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ADW_SPROTECT.GB

March 03, 2015
 Analysis by: Jaime Benigno Reyes
 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Adware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This adware 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:

2,915,328 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

03 Mar 2015

Arrival Details

This adware 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 component file(s):

  • %Program Files%\LibraryProc\LibraryProc.dll - also detected as ADW_SPROTECT.GB

(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.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Program Files%\LibraryProc

(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.)

Autostart Technique

This adware registers its dropped component as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup. It does this by creating the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\a227ee20
Type = "16"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\a227ee20
Start = "2"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\a227ee20
ErrorControl = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\a227ee20
ImagePath = ""%System%\rundll32.exe" "%Program Files%\LibraryProc\LibraryProc.dll",serv"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\a227ee20
DisplayName = "LibraryProc"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\a227ee20
ObjectName = "LocalSystem"

It registers its dropped component as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup. It does this by creating the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\a227ee20

Other System Modifications

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
{12DA0E6F-5543-440C-BAA2-28BF01070AFA}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{12DA0E6F-5543-440C-BAA2-28BF01070AFA}{a227ee20}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{12A61307-94CD-4F8E-94BC-918E511FAA81}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{12DA0E6F-5543-440C-BAA2-28BF01070AFA}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{3A7D3E19-1B79-4E4E-BD96-5467DA2C4EF0}

It also creates the following registry entry(ies) as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
LoadAppInit_DLLs = "1"

Download Routine

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

  • http://{BLOCKED}hine.info/get/?data={random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}ine.net/get/?data={random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}ygood.net/get/?data={random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}dis.org/get/

As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

Other Details

This adware adds the following registry entries to add an uninstall option to the Control Panel:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{12DA0E6F-5543-440C-BAA2-28BF01070AFA}{a227ee20}
UninstallString = ""%System%\rundll32.exe" "%Program Files%\LibraryProc\LibraryProc.dll",_uninstall /un"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{12DA0E6F-5543-440C-BAA2-28BF01070AFA}{a227ee20}
QuietUninstallString = ""%System%\rundll32.exe" "%Program Files%\LibraryProc\LibraryProc.dll",_uninstall /un /uq"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{12DA0E6F-5543-440C-BAA2-28BF01070AFA}{a227ee20}
NoModify = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{12DA0E6F-5543-440C-BAA2-28BF01070AFA}{a227ee20}
NoRepair = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{12DA0E6F-5543-440C-BAA2-28BF01070AFA}{a227ee20}
Publisher = "Software Publisher"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{12DA0E6F-5543-440C-BAA2-28BF01070AFA}{a227ee20}
InstallDate = "{Installation date in YYYMMDD format}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{12DA0E6F-5543-440C-BAA2-28BF01070AFA}{a227ee20}
CategoryName = ""

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{12DA0E6F-5543-440C-BAA2-28BF01070AFA}{a227ee20}
DisplayName = "LibraryProc"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{12DA0E6F-5543-440C-BAA2-28BF01070AFA}{a227ee20}
Cache = "9428760297565573948"

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

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.700

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_SPROTECT.GB by using its own Uninstall option

[ Learn More ]
To uninstall the grayware process

Step 4

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. Before you could do this, you must restart in Safe Mode. For instructions on how to do this, you may refer to this page If the preceding step requires you to restart in safe mode, you may proceed to edit the system registry.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow
    • {12DA0E6F-5543-440C-BAA2-28BF01070AFA}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • {12A61307-94CD-4F8E-94BC-918E511FAA81}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • {12DA0E6F-5543-440C-BAA2-28BF01070AFA}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • {3A7D3E19-1B79-4E4E-BD96-5467DA2C4EF0}

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
    • LoadAppInit_DLLs = "1"

Step 6

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%\LibraryProc

Step 7

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