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ADW_BROWFOX

June 02, 2015
 Analysis by: RonJay Kristoffer Caragay
 ALIASES:

BrowseFox (McAfee); PUA.BrowseFox (Ikarus); Win32/BrowseFox.Q (ESET-NOD32)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Adware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Dropped by other malware, Downloaded from the Internet


This adware may arrive bundled with malware packages as a malware component. It 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.

As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

It comes with an uninstall package that completely removes the files it dropped and the registries it created.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

varies bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

22 Dec 2014

Payload:

Downloads files

Arrival Details

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

It 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 adware drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\ilg
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\inetc.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\IpConfig.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\modern-wizard.bmp
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\nsDialogs.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\NSISEncrypt.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\nsJSON.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\System.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\UserInfo.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\version.dll
  • %Program Files%\Spring Smart\ifs
  • %Program Files%\Spring Smart\ifs
  • %Program Files%\Spring Smart\mj
  • %Program Files%\Spring Smart\mj
  • %Program Files%\Spring Smart\tlg

(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.. %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 creates the following folders:

  • %Program Files%\Spring Smart
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp

(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.. %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.)

Download Routine

This adware connects to the following URL(s) to download its component file(s):

  • http://{BLOCKED}l.springsmart.net/if?alpha={random values}
  • http://{BLOCKED}l.springsmart.net/ii?alpha={random values}
  • http://{BLOCKED}l.springsmart.net/mg?alpha={random values}
  • http://{BLOCKED}smart.net/

As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

Other Details

This adware comes with an uninstall package that completely removes the files it dropped and the registries it added.

NOTES:

This adware is an installer package which downloads and install Spring Smart.

Spring Smart is an adware which displays ads through pop-ups.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.700

SSAPI PATTERN File:

1.577.00

SSAPI PATTERN Date:

25 Dec 2014

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

Remove ADW_BROWFOX 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.  
  • %Program Files%\Spring Smart
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp

Step 5

Search and delete these files

[ 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%\ilg
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\inetc.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\IpConfig.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\modern-wizard.bmp
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\nsDialogs.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\NSISEncrypt.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\nsJSON.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\System.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\UserInfo.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\version.dll
  • %Program Files%\Spring Smart\ifs
  • %Program Files%\Spring Smart\ifs
  • %Program Files%\Spring Smart\mj
  • %Program Files%\Spring Smart\mj
  • %Program Files%\Spring Smart\tlg

Step 6

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