➔
search
close

ADW_PATHSAV

September 07, 2013
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 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:

1,552,152 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

14 Aug 2013

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:

  • %Program Files%\SPDUpdater

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).)

Other System Modifications

This adware deletes the following files:

  • %Program Files%\SPDUpdater\_updater.exe

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).)

It adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\spd

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\spd\
updater

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\spd\
updater\components

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\spd\
updater\heal

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\spd
GUID = "{4A975EB7-34B4-4E46-B7BD-EBA9D113CC54}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\spd\
updater
id = "1009"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\spd\
updater
sum = "848f5c64ec418bce23d95ddc78848128"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\spd\
updater
lang = "en"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\spd\
updater\heal
8f801eec2b01e04fa009457965f7b5ce = "%Program Files%\SPDUpdater\updater.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\spd
last_action_low = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\spd
last_action_hight = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\spd
last_action_low = "1ebcacd6"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\spd
last_action_hight = "1ce9762"

Dropping Routine

This adware drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\updater.zip
  • %Program Files%\SPDUpdater\updater.exe

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista and 7.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).)

Other Details

This adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://a.{BLOCKED}e.com/productSystem/index.php?{random characters}
  • http://a.{BLOCKED}e.com/productSystem/index.php?r=api/getData/UpdaterTimeOut

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software
    • spd
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\spd
    • updater
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\spd\updater
    • components
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\spd\updater
    • heal

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\spd
    • GUID = "{4A975EB7-34B4-4E46-B7BD-EBA9D113CC54}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\spd\updater
    • id = "1009"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\spd\updater
    • sum = "848f5c64ec418bce23d95ddc78848128"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\spd\updater
    • lang = "en"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\spd\updater\heal
    • 8f801eec2b01e04fa009457965f7b5ce = "%Program Files%\SPDUpdater\updater.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\spd
    • last_action_low = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\spd
    • last_action_hight = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\spd
    • last_action_low = "1ebcacd6"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\spd
    • last_action_hight = "1ce9762"

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 Temp%\updater.zip
  • %Program Files%\SPDUpdater\updater.exe

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.
  • %Program Files%\SPDUpdater

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as ADW_PATHSAV. 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 7

Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.

  • %Program Files%\SPDUpdater\_updater.exe


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.