PUA.Win32.MyWebSearch.SMTB2

 Analysis by: Maureen Reyes

 ALIASES:

HEUR:WebToolbar.Win32.Agent.gen (Kaspersky), PUA.Mindsparki.Gen (Quickheal)

 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:

379,237 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

09 Apr 2019

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%\{Random}.tmp
  • %User Temp%\{Random}.tmp\secondary_bg.png
  • %User Temp%\{Random}.tmp\secondary_accept.png
  • %User Temp%\{Random}.tmp\secondary_decline.png
  • %User Temp%\{Random}.tmp\reporting
  • %User Temp%\{Random}.tmp\AtoZManauls_msi_bg-copy_{Numbers}.png
  • %AppDataLocal%\AtoZManualsTooltab\TooltabExtension.dll
  • %Cookies%\(Username)@tb.ask.txt

(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, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.. %AppDataLocal% is the Local Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.. %Cookies% is the Internet Explorer browser cookies folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Cookies on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Cookies on Windows Vista and 7, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCookies on Windows 8.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %User Temp%\{Random}.tmp
  • %AppDataLocal%\AtoZManualsTooltab

(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, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.. %AppDataLocal% is the Local Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

Other System Modifications

This Potentially Unwanted Application adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\AtoZManuals

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\TabbedBrowsing

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
AtoZManualsTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AtoZManuals
Start Page = "http://hp.{BLOCKED}y.com/atozmanuaks.ttab02/index.html?n=7851EF9&p2=^CG7^mni000^TTAB02&ptb=DD77F6FD-F327-4DE2-A4CF-4395A1DBDF92&coid=5d6dbdcd6b0c4b1eb76c43e619a42d04"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AtoZManuals
UnInstallSurveyUrl = "http://@{downloadDomain}.dl.{BLOCKED}y.com/uninstall.jhtml?surveyUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.research.net%2Fr%2FHYSCVNM%3Fc%3DDD77F6FD-F327-4DE2-A4CF-4395A1DBDF92%26ptb%3D^CG7^mni000^TTAB02"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
AtoZManualsToolstab Uninstall Internet Explorer
DisplayName = "AtoZManuals Internet Explorer Homepage and New Tab"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
AtoZManualsToolstab Uninstall Internet Explorer
HelpLink = "http://support.{BLOCKED}rk.com/"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
AtoZManualsToolstab Uninstall Internet Explorer
Publisher = "Mindspark Interactive Network, Inc."

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
AtoZManualsToolstab Uninstall Internet Explorer
UninstallString = "Rundll32.exe "%AppDataLocal%\AtoZManualsTooltab\TooltabExtension.dll" U uninstall:AtoZManuals"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
AtoZManualsToolstab Uninstall Internet Explorer
URLinfoAbout = "http://support.{BLOCKED}ark.com/"

Other Details

This Potentially Unwanted Application connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://anx.{BLOCKED}ark.com/anx.gif?anxa=CAPDownloadProcess&anxe=Error&errorCode=-16&errorType=nsisError&errorDetails=&platform=vicinio&anxv=2.7.1.3000&anxd=2018-06-12&coid=&refPartner=^CG7^mni000^TTAB02&refSub=&anxl=en-US&anxr=-2088310757&refCobrand=CG7&refCampaign=mni000&refTrack=TTAB02&refCountry=
  • http://hp.{BLOCKED}y.com/atozmanuals/ttab02/index.html?n=78581EF9&p2=^CG7^mni000^TTAB02&ptb=DD77F6FD-F327-4DE2-A4CF-4395A1DBDF92&coid=5d6dbdcd6b0c4b1eb76c43e619a42d04
  • http://ak.{BLOCKED}gfarm.com/images/webtooltab/assets/logos/CG7.png
  • http://hp.{BLOCKED}y.com/atozmanuals/ttab02/assets/1554226210088/ie8.js
  • http://hp.{BLOCKED}y.com/atozmanuals/ttab02/assets/1554226210088/app.js
  • http://isrg.{BLOCKED}d.ocsp.identrust.com/MFEwTzBNMEswSTAJBgUrDgMCGgUABBRv9GhNQxLSSGKBnMArPUcsHYovpgQUxKexpHsscfrb4UuQdf%2FEFWCFiRACEAoBQUIAAAFThXNqC4Xspwg%3D

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

SSAPI PATTERN File:

2.165.00

SSAPI PATTERN Date:

18 Apr 2019

Step 1

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 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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\AtoZManualsToolstab Uninstall Internet Explorer
    • DisplayName = "AtoZManuals Internet Explorer Homepage and New Tab"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\AtoZManualsToolstab Uninstall Internet Explorer
    • HelpLink = "http://support.{BLOCKED}ark.com/"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\AtoZManualsToolstab Uninstall Internet Explorer
    • Publisher = "Mindspark Interactive Network, Inc."
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\AtoZManualsToolstab Uninstall Internet Explorer
    • UninstallString = "Rundll32.exe "%AppDataLocal%\AtoZManualsTooltab\TooltabExtension.dll" U unistall:AtoZManuals"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\AtoZManualsToolstab Uninstall Internet Explorer
    • URLInfoAbout = "http://support.{BLOCKED}ark.com/"
  • In  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AtoZManuals
    • Start Page = ""http://hp.{BLOCKED}y.com/atozmanuaks.ttab02/index.html?n=7851EF9&p2=^CG7^mni000^TTAB02&ptb=DD77F6FD-F327-4DE2-A4CF-4395A1DBDF92&coid=5d6dbdcd6b0c4b1eb76c43e619a42d04"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AtoZManuals
    • UninstallSurveryURL = "http://@{downloadDomain}.dl.{BLOCKED}y.com/uninstall.jhtml?surveyUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.research.net%2Fr%2FHYSCVNM%3Fc%3DDD77F6FD-F327-4DE2-A4CF-4395A1DBDF92%26ptb%3D^CG7^mni000^TTAB02"

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
    • AtoZManuals
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer
    • TabbedBrowsing
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
    • Uninstall
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
    • AtoZManualsTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer

Step 5

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%\{Random}.tmp
  • %User Temp%\{Random}.tmp\secondary_bg.png
  • %User Temp%\{Random}.tmp\secondary_accept.png
  • %User Temp%\{Random}.tmp\secondary_decline.png
  • %User Temp%\{Random}.tmp\reporting
  • %User Temp%\{Random}.tmp\AtoZManauls_msi_bg-copy_{Numbers}.png
  • %AppDataLocal%\AtoZManualsTooltab\TooltabExtension.dll
  • %Cookies%\(Username)@tb.ask.txt

Step 6

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.
  • %User Temp%\{Random}.tmp
  • %AppDataLocal%\AtoZManualsTooltab

Step 7

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as PUA.Win32.MyWebSearch.SMTB2. 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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