ADW_AZON


 ALIASES:

ZvuZona. (McAfee); Downloader.Win32.AdLoad.onrc (Kaspersky); Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Adware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • 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:

232,608 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

20 Jan 2015

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 creates the following folders:

  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Zona

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)

Other System Modifications

This adware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Zona

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Pinstall

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Zona
exec = "%Program Files%\Zona\Zona.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Pinstall
i_user_id = "D22C09C7-C921-4EF7-A270-161955140DCA"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Zona
DownloadsDir = "%User Profile%\My Documents\Zona Downloads"

Dropping Routine

This adware drops the following files:

  • %User Profile%\Zona\init.xml
  • %User Temp%\hd.vbs
  • %User Temp%\pin5.tmp
  • %User Temp%\zon6.tmp
  • %User Temp%\zon9.tmp
  • %User Temp%\zonD.tmp

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.. %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.)

Other Details

This adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://stat.{BLOCKED}ad.org/getActiveCampaigns?{random characters}
  • http://stat.{BLOCKED}ad.org/installer.html?{random characters}
  • http://i2.{BLOCKED}8.net/T/WLeM_X.jpeg
  • http://i2.{BLOCKED}8.net/getActiveCampaigns?{random characters}
  • {BLOCKED}.17.199
  • {BLOCKED}8.223.40

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.700

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

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
    • Zona
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • Pinstall

Step 3

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\Zona
    • exec = "%Program Files%\Zona\Zona.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Pinstall
    • i_user_id = "D22C09C7-C921-4EF7-A270-161955140DCA"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Zona
    • DownloadsDir = "%User Profile%\My Documents\Zona Downloads"

Step 4

Search and delete these components

[ Learn More ]
There may be some components 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.
  • %User Profile%\Zona\init.xml
  • %User Temp%\hd.vbs
  • %User Temp%\pin5.tmp
  • %User Temp%\zon6.tmp
  • %User Temp%\zon9.tmp
  • %User Temp%\zonD.tmp

Step 5

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.
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Zona

Step 6

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