PUA.Win32.Adload.AI

 Analysis by: Maria Emreen Viray

 ALIASES:

Trojan-Downloader.Win32.Adload (IKARUS)

 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:

14,495,128 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

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%\main.ini
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-core-console-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-core-datetime-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-core-debug-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-core-errorhandling-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-core-file-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-core-file-l1-2-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-core-file-l2-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-core-handle-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-core-heap-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-core-interlocked-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-core-libraryloader-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-core-localization-l1-2-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-core-memory-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-core-namedpipe-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-core-processenvironment-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-core-processthreads-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-core-processthreads-l1-1-1.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-core-profile-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-core-rtlsupport-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-core-string-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-core-synch-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-core-synch-l1-2-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-core-sysinfo-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-core-timezone-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-core-util-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-crt-conio-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-crt-convert-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-crt-environment-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-crt-filesystem-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-crt-heap-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-crt-locale-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-crt-math-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-crt-multibyte-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-crt-private-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-crt-process-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-crt-stdio-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-crt-string-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-crt-time-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\api-ms-win-crt-utility-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\Aspose.Words.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\Common.lcc
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\DataPreview.exe
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\dnhfzj.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\dnhfzj64.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\dnhfzjctrl.exe
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\dnhfzjsvr.exe
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\DuiLib.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\FreeImage.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\libcommon.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\main.ini
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\MaskRoate.png
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\msvcp140.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\OpenWordDll.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\Refresh.png
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\System.Runtime.InteropServices.RuntimeInformation.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\Thumbs.db
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\Uninst.exe
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\vcruntime140.dll
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\wDataRecovery.exe
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\DataRecovery\DataRecovery.lnk
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\DataRecovery\Uninstall.lnk
  • %Desktop%\DataRecovery.lnk
  • %User Temp%\com{random digits}.dlcc
  • Added after uninstallation through ControlPanel/running %Application Data%\DataRecovery\Uninst.exe:
    • %User Temp%\Uninst.exe
    • %User Temp%\dnhfzj.dll

(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(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It adds the following processes:

  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\dnhfzjsvr.exe -install
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\dnhfzjctrl.exe regdll=%Application Data%\DataRecovery\dnhfzj.dll
  • %System%\regsvr32.exe /s "%Application Data%\DataRecovery\dnhfzj.dll"
  • %Application Data%\DataRecovery\wDataRecovery.exe

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)

Autostart Technique

This Potentially Unwanted Application registers itself as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\{ControlSet001 or CurrentControlSet}\
services\dnhfzjsvr
Description = Data Recovery File Stream Control Serve

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\{ControlSet001 or CurrentControlSet}\
services\dnhfzjsvr
DisplayName = Data Recovery File Stream Control Server

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\{ControlSet001 or CurrentControlSet}\
services\dnhfzjsvr
ErrorControl = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\{ControlSet001 or CurrentControlSet}\
services\dnhfzjsvr
ImagePath = %Application Data%\DataRecovery\dnhfzjsvr.exe

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\{ControlSet001 or CurrentControlSet}\
services\dnhfzjsvr
ObjectName = LocalSystem

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\{ControlSet001 or CurrentControlSet}\
services\dnhfzjsvr
Start = 2

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\{ControlSet001 or CurrentControlSet}\
services\dnhfzjsvr
Type = 272

Other System Modifications

This Potentially Unwanted Application adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\
wDataRecovery.exe
(Default) = %Application Data%\DataRecovery\wDataRecovery.exe

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
wDataRecovery
DisplayName = wDataRecovery

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
wDataRecovery
UninstallString = %Application Data%\DataRecovery\uninst.exe

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
wDataRecovery
DisplayIcon = %Application Data%\DataRecovery\wDataRecovery.exe

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
wDataRecovery
DisplayVersion = 2.0.0.1

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
wDataRecovery
Publisher = ShangHai Yingshuang

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}
(Default) = dnhfzj

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}\InprocServer32
(Default) = %Application Data%\DataRecovery\dnhfzj.dll

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}\InprocServer32
ThreadingModel = Apartment

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}\Settings
Title = Data Recovery

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}\Settings
Path = %Application Data%\DataRecovery\wDataRecovery.exe

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}\Settings
Custom =

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}\Settings
ShowIcon = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}\Settings
Dynamic = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}\Settings
Maxtext = 25

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\
dnhfzj
(Default) = {BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Directory\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\
dnhfzj
(Default) = {BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
ShellIconOverlayIdentifiers\dnhfzj
(Default) = {BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}

Other Details

This Potentially Unwanted Application adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\{ControlSet001 or CurrentControlSet}\
services\dnhfzjsvr

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\
wDataRecovery.exe

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
wDataRecovery

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}\InprocServer32

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}\Settings

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\
dnhfzj

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Directory\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\
dnhfzj

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
ShellIconOverlayIdentifiers\dnhfzj

It connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://softlog.tw{BLOCKED}.cn/api/data/sync
  • http://i.tw{BLOCKED}.cn/api/pure/get

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.800

SSAPI PATTERN File:

2.451.00

SSAPI PATTERN Date:

07 Oct 2021

Step 1

Trend Micro Predictive Machine Learning detects and blocks malware at the first sign of its existence, before it executes on your system. When enabled, your Trend Micro product detects this malware under the following machine learning name:

     
    • Troj.Win32.TRX.XXPE50FFF049

Step 2

Before doing any scans, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.

Step 3

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 4

Remove PUA.Win32.Adload.AI by using its own Uninstall option

[ Learn More ]
To uninstall the grayware process

Step 5

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\Classes\CLSID\{BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}
    • (Default) = dnhfzj
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}\InprocServer32
    • (Default) = %Application Data%\DataRecovery\dnhfzj.dll
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}\InprocServer32
    • ThreadingModel = Apartment
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}\Settings
    • Title = Data Recovery
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}\Settings
    • Path = %Application Data%\DataRecovery\wDataRecovery.exe
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}\Settings
    • Custom =
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}\Settings
    • ShowIcon = 1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}\Settings
    • Dynamic = 1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}\Settings
    • Maxtext = 25
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\dnhfzj
    • (Default) = {BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Directory\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\dnhfzj
    • (Default) = {BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ShellIconOverlayIdentifiers\dnhfzj
    • (Default) = {BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}

Step 6

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\Classes\CLSID\{BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}\InprocServer32
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{BF73DE8F-608F-479F-ACE5-01199DBCB6B0}\Settings
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\dnhfzj
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Directory\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\dnhfzj
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ShellIconOverlayIdentifiers\dnhfzj

Step 7

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.
  • %User Temp%\Uninst.exe
  • %User Temp%\main.ini
  • %User Temp%\dnhfzj.dll
  • %User Temp%\com{random digits}.dlcc

Step 8

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as PUA.Win32.Adload.AI. 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 the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:


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