PUA_INSTALLCORE.GM
Adware/DealPly (Fortinet); PUA.InstallCore (Ikarus); not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.DealPly.alwpj (Kaspersky)
Windows
Threat Type: Potentially Unwanted Application
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: No
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.
It connects to certain websites to send and receive information. However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
1,272,762 bytes
EXE
No
14 Feb 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.
Installation
This potentially unwanted application drops the following files:
- %User Temp%\{random filename}.log
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\css\ie6_main.css
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\css\main.css
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\css\sdk-ui\browse.css
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\css\sdk-ui\button.css
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\css\sdk-ui\checkbox.css
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\css\sdk-ui\images\button-bg.png
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\css\sdk-ui\images\progress-bg-corner.png
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\css\sdk-ui\images\progress-bg.png
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\css\sdk-ui\images\progress-bg2.png
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\css\sdk-ui\progress-bar.css
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\csshover3.htc
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\form.bmp.Mask
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\images\BG.jpg
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\images\Close.png
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\images\Close_Hover.png
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\images\Color_Button.png
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\images\Color_Button_Hover.png
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\images\Grey_Button.png
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\images\Grey_Button_Hover.png
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\images\Icon_Generic.png
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\images\Loader.gif
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\images\Pause_Button.png
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\images\Progress.png
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\images\ProgressBar.png
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\images\Quick_Specs.png
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\images\Resume_Button.png
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\images\sponsored.png
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\images\text-bg.png
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\locale\CS.locale
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\locale\EL.locale
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\locale\EN.locale
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\locale\ID.locale
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\locale\JA.locale
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\locale\NL.locale
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\bootstrap_{random}.html
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}\{random filename}.tmp
(Note: %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.)
It adds the following processes:
- {Malware path}\{malware filename}.exe /_ShowProgress /PrTxt:TG9hZGluZy4uLg==
It creates the following folders:
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}
(Note: %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.)
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 website to send and receive information:
- http://rp.{BLOCKED}adastrocdn.com/
- http://info.{BLOCKED}adastrocdn.com/?ttaceh=0
- http://info.{BLOCKED}adastrocdn.com/?ttizefaqu=1
- http://info.{BLOCKED}adastrocdn.com/?wot=2
However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
SOLUTION
9.850
1.813.00
23 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
Search and delete these folders
- %User Temp%\in{random characters}
Step 4
Search and delete this file
- %User Temp%\{random filename}.log
Step 5
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as PUA_INSTALLCORE.GM. 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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