Analysis by: Karl Dominguez

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Adware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This adware may be dropped by other malware.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: Varies
File Type: DLL
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 02 Nov 2009

NOTES:

Arrival Details

This adware may be dropped by other malware.

Autostart Technique

This adware adds the following registry keys to install itself as a Browser Helper Object (BHO):

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID
{DC888631-57F5-4AF4-86B3-BDE5F854DCBF} =

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface
{5ECDAA08-B706-41C6-8F09-C69D1C45C66A} =

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
PWFlash.PowerFlash =

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
PWFlash.PowerFlash.1 =

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Browser Helper Objects
{DC888631-57F5-4AF4-86B3-BDE5F854DCBF} =

Other System Modifications

This adware adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PWFlash.PowerFlash
(Default) = PowerFlash Class

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PWFlash.PowerFlash.1
(Default) = PowerFlash Class

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PWFlash.PowerFlash.1\CLSID
(Default) = {DC888631-57F5-4AF4-86B3-BDE5F854DCBF}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PWFlash.PowerFlash\CurVer
(Default) = PWFlash.PowerFlash.1

Other Details

Based on analysis of the codes, it has the following capabilities:

  • It may monitor the browsing activities of the affected system and redirect to other URLs to display advertisements or boost hit count.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 8.900
VSAPI PATTERN File: 0.859.00
VSAPI PATTERN Date: 25 Nov 2009
VSAPI PATTERN Date: 11/25/2009 12:00:00 AM

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

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as ADW_AUTORUN

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects
    • {DC888631-57F5-4AF4-86B3-BDE5F854DCBF}
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID
    • {DC888631-57F5-4AF4-86B3-BDE5F854DCBF}
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface
    • {5ECDAA08-B706-41C6-8F09-C69D1C45C66A}
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
    • PWFlash.PowerFlash
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
    • PWFlash.PowerFlash.1
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib
    • {C3F4AE31-32C0-4D31-A90C-7B774CA8683D}

Step 5

Search and delete the file detected as ADW_AUTORUN

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden files in the search result.

Step 6

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


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.