PUA_ELEX.GB
HEUR:AdWare.Win32.Elex.gen (Kaspersky); Trojan:Win32/Xadupi (Microsoft); Riskware/Elex (Fortinet)
Windows
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
3,198,229 bytes
EXE
No
26 Jan 2017
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 drops the following files:
- %All Users Profile%\Documents\report.dat
- %Program Files%\WinSaber\WinSaber.exe
(Note: %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.. %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.)
It creates the following folders:
- %Program Files%\WinSaber
(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.)
Other System Modifications
This potentially unwanted application adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\FirefoxDL
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\winsaber
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WinSaberSvc
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\FirefoxDL
Start = "2"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\FirefoxDL
ImagePath = "{malware path}\tools\fioiuy.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\FirefoxDL
DisplayName = "Install Service(FirefoxDL)"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\winsaber
Start = "2"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\winsaber
ImagePath = "%Program Files%\WinSaber\WinSaber.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\winsaber
DisplayName = "winsaber"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WinSaberSvc
svcpath = "%Program Files%\WinSaber\"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WinSaberSvc
guid = "{value}"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WinSaberSvc
sid = "saber"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WinSaberSvc
pid = "wzp0829"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WinSaberSvc
version = "1.0.29"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WinSaberSvc
lasttime = "0"
Other Details
This potentially unwanted application connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- http://{BLOCKED}hdinqmqq.{BLOCKED}ront.net/v4/sof-pbd-dl/{value}?action={value}
- http://{BLOCKED}snh8rftl.{BLOCKED}ront.net/v4/winzippers/{value}?action={value}
- http://{BLOCKED}fgr0scek.{BLOCKED}ront.net/v4/gtg/{value}?action={value}
- http://{BLOCKED}fgr0scek.{BLOCKED}ront.net/v4/sofclean/{value}?action={value}
- http://{BLOCKED}0738otwj.{BLOCKED}ront.net/Request2/checkins?uid={value}&sid={value}
- http://cloud.{BLOCKED}x1.com/cl/downloader?version={value}&channel={value}&d={value}&userid={value}&src={value}
- http://clouda.{BLOCKED}x1.com/cl/downloader?version={value}&channel={value}&d={value}&userid={value}&src={value}
- http://awskohg.{BLOCKED}dapi.com/cl/downloader?version={value}&channel={value}&d={value}&userid={value}&src={value}
SOLUTION
9.850
1.807.00
02 Feb 2017
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
Identify and terminate files detected as PUA_ELEX.GB
- 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.
- 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.
- If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.
Step 4
Delete this registry key
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\services
- FirefoxDL
- FirefoxDL
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
- winsaber
- winsaber
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
- WinSaberSvc
- WinSaberSvc
Step 5
Search and delete these folders
- %Program Files%\WinSaber
Step 6
Search and delete this file
- %All Users Profile%\Documents\report.dat
Step 7
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as PUA_ELEX.GB. 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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