Analysis by: RonJay Kristoffer Caragay

ALIASES:

PUP.Optional.RightSurf.A (Malwarebytes); Win32/BrowseFox.C potentially unwanted (ESET-NOD32); Adware/BrowseFox.apk (Avira); NSIS:BrowseFox-D [PUP] (Avast)

 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: Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware

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 arrives as a component bundled with malware/grayware packages.

It does not have any propagation routine.

It does not have any backdoor routine.

It modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

It connects to certain websites to send and receive information.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 231,744 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 26 Feb 2015
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs

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 arrives as a component bundled with malware/grayware packages.

It may be downloaded from the following remote site(s):

  • http://install.{BLOCKED}tsurf.info/sd?is=is

Installation

This adware drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\ilg
  • %User Temp%\ns{random 1}.tmp\inetc.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random 1}.tmp\IpConfig.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random 1}.tmp\nsExec.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random 1}.tmp\ns{random}.tmp
  • %User Temp%\ns{random 1}.tmp\NSISEncrypt.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random 1}.tmp\nsJSON.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random 1}.tmp\System.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random 1}.tmp\UserInfo.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random 1}.tmp\WmiInspector.dll
  • %User Temp%\RightSurf\lm
  • %User Temp%\RightSurf\mj
  • %User Temp%\RightSurf\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.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %User Temp%\ns{random 1}.tmp
  • %User Temp%\RightSurf

(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.)

Propagation

This adware does not have any propagation routine.

Backdoor Routine

This adware does not have any backdoor routine.

Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification

This adware modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

Information Theft

This adware gathers the following data:

  • User Name
  • Account Name
  • Host Name
  • MAC Address
  • CPU Information
  • System Information
  • OS Version
  • SQL Version
  • AntiVirus Information
  • Firewall Information

Other Details

This adware connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • http://install.{BLOCKED}htsurf.info/mg?alpha={random value}
  • http://install.{BLOCKED}htsurf.info/fp?alpha={random value}
  • http://install.{BLOCKED}htsurf.info/ii?alpha={random value}
  • http://install.{BLOCKED}htsurf.info/if?alpha={random value}

NOTES:

It checks if it is running in a a virtual environment.

Right Surf works on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Torch Browser and Internet Explorer as an add-on.

It searches the web for deals to find best prices which can be displayed through pop-ups. It also displays ads.

It does not have rootkit capabilities.

It does not exploit any vulnerability.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.750
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 1.604.10
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 05 Mar 2015
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 1.605.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 13 Mar 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

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.
  • %User Temp%\ilg
  • %User Temp%\ns{random 1}.tmp\inetc.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random 1}.tmp\IpConfig.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random 1}.tmp\nsExec.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random 1}.tmp\ns{random}.tmp
  • %User Temp%\ns{random 1}.tmp\NSISEncrypt.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random 1}.tmp\nsJSON.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random 1}.tmp\System.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random 1}.tmp\UserInfo.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random 1}.tmp\WmiInspector.dll
  • %User Temp%\RightSurf\lm
  • %User Temp%\RightSurf\mj
  • %User Temp%\RightSurf\tlg

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.
  • %User Temp%\ns{random 1}.tmp
  • %User Temp%\RightSurf

Step 5

Reset Internet security settings

[ Learn More ]

Step 6

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