PUA.Win32.IniLINE.AA


 PLATFORM:

Windows

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:
 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:

857,288 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

22 May 2020

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 adds the following processes:

  • %Program Files%\iniLINE\CrossEX\crossex\CrossEXService.exe
  • sc create "CrossEX Live Checker" binpath= "\"%Program Files%\iniLINE\CrossEX\crossex\ObCrossEXService.exe\"" start= auto
  • sc description "CrossEX Live Checker" "checking live status of CrossEXService"
  • "%Program Files%\iniLINE\CrossEX\crossex\ObCrossEXService.exe"

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000(32-bit), Server 2003(32-bit), XP, Vista(64-bit), 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit) , or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP(64-bit), Vista(64-bit), 7(64-bit), 8(64-bit), 8.1(64-bit), 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Program Files%\iniLINE\CrossEX
  • %Program Files%\iniLINE\CrossEX\crossex
  • %Program Files%\iniLINE

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000(32-bit), Server 2003(32-bit), XP, Vista(64-bit), 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit) , or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP(64-bit), Vista(64-bit), 7(64-bit), 8(64-bit), 8.1(64-bit), 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

Autostart Technique

This Potentially Unwanted Application 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\CrossEX Live Checker
ImagePath = "%Program Files%\iniLINE\CrossEX\crossex\ObCrossEXService.exe"

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
CrossEXService = "%Program Files%\iniLINE\CrossEX\crossex\CrossEXService.exe"

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\SOFTWARE\
Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Run
CrossEXService = "%Program Files%\iniLINE\CrossEX\crossex\CrossEXService.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Potentially Unwanted Application adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
StartupApproved\Run
CrossEXService = "\x02\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
iniLINE_CrossEX
DisplayName = "iniLINE CrossEX Service"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
iniLINE_CrossEX
UninstallString = "%Program Files%\iniLINE\CrossEX\crossex\UnInstallCrossEXLocal.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
iniLINE_CrossEX
DisplayVersion = "1.0.2.8"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
iniLINE_CrossEX
URLInfoAbout = "http://www.{BLOCKED}e.co.kr"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
iniLINE_CrossEX
Publisher = "iniLINE Co., Ltd."

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
SystemCertificates\ROOT\Certificates\
DC2F16A0E1AF8FAF0D3E93EAC9ACA7315A409C79
Blob = "{random characters}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\CrossEX Live Checker
DisplayName = ""

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\CrossEX Live Checker
Start = "SERVICE_AUTO_START"

Dropping Routine

This Potentially Unwanted Application drops the following files:

  • %Program Files%\iniLINE\CrossEX\crossex\UnInstallCrossEXLocal.exe
  • %Program Files%\iniLINE\CrossEX\crossex\CrossEXService.exe
  • %Program Files%\iniLINE\CrossEX\crossex\rootCA.crt
  • %Program Files%\iniLINE\CrossEX\crossex\ObCrossEXService.exe
  • %Program Files%\iniLINE\CrossEX\crossex\CrossEXService.exe.sig

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000(32-bit), Server 2003(32-bit), XP, Vista(64-bit), 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit) , or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP(64-bit), Vista(64-bit), 7(64-bit), 8(64-bit), 8.1(64-bit), 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

Identify and terminate files detected as PUA.Win32.IniLINE.AA

[ Learn More ]
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 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
    • CrossEXService = "%Program Files%\iniLINE\CrossEX\crossex\CrossEXService.exe"
  • In HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • CrossEXService = "%Program Files%\iniLINE\CrossEX\crossex\CrossEXService.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StartupApproved\Run
    • CrossEXService = "\x02\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\iniLINE_CrossEX
    • DisplayName = "iniLINE CrossEX Service"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\iniLINE_CrossEX
    • UninstallString = "%Program Files%\iniLINE\CrossEX\crossex\UnInstallCrossEXLocal.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\iniLINE_CrossEX
    • DisplayVersion = "1.0.2.8"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\iniLINE_CrossEX
    • URLInfoAbout = "http://www.{BLOCKED}e.co.kr"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\iniLINE_CrossEX
    • Publisher = "iniLINE Co., Ltd."
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\ROOT\Certificates\DC2F16A0E1AF8FAF0D3E93EAC9ACA7315A409C79
    • Blob = "{random characters}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\CrossEX Live Checker
    • DisplayName = ""
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\CrossEX Live Checker
    • Start = "SERVICE_AUTO_START"

Step 5

Search and delete these components

[ Learn More ]
There may be some components 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.
  • %Program Files%\iniLINE\CrossEX\crossex\UnInstallCrossEXLocal.exe
  • %Program Files%\iniLINE\CrossEX\crossex\CrossEXService.exe
  • %Program Files%\iniLINE\CrossEX\crossex\rootCA.crt
  • %Program Files%\iniLINE\CrossEX\crossex\ObCrossEXService.exe
  • %Program Files%\iniLINE\CrossEX\crossex\CrossEXService.exe.sig

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.
  • %Program Files%\iniLINE\CrossEX
  • %Program Files%\iniLINE\CrossEX\crossex
  • %Program Files%\iniLINE

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as PUA.Win32.IniLINE.AA. 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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