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PUA.Win32.UniBlue.AE

May 21, 2022
 Analysis by: Khristian Joseph Morales
 ALIASES:

HEUR:Hoax.Win32.Uniblue.gen (KASPERSKY)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

6,962,480 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

16 May 2022

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 folders:

  • %User Temp%\mia1
  • %Program Files%\Uniblue\RegistryBooster
  • %Application Data%\Uniblue
  • %User Temp%\mia{random characters}.tmp

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %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).. %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\lang.loc
  • %User Temp%\mia.tmp
  • %Common Programs%\Uniblue\RegistryBooster\Uninstall RegistryBooster.lnk
  • %Common Programs%\Uniblue\RegistryBooster\RegistryBooster.lnk
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Uniblue RegistryBooster.lnk
  • %Desktop%\Uniblue RegistryBooster.lnk
  • %W‌indows%\Tasks\RegistryBooster.job

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %Common Programs% is the folder that contains common program groups for all users, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.. %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It adds the following processes:

  • .\bm_installer.exe /m="{Malware Path}\{Malware Filename}.EXE" /k=""
  • %System%\taskkill.exe /F /IM RegistryBooster.exe
  • %System%\taskkill.exe /F /IM registrybooster.exe
  • %System%\taskkill.exe /F /IM rbmonitor.exe
  • %System%\taskkill.exe /F /IM rbnotifier.exe
  • %System%\taskkill.exe /F /IM move_serial.exe
  • %System%\taskkill.exe /F /IM rb_move_serial.exe
  • %System%\taskkill.exe /F /IM rb_track_install.exe
  • %Program Files%\Uniblue\RegistryBooster\rb_move_serial.exe
  • %Program Files%\Uniblue\RegistryBooster\rb_ubm.exe -i
  • %Program Files%\Uniblue\RegistryBooster\rbmonitor.exe -i
  • %Program Files%\Uniblue\RegistryBooster\Launcher.exe
  • %Program Files%\Uniblue\RegistryBooster\registrybooster.exe

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.. %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).)

Other System Modifications

This Potentially Unwanted Application adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
RegistryBooster = %Program Files%\uniblue\registrybooster\launcher.exe

Other Details

This Potentially Unwanted Application adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Uniblue

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MimarSinan

It connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://rb.{BLOCKED}e.com.s3.amazonaws.com/latest_updates/application.txt

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

It adds the following scheduled tasks:

  • Task Name: RegistryBooster
  • Task to be run: %Program Files%\uniblue\registrybooster\rbmonitor.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).)

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.800

SSAPI PATTERN File:

2.515.00

SSAPI PATTERN Date:

19 May 2022

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

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

Deleting Scheduled Tasks

The following {Task Name} - {Task to be run} listed should be used in the steps identified below:  

  • Task Name: RegistryBooster
  • Task to be run: %Program Files%\uniblue\registrybooster\rbmonitor.exe

For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:

  1. Open the Windows Scheduled Tasks. Click Start>Programs>Accessories>
    System Tools>Scheduled Tasks.
  2. Locate each {Task Name} values listed above in the Name column.
  3. Right-click on the said file(s) with the aforementioned value.
  4. Click on Properties. In the Run field, check for the listed {Task to be run}.
  5. If the strings match the list above, delete the task.

For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012:

  1. Open the Windows Task Scheduler. To do this:
    • On Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008, click Start, type taskschd.msc in the Search input field, then press Enter.
    • On Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, click Run, type taskschd.msc, then press Enter.
  2. In the left panel, click Task Scheduler Library.
  3. In the upper-middle panel, locate each {Task Name} values listed above in the Name column.
  4. In the lower-middle panel, click the Actions tab. In the Details column, check for the {Task to be run} string.
  5. If the said string is found, delete the task.

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • RegistryBooster = %Program Files%\uniblue\registrybooster\launcher.exe

Step 6

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.

  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Uniblue
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MimarSinan

Step 7

Search and delete this file

[ Learn More ]
There may be some 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.
  • %User Temp%\lang.loc
  • %User Temp%\mia.tmp
  • %Common Programs%\Uniblue\RegistryBooster\Uninstall RegistryBooster.lnk
  • %Common Programs%\Uniblue\RegistryBooster\RegistryBooster.lnk
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Uniblue RegistryBooster.lnk
  • %Desktop%\Uniblue RegistryBooster.lnk
  • %W‌indows%\Tasks\RegistryBooster.job

Step 8

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.
  • %User Temp%\mia1
  • %Program Files%\Uniblue\RegistryBooster
  • %Application Data%\Uniblue
  • %User Temp%\mia{random characters}.tmp

Step 9

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