ADW_ESCORT

February 13, 2014
 Analysis by: Rika Joi Gregorio
 ALIASES:

Adware.Win32.DelBar(Sunbelt), a variant of Win32/Toolbar.Escort.A application(Eset)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Adware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Dropped by other malware

This adware may be dropped by other malware. It arrives as a component bundled with malware/grayware packages.

It does not have any file infection routine.

It does not have any propagation routine.

It does not have any backdoor routine.

It does not have any downloading capability.

It does not have any information-stealing capability.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

279,960 bytes

File Type:

DLL

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

28 Jan 2014

Arrival Details

This adware may be dropped by other malware.

It arrives as a component bundled with malware/grayware packages.

Infection Points

This adware does not have any file infection routine.

Autostart Technique

This adware adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{EF5625A3-37AB-4BDB-9875-2A3D91CD0DFD}\
InprocServer32
(Default) = "{malware path and file name}"

It registers itself as a BHO to ensure its automatic execution every time Internet Explorer is used by adding the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Browser Helper Objects\{EF5625A3-37AB-4BDB-9875-2A3D91CD0DFD}

It registers itself as a BHO to ensure its automatic execution every time Internet Explorer is used by adding the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Browser Helper Objects\{EF5625A3-37AB-4BDB-9875-2A3D91CD0DFD}
(Default) = "mysearchdial Helper Object"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Browser Helper Objects\{EF5625A3-37AB-4BDB-9875-2A3D91CD0DFD}
NoExplorer = "1"

Other System Modifications

This adware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mysearchdial.mysearchdialHlpr

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mysearchdial.mysearchdialHlpr\CLSID

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mysearchdial.mysearchdialHlpr\CurVer

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mysearchdial.mysearchdialHlpr.1

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mysearchdial.mysearchdialHlpr.1\CLSID

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID\escort.DLL

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID\{09C554C3-109B-483C-A06B-F14172F1A947}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{EF5625A3-37AB-4BDB-9875-2A3D91CD0DFD}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{EF5625A3-37AB-4BDB-9875-2A3D91CD0DFD}\
InprocServer32

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{EF5625A3-37AB-4BDB-9875-2A3D91CD0DFD}\
ProgID

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{EF5625A3-37AB-4BDB-9875-2A3D91CD0DFD}\
Programmable

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{EF5625A3-37AB-4BDB-9875-2A3D91CD0DFD}\
TypeLib

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{EF5625A3-37AB-4BDB-9875-2A3D91CD0DFD}\
VersionIndependentProgID

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mysearchdial.mysearchdialHlpr
(Default) = "CescrtHlpr Object"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mysearchdial.mysearchdialHlpr\CLSID
(Default) = "{EF5625A3-37AB-4BDB-9875-2A3D91CD0DFD}"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mysearchdial.mysearchdialHlpr\CurVer
(Default) = "mysearchdial.mysearchdialHlpr.1"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mysearchdial.mysearchdialHlpr.1
(Default) = "CescrtHlpr Object"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mysearchdial.mysearchdialHlpr.1\CLSID
(Default) = "{EF5625A3-37AB-4BDB-9875-2A3D91CD0DFD}"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID\escort.DLL
AppID = "{09C554C3-109B-483C-A06B-F14172F1A947}"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID\{09C554C3-109B-483C-A06B-F14172F1A947}
(Default) = "escort"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{EF5625A3-37AB-4BDB-9875-2A3D91CD0DFD}
(Default) = "mysearchdial Helper Object"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{EF5625A3-37AB-4BDB-9875-2A3D91CD0DFD}
AppID = "{09C554C3-109B-483C-A06B-F14172F1A947}"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{EF5625A3-37AB-4BDB-9875-2A3D91CD0DFD}\
InprocServer32
ThreadingModel = "apartment"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{EF5625A3-37AB-4BDB-9875-2A3D91CD0DFD}\
ProgID
(Default) = "mysearchdial.mysearchdialHlpr.1"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{EF5625A3-37AB-4BDB-9875-2A3D91CD0DFD}\
TypeLib
(Default) = "{09C554C3-109B-483C-A06B-F14172F1A947}"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{EF5625A3-37AB-4BDB-9875-2A3D91CD0DFD}\
VersionIndependentProgID
(Default) = "mysearchdial.mysearchdialHlpr"

Propagation

This adware does not have any propagation routine.

Backdoor Routine

This adware does not have any backdoor routine.

Download Routine

This adware does not have any downloading capability.

Information Theft

This adware does not have any information-stealing capability.

NOTES:

It does not have rootkit capabilities.

It does not exploit any vulnerability.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.700

SSAPI PATTERN File:

1.479.00

SSAPI PATTERN Date:

30 Jan 2014

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

Close all opened browser windows

Step 3

Delete these Browser Helper Object (BHO) registry keys

[ Learn More ]
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects
    • {EF5625A3-37AB-4BDB-9875-2A3D91CD0DFD}

Step 4

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_CLASSES_ROOT
    • mysearchdial.mysearchdialHlpr
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
    • mysearchdial.mysearchdialHlpr.1
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID
    • escort.DLL
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID
    • {09C554C3-109B-483C-A06B-F14172F1A947}
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID
    • {EF5625A3-37AB-4BDB-9875-2A3D91CD0DFD}

Step 5

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