PUA_InstallManager

 Analysis by: Jennifer Gumban

 ALIASES:

PUA/InstallMonetizer.Gen (Antivir)

 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 modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

229,120 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

26 Jun 2015

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.

Installation

This potentially unwanted application drops the following file(s)/component(s):

  • %TEMP%\{random folder}\registry.dll
  • %Temporary Internet Files%\Content.IE5\{random folder}\DS_Unq_trackstats_mon[1].htm
  • %Temporary Internet Files%\Content.IE5\{random folder}\FCL_Co_Unq_remote_v4[1].htm
  • %Temporary Internet Files%\Content.IE5\{random folder}\DSS_Unq_IMapplication_mon_remote[1].htm

(Note: %Temporary Internet Files% is the Temporary Internet Files folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), and Windows Server 2008; C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache on Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), and Windows Server 2012.)

Other System Modifications

This potentially unwanted application modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Hardware Profiles\0001\Software\
Microsoft\windows\CurrentVersion\
Internet Settings
ProxyEnable = "1"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "{Default}".)

Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification

This potentially unwanted application modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

Other Details

This potentially unwanted application connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://www.{BLOCKED}ceast.com/FCL_Co_Unq_remote_v4.php
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}etwest.com/DSS_Unq_IMapplication_mon_remote.php
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}twest.com/DS_Unq_trackstats_mon.php

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.750

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

1.638.36

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

06 Jul 2015

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

1.639.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

07 Jul 2015

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

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.
  • %TEMP%\{random folder}\registry.dll
  • %Temporary Internet Files%\Content.IE5\{random folder}\DS_Unq_trackstats_mon[1].htm
  • %Temporary Internet Files%\Content.IE5\{random folder}\FCL_Co_Unq_remote_v4[1].htm
  • %Temporary Internet Files%\Content.IE5\{random folder}\DSS_Unq_IMapplication_mon_remote[1].htm

Step 4

Restore this modified 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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Hardware Profiles\0001\Software\Microsoft\windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
    • From: ProxyEnable = "1"
      To: ProxyEnable = "{Default}"

Step 5

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

Step 6

Reset Internet security settings

[ Learn More ]


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