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ADW_PENNYBEE.GA

January 08, 2015
 Analysis by: Adrian Cofreros
 ALIASES:

a variant of MSIL/Toolbar.Linkury.H(NOD32),Adware.Win32.DealPly.BT(Baidu-International),PUP/Win32.Pennybee(AhnLab-V3)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Adware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW


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

It does not have any propagation routine.

It does not have any backdoor routine.

It connects to certain websites to send and receive information.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

1,260,178 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

19 Dec 2014

Arrival Details

This adware 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 adware drops the following file(s)/component(s):

  • %AppDataLocal%\PennyBee\PennyBeeU.exe - will be deleted afterwards, detected as ADW_PENNYBEE
  • %Program Files%\PennyBee\PennyBeeU.exe - will be deleted afterwards, detected as ADW_PENNYBEE
  • %AppDataLocal%\PennyBee\DPHelper.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\PennyBee\PennyBee.exe - detected as ADW_PENNYBEE
  • %AppDataLocal%\PennyBee\PennyBee.exe.config
  • %AppDataLocal%\PennyBee\PennyBeeW.exe - detected as ADW_PENBEE
  • %AppDataLocal%\PennyBee\PennyBeeW.exe.config
  • %AppDataLocal%\PennyBee\smia64.exe
  • %AppDataLocal%\PennyBee\uninstall.exe
  • %AppDataLocal%\PennyBee\Configs\Timers.xml
  • %AppDataLocal%\PennyBee\Resources\ntdis_32.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\PennyBee\Resources\ntdis_64.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\PennyBee\Resources\ntdisie_32.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\ICSharpCode.net\PennyBeeW.exe_Url_{32 random alphanumeric characters}\1.0.6.0\user.config
  • %Program Files%\PennyBee\DPHelper.dll (with admin rights)
  • %Program Files%\PennyBee\PennyBee.exe (with admin rights) - detected as ADW_PENNYBEE
  • %Program Files%\PennyBee\PennyBee.exe.config (with admin rights)
  • %Program Files%\PennyBee\PennyBeeW.exe (with admin rights) - detected as ADW_PENBEE
  • %Program Files%\PennyBee\PennyBeeW.exe.config (with admin rights)
  • %Program Files%\PennyBee\smia64.exe (with admin rights)
  • %Program Files%\PennyBee\uninstall.exe (with admin rights)
  • %Program Files%\PennyBee\Configs\Timers.xml (with admin rights)
  • %Program Files%\PennyBee\Resources\ntdis_32.dll (with admin rights)
  • %Program Files%\PennyBee\Resources\ntdis_64.dll (with admin rights)
  • %Program Files%\PennyBee\Resources\ntdisie_32.dll (with admin rights)
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Application Data\ICSharpCode.net\PennyBeeW.exe_Url_{32 random alphanumeric characters}\1.0.6.0\user.config (with admin rights)
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\LinkuryInstallerUtils.dll -will be deleted afterwards
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\LinkuryInstallerUtilsDeviceId.dll -will be deleted afterwards
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\System.dll -will be deleted afterwards
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\UserInfo.dll -will be deleted afterwards

(Note: %AppDataLocal% is the Application Data folder found in Local Settings, where it is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local 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.. %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.. %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp 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.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %AppDataLocal%\ICSharpCode.net\PennyBeeW.exe_Url_{32 random alphanumeric characters}
  • %AppDataLocal%\ICSharpCode.net\PennyBeeW.exe_Url_{32 random alphanumeric characters}\1.0.6.0
  • %AppDataLocal%\PennyBee
  • %AppDataLocal%\PennyBee\Configs
  • %AppDataLocal%\PennyBee\Resources
  • %Program Files%\PennyBee (with admin rights)
  • %Program Files%\PennyBee\Configs (with admin rights)
  • %Program Files%\PennyBee\Resources (with admin rights)
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Application Data\ICSharpCode.net\PennyBeeW.exe_Url_{32 random alphanumeric characters} (with admin rights)
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Application Data\ICSharpCode.net\PennyBeeW.exe_Url_{32 random alphanumeric characters}\1.0.6.0 (with admin rights)
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp -will be deteleted afterwards

(Note: %AppDataLocal% is the Application Data folder found in Local Settings, where it is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local 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.. %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.. %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp 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.)

Autostart Technique

This adware 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\CurrentControlSet\
Services\PennyBee
Type = "{dword:00000010}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\PennyBee
Start = "{dword:00000002}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\PennyBee
ErrorControl = "{dword:00000000}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\PennyBee
ImagePath = "%Program Files%\PennyBee\PennyBee.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\PennyBee
DisplayName = "PennyBee service"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\PennyBee
ObjectName = "LocalSystem"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\PennyBee
Description = "PennyBee"

It adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
PennyBee = "%AppDataLocal%\PennyBee\PennyBeeW.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
PennyBee = "%Program Files%\PennyBee\PennyBeeW.exe" (with admin rights)

It registers as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\PennyBee

Other System Modifications

This adware adds the following registry keys:

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
PennyBee

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\
PennyBee.exe

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
PennyBee

It adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
PennyBee
DisplayName = "PennyBee"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
PennyBee
UninstallString = "%Program Files%\PennyBee\uninstall.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
PennyBee
DisplayIcon = "%Program Files%\PennyBee\PennyBee.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
PennyBee
DisplayVersion = "1.0.6.0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
PennyBee
Publisher = "PennyBee"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\
PennyBee.exe
Params = " Partner=Default Channel=Default DeviceId={GUID} Publisher={value} BarcodeId={value}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\
PennyBee.exe
Params = " Partner=Default Channel=Default DeviceId={GUID} Publisher={value} BarcodeId={value}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\
PennyBee.exe
(Default) = "%Program Files%\PennyBee\PennyBee.exe"

Propagation

This adware does not have any propagation routine.

Backdoor Routine

This adware does not have any backdoor routine.

Information Theft

This adware gathers the following data:

  • Location of the affected system
  • User Access of the system(administrator,guest)
  • Device ID

Other Details

This adware connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}p.net/InjectionsService.svc/GetPublisherInjectionsByPublisherAndCountry?publisher=PB15&country={variable location}&installDate={variable date}&barcodeid=153570&downloadprovider=PB15&installid={variable}&browser={value}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}htjs.net/gettrk_l?partner=Default&channel=Default&versionint=1.0.6.0&hid=v445be4345-1f18-31b0-af05-a7b815aecdf4
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}htjs.net/dealdo/install-report?type=install&ver=1.0.6.0&instgrp={value}&partner=Default&channel=DefaultDefault&funnel={value}cb={value}&slug=insthelper&defaultBrowser={value}&ieVer={value}&firefoxVer={value}&chromeVer={value}&operaVer=&winVer={value}&hid={value}&ieproc={value}&ffproc={value}&chproc={value}
  • http://{BLOCKED}b.{BLOCKED}str06a.store.core.windows.net/pennybee/UpdateVersion.xml

It does the following:

  • Update itself and its components
  • Display advertisement

It accesses the following URL(s) to get the affected system's location:

  • http://cloud-search.linkury.com/maxmind.asmx/GetGeoInfo
  • http://cloud-search.shopop.me/maxmind.asmx/GetGeoInfo

NOTES:

It sends gathered data on the following URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}s.{BLOCKED}y.com/StatisticsService.svc/V1/JSON/LogEvent
  • http://{BLOCKED}s.{BLOCKED}p.me/StatisticsService.svc/V1/SOAP

It does not have rootkit capabilities.

It does not exploit any vulnerability.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.700

SSAPI PATTERN File:

1.577.00

SSAPI PATTERN Date:

25 Dec 2014

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

Remove the malware/grayware file that dropped/downloaded ADW_PENNYBEE.GA. (Note: Please skip this step if the threat(s) listed below have already been removed.)

    • TROJ_ASPROX.BA

Step 4

Remove ADW_PENNYBEE.GA by using its own Uninstall option

[ Learn More ]
To uninstall the grayware process

Step 5

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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.
  • %AppDataLocal%\ICSharpCode.net\PennyBeeW.exe_Url_{32 random alphanumeric characters}
  • %AppDataLocal%\PennyBee
  • %Program Files%\PennyBee (with admin rights)
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Application Data\ICSharpCode.net\PennyBeeW.exe_Url_{32 random alphanumeric characters} (with admin rights)
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp

Step 7

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\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
    • PennyBee
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths
    • PennyBee.exe
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
    • PennyBee
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths
    • PennyBee.exe
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
    • PennyBee

Step 8

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\Run
    • PennyBee = "%AppDataLocal%\PennyBee\PennyBeeW.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • PennyBee = "%Program Files%\PennyBee\PennyBeeW.exe" (with admin rights)

Step 9

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as ADW_PENNYBEE.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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