ADW_PENBI
AdWare.Smartbar(Ikarus),a variant of Win32/TrojanDropper.MsiDrop.A(NOD32)
Windows
Threat Type: Adware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted:
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.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
1,214,464 bytes
EXE
Yes
14 Nov 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 files:
- %Program Files%\PennyBee\Configs\Timers.xml
- %Program Files%\PennyBee\DPHelper.dll
- %Program Files%\PennyBee\PennyBee.exe
- %Program Files%\PennyBee\PennyBee.exe.config
- %Program Files%\PennyBee\PennyBeeU.exe
- %Program Files%\PennyBee\PennyBeeW.exe
- %Program Files%\PennyBee\PennyBeeW.exe.config
- %Program Files%\PennyBee\Resources\ntdisie_32.dll
- %Program Files%\PennyBee\Resources\ntdis_32.dll
- %Program Files%\PennyBee\Resources\ntdis_64.dll
- %Program Files%\PennyBee\smia64.exe
- %Program Files%\PennyBee\uninstall.exe
(Note: %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.)
It drops and executes the following files:
- %User Temp%\{random}.exe
(Note: %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:
- %Program Files%\PennyBee
- %Program Files%\PennyBee\Configs
- %Program Files%\PennyBee\Resources
(Note: %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.)
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
ImagePath = "%Program Files%\PennyBee\PennyBee.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\PennyBee
ErrorControl = "{dword:00000000}"
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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
PennyBee = "%Program Files%\PennyBee\PennyBeeW.exe"
Other System Modifications
This adware adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\
PennyBee.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
ESENT\Process\PennyBeeW
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
ESENT\Process\PennyBeeW\
DEBUG
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
PennyBee
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\PennyBee
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\
PennyBee.exe
Params = " Partner=Default Channel=Default DeviceId=45BE4345-1F18-31B0-AF05-A7B815AECDF4 Publisher=PB15 Barcode=153570"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\
PennyBee.exe
Params = " Partner=Default Channel=Default DeviceId=45BE4345-1F18-31B0-AF05-A7B815AECDF4 Publisher=PB15 Barcode=153570"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\
PennyBee.exe
(Default) = "%Program Files%\PennyBee\PennyBee.exe"
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 = "1.0.5.0"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
PennyBee
Publisher = "PennyBee"
Other Details
This adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- http://{BLOCKED}search.{BLOCKED}y.com/maxmind.asmx/GetGeoInfo
- http://{BLOCKED}ats.{BLOCKED}y.com/StatisticsService.svc/V1/JSON/LogEvent
SOLUTION
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
Identify and terminate files detected as ADW_PENBI
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
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\App Paths
- PennyBee.exe
- PennyBee.exe
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ESENT\Process
- PennyBeeW
- PennyBeeW
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
- PennyBee
- PennyBee
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
- PennyBee
- PennyBee
Step 5
Delete this registry value
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\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- PennyBee = "%Program Files%\PennyBee\PennyBeeW.exe"
- PennyBee = "%Program Files%\PennyBee\PennyBeeW.exe"
Step 6
Search and delete these folders
- %Program Files%\PennyBee
Step 7
Search and delete this file
- %User Temp%\{random}.exe
Step 8
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as ADW_PENBI. 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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