PUA_INSTALLREX.GA

 Analysis by: Donald Adrian Castillo

 ALIASES:

SoftwareBundler:Win32/InstalleRex (MICROSOFT), a variant of Win32/Adware.MultiPlug.NG application (NOD32)

 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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

223, 232 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

06 Aug 2015

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 creates the following folders:

  • %Program Data%\{GUID}
  • %Program Files%\NiceOfFeers
  • %Temp%\{random folder name}\images
  • %Program Data%\{random folder name}

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

Other System Modifications

This potentially unwanted application adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\WebApp\
Styles
MaxScriptStatements = "dword:ffffffff"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
TypeLib\{157B1AA6-3E5C-404A-9118-C1D91F537040}\1.0
Default = "JSIELib"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
TypeLib\{157B1AA6-3E5C-404A-9118-C1D91F537040}\1.0\
0\win32
Default = "%TEMP%\{random folder name}\temp\{random filename}.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
TypeLib\{157B1AA6-3E5C-404A-9118-C1D91F537040}\1.0\
FLAGS
Default = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
TypeLib\{157B1AA6-3E5C-404A-9118-C1D91F537040}\1.0\
HELPDIR
Default = "{Grayware path}\{Grayware name}.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
Interface\{3B3F3AAD-FB97-49FF-BFEE-D22869AC4326}
Default = "ITinyJSObject"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
Interface\{3B3F3AAD-FB97-49FF-BFEE-D22869AC4326}\ProxyStubClsid32
Default = "{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
Interface\{3B3F3AAD-FB97-49FF-BFEE-D22869AC4326}\TypeLib
Default = "{157B1AA6-3E5C-404A-9118-C1D91F537040}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
Interface\{3B3F3AAD-FB97-49FF-BFEE-D22869AC4326}\TypeLib
Version = "1.0"

Dropping Routine

This potentially unwanted application drops the following files:

  • %Program Files%\NiceOfFeers\{random filename}.dat
  • %Program Files%\NiceOfFeers\{random filename}.dll
  • %Program Files%\NiceOfFeers\{random filename}.exe
  • %Program Files%\NiceOfFeers\{random filename}.tlb
  • %Temp%\{random folder name}\images\task.ini
  • %Temp%\{random folder name}\images\bg.ca.part
  • %Temp%\{random folder name}\images\loader.gif
  • %Temp%\{random folder name}\images\progressbar.gif
  • %Temp%\{random folder name}\images\{Grayware name}.exe
  • %Program Data%\{GUID}\{Grayware name}.dat
  • %Program Data%\{GUID}\{Grayware name}.exe
  • %Program Data%\{random folder name}\{random filename}.ini

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

Other Details

This potentially unwanted application connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}north.biz
  • http://{BLOCKED}1.{BLOCKED}ad2.biz
  • http://{BLOCKED}outh.link
  • http://{BLOCKED}1.{BLOCKED}-love.space
  • http://{BLOCKED}tion-games.work
  • http://{BLOCKED}tion-games.info
  • http://{BLOCKED}tion-games.space

NOTES:
This potentially unwanted application drops the following files to enable its execution at every system startup:

  • %Windows%\Tasks\TeaGuide.job

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.750

SSAPI PATTERN File:

1.640.00

SSAPI PATTERN Date:

07 Aug 2015

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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\WebApp\Styles
    • MaxScriptStatements = "dword:ffffffff"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\TypeLib\{157B1AA6-3E5C-404A-9118-C1D91F537040}\1.0
    • Default = "JSIELib"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\TypeLib\{157B1AA6-3E5C-404A-9118-C1D91F537040}\1.0\0\win32
    • Default = "%TEMP%\{random folder name}\temp\{random filename}.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\TypeLib\{157B1AA6-3E5C-404A-9118-C1D91F537040}\1.0\FLAGS
    • Default = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\TypeLib\{157B1AA6-3E5C-404A-9118-C1D91F537040}\1.0\HELPDIR
    • Default = "{Grayware path}\{Grayware name}.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Interface\{3B3F3AAD-FB97-49FF-BFEE-D22869AC4326}
    • Default = "ITinyJSObject"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Interface\{3B3F3AAD-FB97-49FF-BFEE-D22869AC4326}\ProxyStubClsid32
    • Default = "{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Interface\{3B3F3AAD-FB97-49FF-BFEE-D22869AC4326}\TypeLib
    • Default = "{157B1AA6-3E5C-404A-9118-C1D91F537040}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Interface\{3B3F3AAD-FB97-49FF-BFEE-D22869AC4326}\TypeLib
    • Version = "1.0"

Step 5

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 Data%\{GUID}
  • %Program Files%\NiceOfFeers
  • %Temp%\{random folder name}\images
  • %Program Data%\{random folder name}

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.
  • %Program Files%\NiceOfFeers\{random filename}.dat
  • %Program Files%\NiceOfFeers\{random filename}.dll
  • %Program Files%\NiceOfFeers\{random filename}.exe
  • %Program Files%\NiceOfFeers\{random filename}.tlb
  • %Temp%\{random folder name}\images\task.ini
  • %Temp%\{random folder name}\images\bg.ca.part
  • %Temp%\{random folder name}\images\loader.gif
  • %Temp%\{random folder name}\images\progressbar.gif
  • %Temp%\{random folder name}\images\{Grayware name}.exe
  • %Program Data%\{GUID}\{Grayware name}.dat
  • %Program Data%\{GUID}\{Grayware name}.exe
  • %Program Data%\{random folder name}\{random filename}.ini
  • %Windows%\Tasks\TeaGuide.job

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as PUA_INSTALLREX.GA. 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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