Dialer.Win32.StarDialer.GA

 Analysis by: John Anthony Banes

 ALIASES:

Dialer:Win32/PornDialer.G (Microsoft); Porn-Dialer.Win32.Small.f (Kaspersky)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Dialer

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW


This Dialer arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites. It may be manually installed by a user.

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

58,363 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

01 Mar 2019

Arrival Details

This Dialer arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It may be manually installed by a user.

Installation

This Dialer drops the following files:

  • %Start Menu%\Programs\- Hackercd-Online -\Hackercd-Online hcd-11514.lnk
  • %Desktop%\Hackercd-Online hcd-11514.lnk

(Note: %Start Menu% is the current user's Start Menu folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Start Menu or C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.. %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Start Menu%\Programs\- Hackercd-Online -

(Note: %Start Menu% is the current user's Start Menu folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Start Menu or C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

Other System Modifications

This Dialer adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MainPean Highspeed

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MainPean Highspeed
Pre = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MainPean Highspeed
PreNumber = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MainPean Highspeed
DeviceName = {Ras-device name}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MainPean Highspeed
Country = {country code}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MainPean Highspeed
Language = {language}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MainPean Highspeed
Machine = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MainPean Highspeed
InstallFlags = 3

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MainPean Highspeed
PassFlags = 2

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MainPean Highspeed
Password = ""

Other Details

This Dialer connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • paynow.{BLOCKED}aler.de

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

SSAPI PATTERN File:

2.153.00

SSAPI PATTERN Date:

07 Mar 2019

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 Dialer.Win32.StarDialer.GA

[ Learn More ]
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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
    • MainPean Highspeed

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\- Hackercd-Online -

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.  
  • %Desktop%\Hackercd-Online hcd-11514.lnk

Step 7

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


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