PUA_INSTALLC.GC

December 22, 2016
 Analysis by: John Kevin Sanchez
 ALIASES:

Win32.Adware.Excite.Gly (Tencent), Adware.MyWay (DrWeb), Adware.W32.Excite!c (AegisLab)

 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:

719,947 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

16 Dec 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:

  • %System%\Goldfish.scr
  • %Windows%\s4Setp.exe
  • %Windows%\ungoldf\UNWISE.INI
  • %Windows%\ungoldf\UNWISE.EXE
  • %Windows%\ungoldf\INSTALL.LOG
  • %Program Files%\MyWay\myBar\1.bin\MY2NS.EXE
  • %Program Files%\MyWay\myBar\1.bin\MY2NS.EXE
  • %Program Files%\MyWay\myBar\1.bin\MYBAR.DLL
  • %Program Files%\MyWay\myBar\1.bin\MYBAR.DLL
  • %Program Files%\MyWay\myBar\1.bin\MYUNSETP.HTA
  • %Program Files%\MyWay\myBar\1.bin\MYUNSETP.HTA
  • %Program Files%\MyWay\myBar\1.bin\MYWAYPLUGINPROXY.CLASS
  • %Program Files%\MyWay\myBar\1.bin\MYWAYPLUGINPROXY.CLASS
  • %Program Files%\MyWay\myBar\1.bin\NPMYWAY.DLL
  • %Program Files%\MyWay\myBar\1.bin\NPMYWAY.DLL
  • %Program Files%\MyWay\myBar\1.bin\PARTNER.DAT
  • %Program Files%\MyWay\myBar\1.bin\PARTNER.DAT
  • %Program Files%\MyWay\myBar\1.bin\UNINSTALL.INF
  • %Program Files%\MyWay\myBar\1.bin\UNINSTALL.INF
  • %Program Files%\Save\Save.exe
  • %Program Files%\Save\save.htm
  • %Program Files%\Save\SaveUninst.exe
  • %Program Files%\Save\ReadMe.txt
  • %Program Files%\WeatherCast\Weather.exe
  • %Program Files%\WeatherCast\Uninst.exe

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.. %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.. %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:

  • %Start Menu%\Programs\WeatherCast
  • %Program Files%\WeatherCast
  • %Program Files%\Save
  • %Windows%\ungoldf
  • %Program Files%\MyWay
  • %Program Files%\MyWay\myBar
  • %Program Files%\MyWay\myBar\1.bin

(Note: %Start Menu% is the Start Menu folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu 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.. %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
WhenUSave = %Program Files%\Save\Save.exe

It drops the following file(s) in the Windows User Startup folder to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

  • %Start Menu%\Programs\WeatherCast\WeatherCast.lnk

(Note: %Start Menu% is the Start Menu folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu 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.)

Other System Modifications

This potentially unwanted application adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
My Way Speedbar Uninstall

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
WeatherCast

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Goldfish

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
SaveNow

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WhenUSave

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WhenUSave\
Partners

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WhenUSave\
Partners\WUSV

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MyWay

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MyWay\
test

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MyWay\
myBar

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MyWay\
myBar\partner

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\WhenU

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\WhenU\
Weather

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WhenUSave\
Partners\CAST

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
SaveNow
DisplayIcon = %Program Files%\Save\Save.exe,1

Other Details

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

  • http://{BLOCKED}b.whenu.com/heartbeat?program=weather&partner=TLAG1202&id=D7D2683CF15B449EB60BC100CACD7610&ver=1.11
  • http://{BLOCKED}p.whenu.com/WeatherDB
  • http://{BLOCKED}p.whenu.com/WthrPrefs?mode=bg&ccode=5564
  • http://{BLOCKED}p.whenu.com/WthrPrefs?mode=nt&nid=1
  • http://{BLOCKED}p.whenu.com/Weather?id=D7D2683CF15B449EB60BC100CACD7610&url=TLAG1202&src=silent

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.800

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

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\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • WhenUSave = %Program Files%\Save\Save.exe
DATA_GENERIC_KEY
  • In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
    DATA_GENERIC_ENTRY
  • Close Registry Editor.

    • 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\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
      • Goldfish
    • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
      • SaveNow
    • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
      • My Way Speedbar Uninstall
    • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
      • WeatherCast
    • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
      • WhenUSave
    • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
      • MyWay
    • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
      • WhenU

    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.
    • %Start Menu%\Programs\WeatherCast
    • %Program Files%\WeatherCast
    • %Program Files%\Save
    • %Windows%\ungoldf
    • %Program Files%\MyWay
    • %Program Files%\MyWay\myBar
    • %Program Files%\MyWay\myBar\1.bin

    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.
    • %System%\Goldfish.scr
    • %Windows%\s4Setp.exe

    Step 7

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