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PUA_WINOPTIMIZER

December 27, 2016
 ALIASES:

SoftwareBundler:Win32/WinOptimizer (Microsoft); AdWare.Win32.HiddenInstall.d (Kaspersky);

 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 arrives as a component bundled with malware/grayware packages.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

7,841,472 bytes

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

20 Dec 2016

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 arrives as a component bundled with malware/grayware packages.

Installation

This potentially unwanted application adds the following folders:

  • %User Temp%\is-{random}.tmp
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker
  • %Program Files%\Windows Optimizer
  • %All Users Profile%\Documents\Optimizer
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Windows Movie Maker

(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.. %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.. %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.. %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.)

It drops the following component file(s):

  • %User Temp%\is-{random}.tmp\_isetup\_RegDLL.tmp
  • %User Temp%\is-{random}.tmp\_isetup\_shfoldr.dll
  • %User Temp%\is-{random}.tmp\check.xml
  • %User Temp%\is-{random}.tmp\itdownload.dll

(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.)

It drops and executes the following files:

  • %User Temp%\is-{random}.tmp\optimizer-setup.tmp
  • %User Temp%\is-{random}.tmp\windows-movie-maker-free.tmp
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\optimizer-setup.exe
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\solidloader.exe
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\zcode.exe
  • %Program Files%\Windows Optimizer\optimizer.exe
  • %Program Files%\Windows Optimizer\system_shell.exe

(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.. %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 potentially unwanted application registers its dropped component as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup. It does this by creating the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\Windows_Optimizer
Description = "Optimize Windows system,clean up temporary folders and files,remove useless information,strongly recommend run it."

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\Windows_Optimizer
Start = "2"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\Windows_Optimizer
ImagePath = "%Program Files%\Windows Optimizer\optimizer.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\Windows_Optimizer
DisplayName = "Windows Optimizer"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\Windows_Optimizer
ObjectName = "LocalSystem"

Other Details

This potentially unwanted application adds the following registry entries to add an uninstall option to the Control Panel:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{{GUID}winmovie}}_is1
Inno Setup: Setup Version = "{version number}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{{GUID}winmovie}}_is1
Inno Setup: App Path = "%Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{{GUID}winmovie}}_is1
InstallLocation = "%Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{{GUID}winmovie}}_is1
Inno Setup: Icon Group = "Windows Movie Maker"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{{GUID}winmovie}}_is1
Inno Setup: User = "{username}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{{GUID}winmovie}}_is1
Inno Setup: Selected Tasks = "desktopicon,quicklaunchicon"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{{GUID}winmovie}}_is1
Inno Setup: Deselected Tasks = ""

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{{GUID}winmovie}}_is1
Inno Setup: Language = "english"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{{GUID}winmovie}}_is1
DisplayName = "Windows Movie Maker 6.1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{{GUID}winmovie}}_is1
UninstallString = ""%Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\unins000.exe""

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{{GUID}winmovie}}_is1
QuietUninstallString = ""%Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\unins000.exe" /SILENT"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{{GUID}winmovie}}_is1
Publisher = "win-movie-maker-free"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{{GUID}winmovie}}_is1
URLInfoAbout = "http://www.windows-movie-maker.org/"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{{GUID}winmovie}}_is1
HelpLink = "http://www.windows-movie-maker.org/"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{{GUID}winmovie}}_is1
URLUpdateInfo = "http://www.windows-movie-maker.org/"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{{GUID}winmovie}}_is1
NoModify = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{{GUID}winmovie}}_is1
NoRepair = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{{GUID}winmovie}}_is1
InstallDate = "{installation date}"

It connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}ler.{BLOCKED}lldog.com/binno/{value}
  • http://app.{BLOCKED}eosoft.com/api_ajax.ashx?{value}
  • http://{BLOCKED}ad3.{BLOCKED}irror.org/download/optimizer-setup-update.exe

It drops the following file(s)/component(s):

  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\license-win.txt
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\load_config.ini
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\MUI\0409\moviemk.chm
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\Shared\AddOnTFX\BFXset4{random}.jpg
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\Shared\AddOnTFX\colorfades.xml
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\Shared\AddOnTFX\effects.xml
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\Shared\AddOnTFX\rehansplit.xml
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\Shared\AddOnTFX\wmtfxtransitions.xml
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\Shared\Empty.txt
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\Shared\Filters.xml
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\Shared\news.png
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\Shared\paint.png
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\Shared\Profiles\Blank.txt
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\Shared\Sample1.jpg
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\Shared\Sample2.jpg
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\style.cjstyles
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\Transitions.txt
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\unins000.dat
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\unins000.exe
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\WMM2AE.dll
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\WMM2ERES.dll
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\WMM2EXT.dll
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\WMM2FILT.dll
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\WMM2FXA.dll
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\WMM2FXB.dll
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\WMM2RES.dll
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker\WMM2RES2.dll
  • %Program Files%\Windows Optimizer\load_config.ini
  • %All Users Profile%\Documents\Optimizer\history.log
  • %All Users Profile%\Documents\Optimizer\load_config.ini
  • %All Users Profile%\Documents\Optimizer\log.ini
  • %All Users Profile%\Documents\Optimizer\program\new_ver_1.7.9.3.exe
  • %Application Data%\solidloader\load_config.ini
  • %Desktop%\Windows Movie Maker.lnk
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Windows Movie Maker.lnk
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Windows Movie Maker\Uninstall Windows Movie Maker.lnk
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Windows Movie Maker\Windows Movie Maker on the Web.url
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Windows Movie Maker\Windows Movie Maker.lnk

(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.. %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.)

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.800

SSAPI PATTERN File:

1.795.00

SSAPI PATTERN Date:

22 Dec 2016

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

Remove PUA_WINOPTIMIZER by using its own Uninstall option

[ Learn More ]
To uninstall the grayware process

Step 5

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. Before you could do this, you must restart in Safe Mode. For instructions on how to do this, you may refer to this page If the preceding step requires you to restart in safe mode, you may proceed to edit the system registry.

 
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
    • Windows_Optimizer
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
    • {{GUID}winmovie}}_is1

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.
  • %User Temp%\is-{random}.tmp
  • %Program Files%\Windows Movie Maker
  • %Program Files%\Windows Optimizer
  • %All Users Profile%\Documents\Optimizer
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Windows Movie Maker
  • %Application Data%\solidloader

Step 7

Search and delete this file

[ 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.
  • %Desktop%\Windows Movie Maker.lnk
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Windows Movie Maker.lnk

Step 8

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