ADW_BROWSEBURST

 Analysis by: Vincent Martin Hermosura

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Adware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Dropped by other malware, Downloaded from the Internet

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 acts as a Browser Helper Object (BHO) that monitors a user's Internet-browsing habits.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

249,624 bytes

File Type:

DLL

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

19 Aug 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.

Autostart Technique

This adware acts as a Browser Helper Object (BHO) that monitors a user's Internet-browsing habits.

Other System Modifications

This adware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{ef05f09c-9b2a-43a0-8155-fab1d641215a}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{AC8BD9BC-FD95-4546-B4A2-40B96306B323}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{8F79BA4B-6A53-4B70-8338-393C30D195F6}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{ef05f09c-9b2a-43a0-8155-fab1d641215a}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Interface\{AC8BD9BC-FD95-4546-B4A2-40B96306B323}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
TypeLib\{8F79BA4B-6A53-4B70-8338-393C30D195F6}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Browser Helper Objects\{ef05f09c-9b2a-43a0-8155-fab1d641215a}

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{ef05f09c-9b2a-43a0-8155-fab1d641215a}
@ = "Adanak"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{ef05f09c-9b2a-43a0-8155-fab1d641215a}\
InprocServer32
ThreadingModel = "Apartment"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{ef05f09c-9b2a-43a0-8155-fab1d641215a}\
InprocServer32
@ = "{malware path and file name}"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{AC8BD9BC-FD95-4546-B4A2-40B96306B323}
@ = "IAdanakBHO"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{8F79BA4B-6A53-4B70-8338-393C30D195F6}\
1.0
@ = "AdanakIEClientLib"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{8F79BA4B-6A53-4B70-8338-393C30D195F6}\
1.0\0\win32
@ = {malware path and file name}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{8F79BA4B-6A53-4B70-8338-393C30D195F6}\
1.0\HELPDIR
@ = "{malware path}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{ef05f09c-9b2a-43a0-8155-fab1d641215a}
@ = "Adanak"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{ef05f09c-9b2a-43a0-8155-fab1d641215a}\InprocServer32
@ = {malware path and file name}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{ef05f09c-9b2a-43a0-8155-fab1d641215a}\InprocServer32
ThreadingModel = "Apartment"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Interface\{AC8BD9BC-FD95-4546-B4A2-40B96306B323}
@ = "IAdanakBHO"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
TypeLib\{8F79BA4B-6A53-4B70-8338-393C30D195F6}\1.0
@ = "AdanakIEClientLib"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
TypeLib\{8F79BA4B-6A53-4B70-8338-393C30D195F6}\1.0\
0\win32
@ = "{malware path and file name} "

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
TypeLib\{8F79BA4B-6A53-4B70-8338-393C30D195F6}\1.0\
HELPDIR
@ = "{malware path}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Browser Helper Objects\{ef05f09c-9b2a-43a0-8155-fab1d641215a}
@ = "Adanak"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Browser Helper Objects\{ef05f09c-9b2a-43a0-8155-fab1d641215a}
NoExplorer = "dword:00000001"

NOTES:

This adware disguises as fake browser plugins. Once installed, it is able to produce browser pop-ups and ads into websites.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.700

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID
    • {ef05f09c-9b2a-43a0-8155-fab1d641215a}
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface
    • {AC8BD9BC-FD95-4546-B4A2-40B96306B323}
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib
    • {8F79BA4B-6A53-4B70-8338-393C30D195F6}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID
    • {ef05f09c-9b2a-43a0-8155-fab1d641215a}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface
    • {AC8BD9BC-FD95-4546-B4A2-40B96306B323}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib
    • {8F79BA4B-6A53-4B70-8338-393C30D195F6}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects
    • {ef05f09c-9b2a-43a0-8155-fab1d641215a}

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_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{ef05f09c-9b2a-43a0-8155-fab1d641215a}
    • @ = "Adanak"
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{ef05f09c-9b2a-43a0-8155-fab1d641215a}\InprocServer32
    • @ = "{malware path and file name}"
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{ef05f09c-9b2a-43a0-8155-fab1d641215a}\InprocServer32
    • ThreadingModel = "Apartment"
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{AC8BD9BC-FD95-4546-B4A2-40B96306B323}
    • @ = "IAdanakBHO"
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{8F79BA4B-6A53-4B70-8338-393C30D195F6}\1.0
    • @ = "AdanakIEClientLib"
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{8F79BA4B-6A53-4B70-8338-393C30D195F6}\1.0\0\win32
    • @ = "{malware path and file name}"
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{8F79BA4B-6A53-4B70-8338-393C30D195F6}\1.0\HELPDIR
    • @ = "{malware path}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{ef05f09c-9b2a-43a0-8155-fab1d641215a}
    • @ = "Adanak"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{ef05f09c-9b2a-43a0-8155-fab1d641215a}\InprocServer32
    • @ = "{malware path and file name}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{ef05f09c-9b2a-43a0-8155-fab1d641215a}\InprocServer32
    • ThreadingModel = "Apartment"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{AC8BD9BC-FD95-4546-B4A2-40B96306B323}
    • @ = "IAdanakBHO"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{8F79BA4B-6A53-4B70-8338-393C30D195F6}\1.0
    • @ = "AdanakIEClientLib"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{8F79BA4B-6A53-4B70-8338-393C30D195F6}\1.0\0\win32
    • @ = "{malware path and file name}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{8F79BA4B-6A53-4B70-8338-393C30D195F6}\1.0\HELPDIR
    • @ = "{malware path}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{ef05f09c-9b2a-43a0-8155-fab1d641215a}
    • @ = "Adanak"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{ef05f09c-9b2a-43a0-8155-fab1d641215a}
    • NoExplorer = "dword:00000001"

Step 6

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