ADW_PIRRIT

 Analysis by: Cris Nowell Pantanilla

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

4,448,304 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

21 Oct 2014

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:

  • %Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\gd.txt
  • %Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\msvcp100.dll
  • %Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\msvcr100.dll
  • %Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\PirritDesktop.exe
  • %Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\PirritService.exe
  • %Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\QtCore4.dll
  • %Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\QtNetwork4.dll
  • %Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\unins000.dat
  • %Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\unins000.exe
  • %Program Files%\WinRST\msvcp100.dll
  • %Program Files%\WinRST\msvcr100.dll
  • %Program Files%\WinRST\QtCore4.dll
  • %Program Files%\WinRST\QtNetwork4.dll
  • %Program Files%\WinRST\WinRST.exe
  • %Windows%\wauctla.exe
  • %Windows%\wauctla.exe.config
  • %Windows%\wauctla.InstallLog
  • %Windows%\Temp\RSTUpdater.exe

(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.. %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.. %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Application Data%\HelperApp
  • %Application Data%\PirritSuggestor
  • %Program Files%\WinRST

(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.. %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.)

Other System Modifications

This adware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\P1-App

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\RST

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Upt

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WinUpd

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\PirritDesktop

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\wauctla

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\WinRST

Other Details

This adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}tor.{BLOCKED}t.com/generator/create.php

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.750

SSAPI PATTERN File:

1.560.03

SSAPI PATTERN Date:

21 Oct 2014

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

Identify and terminate files detected as ADW_PIRRIT

[ Learn More ]
  1. Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
  2. If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
  3. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

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
    • P1-App
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • RST
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • Upt
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • WinUpd
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
    • PirritDesktop
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
    • wauctla
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
    • WinRST

Step 4

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.
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\gd.txt
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\msvcp100.dll
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\msvcr100.dll
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\PirritDesktop.exe
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\PirritService.exe
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\QtCore4.dll
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\QtNetwork4.dll
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\unins000.dat
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\unins000.exe
%Program Files%\WinRST\msvcp100.dll
%Program Files%\WinRST\msvcr100.dll
%Program Files%\WinRST\QtCore4.dll
%Program Files%\WinRST\QtNetwork4.dll
%Program Files%\WinRST\WinRST.exe
%Windows%\wauctla.exe
%Windows%\wauctla.exe.config
%Windows%\wauctla.InstallLog
%Windows%\Temp\RSTUpdater.exe

Step 5

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.  %Application Data%\HelperApp
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor
%Program Files%\WinRST

Step 6

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