PUA_DESKTOPWEATHER.GA

November 16, 2016

Analysis by: Janus Agcaoili

ALIASES:

a variant of Win32/Toptools.G potentially unwanted (ESET-NOD32)

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.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

633,128 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Initial Samples Received Date:

03 Nov 2016

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:

%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\BR\skin.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\BR\skin2.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\CN\skin.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\CN\skin2.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\DE\skin.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\DE\skin2.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\EN\skin.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\EN\skin2.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\FR\skin.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\FR\skin2.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\JP\skin.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\JP\skin2.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\JP\skin3.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\TH\skin.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\TH\skin2.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\XP\BR\skin.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\XP\BR\skin2.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\XP\CN\skin.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\XP\CN\skin2.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\XP\DE\skin.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\XP\DE\skin2.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\XP\EN\skin.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\XP\EN\skin2.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\XP\FR\skin.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\XP\FR\skin2.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\XP\JP\skin.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\XP\JP\skin2.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\XP\JP\skin3.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\XP\TH\skin.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\XP\TH\skin2.xml
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\Humidity.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\Icon24_layout.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\Icon48_layout.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\Refresh.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\bg_main.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\bg_menu.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\bg_search.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\bg_user_guide.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\btn_cancel.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\btn_delete.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\btn_menu.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\btn_radio.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\clear.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\cloudy.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\cloudy_fg.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\fog.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\icn_add.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\icn_fail.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\icn_info_grey.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\icn_location_gray.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\icn_precipitation.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\icn_success.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\icn_thermo.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\icn_units.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\img_degree.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\img_dot_normal.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\img_dot_selected.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\img_minus.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\img_num_0.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\img_num_1.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\img_num_2.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\img_num_3.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\img_num_4.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\img_num_5.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\img_num_6.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\img_num_7.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\img_num_8.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\img_num_9.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\overcast.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\rain.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\scrollbar.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\sequence.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\snow.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\sunny.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\tstorm.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\windy.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\uninstall\bg.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\uninstall\btn.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\uninstall\button.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\uninstall\buttondown.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\uninstall\checkbox.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\uninstall\click.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\uninstall\close.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\uninstall\hover.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\uninstall\normal.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\uninstall\page1.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\uninstall\page2.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\uninstall\page3.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\uninstall\page4.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\uninstall\progress_back.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\uninstall\progress_fore.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\uninstall\uninstall.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\res\picture\uninstall\uninstalldown.png
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\WeatherEntryDll.dll
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\weather.exe
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\InstallHelper.exe
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\CrashReport.exe
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\CrashUL.exe
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\CrashReportModuleConf.ini
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\UpdatePlatformJP.exe
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\Report.exe
%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\WeatherService.exe
%Application Data%\WeatherTool\dump\BugReportConfig.ini
%Program Files%\Baidu\update\UpdatePlatform.exe
%Program Files%\Baidu\update\CrashReport.exe
%Program Files%\Baidu\update\CrashReport64.exe
%Program Files%\Baidu\update\CrashUL.exe
%Program Files%\Baidu\update\CrashReportModuleConf.ini
%Program Files%\Baidu\update\CrashReportConfig.ini
%Program Files%\Baidu\update\baidujp_update.exe
%ProgramData%\baidu\update\download\baidujp_update.xml
%ProgramData%\baidu\update\baidujp_update.ini
%Windows%\Tasks\BaiduJP_Update_{8099779F-A13B-403e-B39A-65133857586B}.job

(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.. %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming 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.. %ProgramData% is the Program Data folder, where it usually is C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\ProgramData in 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.. %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.)

Other System Modifications

This potentially unwanted application adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WeatherTool\
QUIT
QuitSession = "{A35B1D48-2D7A-4F22-808E-FBAB9C207DEA}-1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WeatherTool\
Settings
ProductType = "DeskTop"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WeatherTool\
Settings
ReloadDataInterval = "3600"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\DtsEncodeTools
{3B7FD029-D932-411b-AF15-C96CF8EF0C18} = "{3B7FD029-D932-411b-AF15-C96CF8EF0C18}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WeatherTool\
DUMPSETTING
SendVal = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\baidu\
update
soft_weather = "http://box.kantanstart.jp/cgi-bin-py/weather_statistic.cgi"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WeatherTool
parentName = "{Parent Process Name}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WeatherTool
PartnerID = "InstallCore02"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WeatherTool
Version = "2.0.1.11332"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WeatherTool
UserID = "c9c90eefa4649d97f59b2ba1b37e6d1e"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WeatherTool\
INSTALL_MARK
version = "2.0.1.11332"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WeatherTool\
2.0.1.11332
INSTALL_PATH = "%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WeatherTool
INSTALL_FIRST_TIME = "{Date}_{Time}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
WeatherTool
DisplayName = "The Desktop Weather 2.0.1.11332"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
WeatherTool
DisplayIcon = "%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\weather.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
WeatherTool
UninstallString = "%Program Files%\WeatherTool\2.0.1.11332\InstallHelper.exe -Uninstall English"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
WeatherTool
DisplayVersion = "2.0.1.11332"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
WeatherTool
DisplayFullVersion = "2.0.1.11332"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
WeatherTool
Publisher = "Baidu Japan Inc."

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WeatherTool
FrID = "GlcA91gpScVu5jAne2Qd"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\baidu\
update
partner = "weather"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\baidu\
update
FrID = GlcA91gpScVu5jAne2Qd,JFwS91EgV6owog==

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\baidu\
update
Version = "4.0.0.0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\baidu\
update
GUID = "{c9c90eefa4649d97f59b2ba1b37e6d1e}"

Other Details

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

http://www.{BLOCKED}heery.net/cgi-bin-py/weather_install.cgi
http://download.{BLOCKED}heery.net/download/weather_bd.encrypt
http://www.{BLOCKED}heery.net/download/WeatherTool_Setup_Jp_NoModiyTime_base%5B2016-04-26.18.51.05.07%5D.exe
http://www.{BLOCKED}oftware365.info/cgi-bin-py/weather_install.cgi
http://weather.{BLOCKED}oftware365.net/weather?key=autoip&lang=EN
http://ime.{BLOCKED}u.jp/type/img/pvi.gif?t=3&len=704&data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
http://{BLOCKED}ssplatform.ime.{BLOCKED}u.jp/pc_ime/getmsg?is_ime_exist=0&csp=2&dfb=0&fsp=2&hao123=2022&id={c9c90eefa4649d97f59b2ba1b37e6d1e}&isp=0&isp2=2&no_up_date=1&os=6.1.7601&partner=weather&seconds=1225&user_type=1&ver=4.0.0.0&wait_start_seconds=598
http://ime.{BLOCKED}u.jp/type/img/pvi.gif?t=3&len=736&data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
http://www.{BLOCKED}oftware365.info/cgi-bin-py/weather_uu.cgi

SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.800

SSAPI PATTERN File:

1.783.00

SSAPI PATTERN Date:

10 Nov 2016

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_DESKTOPWEATHER.GA

[ Learn More ]

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

[ 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
- WeatherTool
In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
- DtsEncodeTools
In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
- baidu
In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
- WeatherTool

Step 5

Search and delete these folders

[ 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%\WeatherTool
%Application Data%\WeatherTool
%Program Files%\Baidu
%ProgramData%\baidu

Step 6

Search and delete this file

[ Learn More ]

There may be some files 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. %Windows%\Tasks\BaiduJP_Update_{8099779F-A13B-403e-B39A-65133857586B}.job

Step 7

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

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PUA_DESKTOPWEATHER.GA

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