TROJ_ADLOAD.MH

October 13, 2012
 ALIASES:

Trojan:Win32/Startpage.HJ (Microsoft); Downloader-CBG (McAfee); Downloader (Symantec); Trojan-Downloader.Win32.Adload.niw (Kaspersky); Trojan.Win32.Malware (fs) (Sunbelt); Generic.Adload.2.C02460F2 (FSecure)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Trojan 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:

782,348 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

20 Jun 2012

Arrival Details

This Trojan 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 Trojan creates the following folders:

  • %Program Files%\Internet Explorer\ie

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.)

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Advanced INF Setup\strLink

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Advanced INF Setup\appTitle

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Advanced INF Setup\proRunNum

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{E188F7A3-A04E-413E-99D1-D79A45F78507}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{E188F7A3-A04E-413E-99D1-D79A45F78507}\Shell

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{E188F7A3-A04E-413E-99D1-D79A45F78507}\shellex

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{E188F7A3-A04E-413E-99D1-D79A45F78507}\ShellFolder

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{E188F7A3-A04E-413E-99D1-D79A45F78507}\DefaultIcon

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{E188F7A3-A04E-413E-99D1-D79A45F78507}\InprocServer32

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{E188F7A3-A04E-413E-99D1-D79A45F78507}\Shell\
open

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{E188F7A3-A04E-413E-99D1-D79A45F78507}\Shell\
ÊôÐÔ(&R)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{E188F7A3-A04E-413E-99D1-D79A45F78507}\Shell\
open\command

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{E188F7A3-A04E-413E-99D1-D79A45F78507}\shell\
ÊôÐÔ(&R)\Command

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Desktop\NameSpace\{E188F7A3-A04E-413E-99D1-D79A45F78507}

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Advanced INF Setup
proRunNum = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu
{871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D} = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel
{871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D} = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{E188F7A3-A04E-413E-99D1-D79A45F78507}\InprocServer32
InprocServer32 = "Apartment"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{E188F7A3-A04E-413E-99D1-D79A45F78507}\ShellFolder
Attributes = "0"

Dropping Routine

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %Desktop%\Internet Explorer.lnk
  • %User Profile%\Quick Launch\Launch Internet Explorer Browser.lnk
  • %User Profile%\Quick Launch\Æô¶¯ Internet Explorer ä¯ÀÀÆ÷.lnk
  • %Program Files%\Internet Explorer\ie\iexplore.exe

(Note: %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Desktop on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Desktop on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name} on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name} on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.)

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

Step 1

For Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 users, before doing any scans, please make sure you disable System Restore to allow full scanning of your computer.

Step 2

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\Microsoft\Advanced INF Setup
    • strLink
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Advanced INF Setup
    • appTitle
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Advanced INF Setup
    • proRunNum
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons
    • ClassicStartMenu
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons
    • NewStartPanel
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID
    • {E188F7A3-A04E-413E-99D1-D79A45F78507}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{E188F7A3-A04E-413E-99D1-D79A45F78507}
    • Shell
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{E188F7A3-A04E-413E-99D1-D79A45F78507}
    • shellex
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{E188F7A3-A04E-413E-99D1-D79A45F78507}
    • ShellFolder
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{E188F7A3-A04E-413E-99D1-D79A45F78507}
    • DefaultIcon
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{E188F7A3-A04E-413E-99D1-D79A45F78507}
    • InprocServer32
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{E188F7A3-A04E-413E-99D1-D79A45F78507}\Shell
    • open
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{E188F7A3-A04E-413E-99D1-D79A45F78507}\Shell
    • ÊôÐÔ(&R)
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{E188F7A3-A04E-413E-99D1-D79A45F78507}\Shell\open
    • command
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{E188F7A3-A04E-413E-99D1-D79A45F78507}\shell\ÊôÐÔ(&R)
    • Command
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace
    • {E188F7A3-A04E-413E-99D1-D79A45F78507}

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Advanced INF Setup
    • proRunNum = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu
    • {871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D} = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel
    • {871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D} = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{E188F7A3-A04E-413E-99D1-D79A45F78507}\InprocServer32
    • InprocServer32 = "Apartment"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{E188F7A3-A04E-413E-99D1-D79A45F78507}\ShellFolder
    • Attributes = "0"

Step 4

Search and delete these files

[ Learn More ]
There may be some component 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%\Internet Explorer.lnk
  • %User Profile%\Quick Launch\Launch Internet Explorer Browser.lnk
  • %User Profile%\Quick Launch\Æô¶¯ Internet Explorer ä¯ÀÀÆ÷.lnk
  • %Program Files%\Internet Explorer\ie\iexplore.exe

Step 5

Search and delete this folder

[ 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.
  • %Program Files%\Internet Explorer\ie

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_ADLOAD.MH. 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.


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.