SPYW_HIJACK

 Analysis by: Cris Nowell Pantanilla

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet

This spyware may arrive bundled with malware packages as a malware component.

It modifies the user's Internet Explorer home page into a certain website. This action allows the malware to point to a website which may contain malware, putting the affected computer at greater risk of malware infection.

It connects to certain websites to send and receive information.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

447,560 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

03 Oct 2012

Payload:

Collects information

Arrival Details

This spyware may arrive bundled with malware packages as a malware component.

It may be downloaded from the following remote sites:

  • http://{BLOCKED}55.vo.msecnd.net/snapdo-website-version/Smartbar.Installer.Mini.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}p.do

Installation

This spyware creates the following folders:

  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default
  • %Application Data%\SmartbarBar

(Note: %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.. %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Browser Infrastructure Helper = "%Application Data%\Smartbar\Application\SnapDo.exe startup"

Other System Modifications

This spyware adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\ApprovedExtensionsMigration
{AE07101B-46D4-4A98-AF68-0333EA26E113} =

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Search
Default_Search_URL = "http://search.snap.do/?q={searchTerms}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Search
SearchAssistant = "http://search.snap.do/?q={searchTerms}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\SearchScopes
DefaultScope = "{006ee092-9658-4fd6-bd8e-a21a348e59f5}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\TabbedBrowsing
ShowTabsWelcome = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\TabbedBrowsing
UseHomepageForNewTab = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\TabbedBrowsing
NewTabPageShow = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Search Bar = "http://search.snap.do/?q={searchTerms}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Use Search Asst = "yes"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\SearchUrl
Default = "http://search.snap.do/?q={searchTerms}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\SearchUrl
Default = "http://search.snap.do/?q={searchTerms}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Toolbar
{ae07101b-46d4-4a98-af68-0333ea26e113} = "Smartbar"

It adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\IESmartBar.BandObjectAttribute

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\IESmartBar.BHO

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\IESmartBar.DockingPanel

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\IESmartBar.IESmartBar

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\IESmartBar.IESmartBarBandObject

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\IESmartBar.SmartbarDisplayState

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\IESmartBar.SmartbarMenuForm

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Smartbar

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SmartbarBackup

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SmartbarLog

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Installer\Features\5A924A563B25F714ABA48100E97D69BE

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Installer\Products\5A924A563B25F714ABA48100E97D69BE

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Installer\UpgradeCodes\5E8031606EB60A64C882918F8FF38DD4

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{006ee092-9658-4fd6-bd8e-a21a348e59f5}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Browser Helper Objects\{31ad400d-1b06-4e33-a59a-90c2c140cba0}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{006ee092-9658-4fd6-bd8e-a21a348e59f5}

Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification

This spyware modifies the user's Internet Explorer home page to the following websites:

  • http://search.{BLOCKED}p.do/

Other Details

This spyware connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • {BLOCKED}55.vo.msecnd.net

NOTES:

It collects the following information (as decribed on their homepage Privacy policy):

  • The Internet domain and IP address from which users access the Resoft Products.
  • Screen resolution of the monitor.
  • The date and time users access the Resoft Products.
  • The page that users are visiting with the Resoft Products.
  • The address of the referring website users linked using Resoft website

It changes the home page as follows:

It also installs itself as a Browser Toolbar.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

SSAPI PATTERN File:

1.335.00

SSAPI PATTERN Date:

03 Oct 2012

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

Close all opened browser windows

Step 3

Remove SPYW_HIJACK by using its own Uninstall option

[ Learn More ]
To uninstall the grayware process

Step 4

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. %User Profile%\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default
%Application Data%\SmartbarBar

Step 5

Reset the Internet Explorer Home and Search pages

[ Learn More ]

Step 6

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