PUA.Win32.Pisphon.C
Windows
![](/vinfo/imgFiles/legend.jpg)
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
7,418,480 bytes
EXE
Yes
26 Feb 2020
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 adds the following processes:
- %User Temp%\psiphon-tunnel-core.exe %User Temp%\psiphon-tunnel-core.exe --config "%Application Data%\Psiphon3\psiphon.config" --serverList "%Application Data%\Psiphon3\server_list.dat"
- "%System Root%\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe" https://{BLOCKED}der.net/?{random characters}!psicash=eyJtZXRhZGF0YSI6eyJjbGllbnRfcmVnaW9uIjoiVVMiLCJjbGllbnRfdmVyc2lvbiI6IjE1MiIsInByb3BhZ2F0aW9uX2NoYW5uZWxfaWQiOiI5MkFBQ0M1QkFCRTA5NDRDIiwic3BvbnNvcl9pZCI6IjFCQzUyN0QzRDA5OTg1Q0YiLCJ1c2VyX2FnZW50IjoiUHNpcGhvbi1Qc2lDYXNoLVdpbmRvd3MifSwidG9rZW5zIjpudWxsLCJ2IjoxfQ
- %System%\DllHost.exe /Processid:{F9717507-6651-4EDB-BFF7-AE615179BCCF}
- %System%\svchost.exe -k netsvcs
- %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\mscorsvw.exe
- %System%\svchost.exe -k LocalServiceAndNoImpersonation
- %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\mscorsvw.exe
- %System%\sppsvc.exe
- "%System Root%\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe"
- "%Program Files%\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE" SCODEF:2136 CREDAT:275457 /prefetch:2
It creates the following folders:
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3\ca.psiphon.PsiphonTunnel.tunnel-core\osl
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3\psicash
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3\ca.psiphon.PsiphonTunnel.tunnel-core
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\DNTException
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\PrivacIE
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3\ca.psiphon.PsiphonTunnel.tunnel-core\datastore
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\IECompatCache
- %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DomainSuggestions
- %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Recovery\High\Active
- %Windows%\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService\AppData\Local\Microsoft
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3\ca.psiphon.PsiphonTunnel.tunnel-core\tapdance
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\IECompatUACache
(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(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %AppDataLocal% is the Local Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.)
Other System Modifications
This Potentially Unwanted Application deletes the following files:
- %AppDataLocal%Low\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Services\search_{0633EE93-D776-472f-A0FF-E1416B8B2E3A}.ico
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3\psiphon3.exe.upgrade
(Note: %AppDataLocal% is the Local Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Psiphon3
SkipProxySettings = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Psiphon3
SkipAutoConnect = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Psiphon3
NativeProxyInfo = "{proxies:[{bypass:,flags:9,name:,proxy:}]}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Psiphon3
UICookies = "{language:en}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Psiphon3
UICookies = "{random characters}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Psiphon3
PsiphonProxyInfo = "{random characters}"
It deletes the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Enum\UMB\UMB\
1&841921d&0&PrinterBusEnumerator\CustomPropertyHwIdKey
Dropping Routine
This Potentially Unwanted Application drops the following files:
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3\psiphon.config
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3\server_list.dat
- %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Recovery\High\Active\RecoveryStore.{E4E0D2D3-F9A0-11E9-8842-005056BC2F1C}.dat
- %All Users Profile%\Microsoft\Windows\DRM\drmstore.hds
- %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Media Player\CurrentDatabase_372.wmdb
- %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Recovery\High\Active\{E4E0D2D5-F9A0-11E9-8842-005056BC2F1C}.dat
- %All Users Profile%\Microsoft\Windows\DRM\v3ks.sec
- %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Recovery\High\Active\{EBC64DE5-F9A0-11E9-8842-005056BC2F1C}.dat
- %User Temp%\psiphon-tunnel-core.exe
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3\ca.psiphon.PsiphonTunnel.tunnel-core\datastore\psiphon.boltdb
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3\psicash\psicashdatastore.prod.commit
- %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DomainSuggestions\en-US.6
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3\psicash\psicashdatastore.prod
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3\ca.psiphon.PsiphonTunnel.tunnel-core\migration_complete
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3\psicash\psicashdatastore.prod.temp
- %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MSIMGSIZ.DAT
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3\ca.psiphon.PsiphonTunnel.tunnel-core\datastore\psiphon.boltdb.lock
Other Details
This Potentially Unwanted Application connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- {BLOCKED}.157.244
- {BLOCKED}.94.34
- {BLOCKED}.55.87
- {BLOCKED}.193.34
- {BLOCKED}1.196.158
- {BLOCKED}8.105.29
- {BLOCKED}6.107.75
- {BLOCKED}6.27.163
- {BLOCKED}5.84.114
- {BLOCKED}9.114.77
- {BLOCKED}.155.190
- {BLOCKED}.152.190
This report is generated via an automated analysis system.
SOLUTION
9.850
Step 1
Before doing any scans, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.
Step 2
Identify and terminate files detected as PUA.Win32.Pisphon.C
- 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.
- 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.
- If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.
Step 3
Delete this registry value
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\Psiphon3
- SkipProxySettings = "0"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Psiphon3
- SkipAutoConnect = "0"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Psiphon3
- NativeProxyInfo = "{proxies:[{bypass:,flags:9,name:,proxy:}]}"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Psiphon3
- UICookies = "{language:en}"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Psiphon3
- UICookies = "{random characters}"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Psiphon3
- PsiphonProxyInfo = "{random characters}"
Step 4
Search and delete these components
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3\psiphon.config
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3\server_list.dat
- %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Recovery\High\Active\RecoveryStore.{E4E0D2D3-F9A0-11E9-8842-005056BC2F1C}.dat
- %All Users Profile%\Microsoft\Windows\DRM\drmstore.hds
- %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Media Player\CurrentDatabase_372.wmdb
- %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Recovery\High\Active\{E4E0D2D5-F9A0-11E9-8842-005056BC2F1C}.dat
- %All Users Profile%\Microsoft\Windows\DRM\v3ks.sec
- %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Recovery\High\Active\{EBC64DE5-F9A0-11E9-8842-005056BC2F1C}.dat
- %User Temp%\psiphon-tunnel-core.exe
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3\ca.psiphon.PsiphonTunnel.tunnel-core\datastore\psiphon.boltdb
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3\psicash\psicashdatastore.prod.commit
- %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DomainSuggestions\en-US.6
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3\psicash\psicashdatastore.prod
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3\ca.psiphon.PsiphonTunnel.tunnel-core\migration_complete
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3\psicash\psicashdatastore.prod.temp
- %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MSIMGSIZ.DAT
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3\ca.psiphon.PsiphonTunnel.tunnel-core\datastore\psiphon.boltdb.lock
Step 5
Search and delete these folders
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3\ca.psiphon.PsiphonTunnel.tunnel-core\osl
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3\psicash
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3\ca.psiphon.PsiphonTunnel.tunnel-core
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\DNTException
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\PrivacIE
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3\ca.psiphon.PsiphonTunnel.tunnel-core\datastore
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\IECompatCache
- %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DomainSuggestions
- %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Recovery\High\Active
- %Windows%\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService\AppData\Local\Microsoft
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3\ca.psiphon.PsiphonTunnel.tunnel-core\tapdance
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\IECompatUACache
Step 6
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as PUA.Win32.Pisphon.C. 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 7
Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.
- %AppDataLocal%Low\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Services\search_{0633EE93-D776-472f-A0FF-E1416B8B2E3A}.ico
- %Application Data%\Psiphon3\psiphon3.exe.upgrade
Step 8
Restore these deleted registry keys/values from backup
*Note: Only Microsoft-related keys/values will be restored. If the malware/grayware also deleted registry keys/values related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on your computer.
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\UMB\UMB\1&841921d&0&PrinterBusEnumerator
- CustomPropertyHwIdKey
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