifications

This adware adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Use Search Asst = "no"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Use Custom Search URL = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Toolbar\WebBrowser
{D49E9D35-254C-4C6A-9D17-95018D228FF5} = "{hex value}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\URLSearchHooks
(default) = "{blank}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Toolbar
{D49E9D35-254C-4c6a-9D17-95018D228FF5} = "Starware"

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

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2D51D869-C36B-42bd-AE68-0A81BC771FA5}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{7BED0340-176B-44bc-915E-C21C1DD6F617}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{CA356D79-679B-4b4c-8E49-5AF97014F4C1}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D49E9D35-254C-4c6a-9D17-95018D228FF5}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Starware

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Starware

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Search
SearchAssistant = "http://{BLOCKED}s.{BLOCKED}re.com/dp/search?x=wKX1ILEOi+Vh7AfA98Gm4Me69ZMbubcDFaDWeHPPJB4okC7ss5iHXMDHEeuW2bzJjyWbkvVHUlG/K96l3rCdrg1e6DkEHyzWFf4zQgxGDYrbrCuI8YOVRqEtXB4vlq1W2+C4gDPjQl8IKpI8xA7RYnyMee3Wmosp7Q9NmXmmKfYAR0qLFE/jGWCTvmTqkfSJVPVKmlsu2nBlsDYmJNPWP5aZI8USOmEKaRoY5nsFP/Ux5wnYTwpFbqfI3qMotEGDIqu3xiWK8+M="

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

It deletes the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\URLSearchHooks
{CFBFAE00-17A6-11D0-99CB-00C04FD64497} = "{blank}"