ADWARE.WIN32.OPENCANDY.GE

December 15, 2018
 Analysis by: Kiyoshi Obuchi
 ALIASES:

Downloader.Win32.OpenCandy.db (Kaspersky), AdWare.OpenCandy (VBA32)

 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. It may be manually installed by a user.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

69,734,576 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Initial Samples Received Date:

01 Mar 2014

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.

It may be manually installed by a user.

Installation

This Potentially Unwanted Application drops the following files:

  • %Application Data%\pdfforge\Images2PDF\is-{Random Characters}.tmp
  • %Common Programs\PDFCreator\Donate PDFCreator.lnk
  • %Common Programs\PDFCreator\History.lnk
  • %Common Programs\PDFCreator\Images2PDF\Images2PDF Console Application.lnk
  • %Common Programs\PDFCreator\Images2PDF\Images2PDF.lnk
  • %Common Programs\PDFCreator\Licenses\AFPL License.lnk
  • %Common Programs\PDFCreator\Licenses\FairPlay License.lnk
  • %Common Programs\PDFCreator\Licenses\GPL License.lnk
  • %Common Programs\PDFCreator\PDFCreator Help.lnk
  • %Common Programs\PDFCreator\PDFCreator on the Web.lnk
  • %Common Programs\PDFCreator\PDFCreator.lnk
  • %Common Programs\PDFCreator\Translation Tool.lnk
  • %Desktop%\PDFCreator.lnk
  • %Program Files%\PDFCreator\COM\Dot Net\VS2005\C#\Sample1\is-{Random Characters}.tmp
  • %Program Files%\PDFCreator\COM\Dot Net\VS2005\C#\Sample2\is-{Random Characters}.tmp
  • %Program Files%\PDFCreator\COM\Dot Net\VS2005\Visual Basic\Sample1\is-{Random Characters}.tmp
  • %Program Files%\PDFCreator\COM\Dot Net\VS2005\Visual Basic\Sample2\is-{Random Characters}.tmp
  • %Program Files%\PDFCreator\COM\DOTNET Scripting Host\is-{Random Characters}.tmp
  • %Program Files%\PDFCreator\COM\MS Office\is-{Random Characters}.tmp
  • %Program Files%\PDFCreator\COM\Perl\is-{Random Characters}.tmp
  • %Program Files%\PDFCreator\COM\Python\is-{Random Characters}.tmp
  • %Program Files%\PDFCreator\COM\Ruby\is-{Random Characters}.tmp
  • %Program Files%\PDFCreator\COM\VB6\Sample1\is-{Random Characters}.tmp
  • %Program Files%\PDFCreator\COM\VB6\Sample2\is-{Random Characters}.tmp
  • %Program Files%\PDFCreator\COM\WinBatch\is-{Random Characters}.tmp
  • %Program Files%\PDFCreator\COM\Windows Scripting Host\JScripts\is-{Random Characters}.tmp
  • %Program Files%\PDFCreator\COM\Windows Scripting Host\VBScripts\is-{Random Characters}.tmp
  • %Program Files%\PDFCreator\Donate PDFCreator.url
  • %Program Files%\PDFCreator\GS9.10\gs9.10\Bin\is-{Random Characters}.tmp
  • %Program Files%\PDFCreator\GS9.10\gs9.10\Lib\is-{Random Characters}.tmp
  • %Program Files%\PDFCreator\Images2PDF\is-{Random Characters}.tmp
  • %Program Files%\PDFCreator\Images2PDF\Languages\is-{Random Characters}.tmp
  • %Program Files%\PDFCreator\is-{Random Characters}.tmp
  • %Program Files%\PDFCreator\languages\is-{Random Characters}.tmp
  • %Program Files%\PDFCreator\PDFCreator.url
  • %Program Files%\PDFCreator\PlugIns\pdfforge\is-{Random Characters}.tmp
  • %Program Files%\PDFCreator\Scripts\RunProgramAfterSaving\is-{Random Characters}.tmp
  • %Program Files%\PDFCreator\Scripts\RunProgramBeforeSaving\is-{Random Characters}.tmp
  • %Program Files%\PDFCreator\SetupLog.txt
  • %Program Files%\PDFCreator\unins000.dat
  • %System%\is-{Random Characters}.tmp
  • %System%\spool\drivers\w32x86\is-{Random Characters}.tmp
  • %User Temp%\is-{Random Characters}.tmp
  • %User Temp%\is-{Random Characters}.tmp\_isetup\_shfoldr.dll
  • %User Temp%\is-{Random Characters}.tmp\CheckInstalledPDFCreator.exe
  • %User Temp%\is-{Random Characters}.tmp\CheckInstalledPDFCreator.ini
  • %User Temp%\is-{Random Characters}.tmp\DownloadUpdateInfo.exe
  • %User Temp%\is-{Random Characters}.tmp\InstallCheck.exe
  • %User Temp%\is-{Random Characters}.tmp\installCheck.txt
  • %User Temp%\is-{Random Characters}.tmp\itdownload.dll
  • %User Temp%\is-{Random Characters}.tmp\OCSetupHlp.dll
  • %User Temp%\is-{Random Characters}.tmp\PDF_Architect_Setup_1.1.83.9982.msi
  • %User Temp%\is-{Random Characters}.tmp\PDFArchitectAd2_english.bmp
  • %User Temp%\is-{Random Characters}.tmp\PDFArchitectAd3_english.bmp
  • %User Temp%\is-{Random Characters}.tmp\Program license - english - OC.rtf
  • %User Temp%\is-{Random Characters}.tmp\update-info.txt

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.. %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), 7 (32-bit), and 8 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), 7 (64-bit), and 8 (64-bit).. %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.. %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

Other System Modifications

This Potentially Unwanted Application adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Printers\DevModePerUser

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Printers\DevModes2

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PDFCreator.net\
Program

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PDFCreator.net\
Settings\ApplicationSettings

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
.Images2PDF

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
pdfforge Images2PDF

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
pdfforge Images2PDF\DefaultIcon

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
pdfforge Images2PDF\shell\open\
command

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PDF Architect 2\
Links

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
PDFCreatorBeta.PDFCreatorObj

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
pdfforge.PDFCreator.COM.Printers

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
PDFCreatorBeta.JobQueue

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Control\Print\Monitors\
pdfcmon

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PDF Architect 3\
Installation

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Printers\DevModePerUser
PDFCreator = "{Hex Values}""

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Printers\DevModes2
PDFCreator = "{Hex Values}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PDFCreator.net\
Program
ApplicationPath = "%Program Files%\PDFCreator"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PDFCreator.net\
Settings\ApplicationSettings
Language = "English"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
.Images2PDF
{default} = "pdfforge Images2PDF"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
pdfforge Images2PDF
{default} = "Images2PDF"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
pdfforge Images2PDF\DefaultIcon
{default} = "%Program Files%\PDFCreator\Images2PDF\Images2PDF.EXE,0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
pdfforge Images2PDF\shell\open\
command
{default} = ""%Program Files%\PDFCreator\Images2PDF\Images2PDF.EXE" "%1""

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PDF Architect 2\
Links
cmp = "default"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PDF Architect 2\
Links
DOWNLOAD_LINK = "download20.pdfarchitect.org/module/"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PDF Architect 2\
Links
key1 = "default"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PDF Architect 2\
Links
key2 = "{date installed}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PDF Architect 2\
Links
params = "partner=default&uid={value}&ref=pdfarchitect.org&cmp=default&key1=default&key2={value}&mkey1=default"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PDF Architect 2\
Links
partner = "default"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PDF Architect 2\
Links
ref = "pdfarchitect.org"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PDF Architect 2\
Links
uid = "1006694"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
PDFCreatorBeta.PDFCreatorObj
{default} = "pdfforge.PDFCreator.COM.PdfCreatorObj"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
pdfforge.PDFCreator.COM.Printers
{default} = "pdfforge.PDFCreator.COM.Printers"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
PDFCreatorBeta.JobQueue
{default} = "pdfforge.PDFCreator.COM.Queue"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Control\Print\Monitors\
pdfcmon
PdfCreator = "%Program Files%\PDFCreator\PDFCreator.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Control\Print\Monitors\
pdfcmon
Port = "pdfcmon"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PDF Architect 3\
Installation
INSTALL_FOLDER = "%Program Files%\PDF Architect 3"

Other Details

This Potentially Unwanted Application connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}e.{BLOCKED}ge.org/pdfcreator/update-info.txt
  • http://{BLOCKED}i.{BLOCKED}ndy.com?bn=3&bv=8.00.7600.16385&clientv=39&cltzone=480&language=en,en&method=get_offers&mstime=0.234&os=WIN6.1SP1&product_key=7d67cf9935f4cbddba0b4f49e75e9618&v=1.0&signature=9d10d8b8f90730c63945366216659055
  • http://{BLOCKED}i.{BLOCKED}ndy.com?bn=3&bv=8.00.7600.16385&clientv=39&cltzone=480&language=en,en&method=get_offers&mstime=0.327&os=WIN6.1SP1&product_key=972f5c2ecbdee5b727d7df4850543f29&v=1.0&signature=d2dac9ad041499b9301b987c4973e02a
  • http://{BLOCKED}t.{BLOCKED}ge.org/check.php?product=1&version=1.7.2&ud=0&lang=en&b=2&d=0
  • http://{BLOCKED}i.{BLOCKED}ndy.com?clientv=39&method=track_product_installed&mstime=176.172&product_key=7d67cf9935f4cbddba0b4f49e75e9618&v=1.0&signature=1fb79cdeedb7671e4cd5a023ee060c1d
  • http://{BLOCKED}i.{BLOCKED}ndy.com?clientv=39&method=track_product_installed&mstime=176.265&product_key=972f5c2ecbdee5b727d7df4850543f29&v=1.0&signature=bbbf18aeb96f3155b4f3250a327f9ef7

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

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 ADWARE.WIN32.OPENCANDY.GE

[ 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

Remove ADWARE.WIN32.OPENCANDY.GE by using its own Uninstall option

[ Learn More ]
To uninstall the grayware processDATA_GENERIC
  • Click on Remove or Uninstall depending on the currently running Windows version.
  • Follow the instructions on the dialog box that appears.
  • Close the Programs window, and the Control Panel window.

    • Step 5

    Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as ADWARE.WIN32.OPENCANDY.GE . 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 the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:

    Step 6

    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. DATA_GENERIC
  • In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer then press Enter.
  • Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
    *Note: The file name input box title varies depending on the Windows version (e.g. Search for files or folders named or All or part of the file name.).

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

    1. Open a Windows Explorer window.
      • For Windows Vista, 7, and Server 2008 users, click Start>Computer.
      • For Windows 8, 8.1, and Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, then click File Explorer.
    2. In the Search Computer/This PC input box, type:
      DATA_GENERIC
    3. Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
      *Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7.


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