ADW_DELTA

December 09, 2014

Analysis by: Nikko Tamana

PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)

OVERALL RISK RATING:

REPORTED INFECTION:

SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:

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.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 1,953,504 bytes

File Type: EXE

Memory Resident: No

Initial Samples Received Date: 20 May 2013

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.

Installation

This adware drops the following file(s)/component(s):

%Application Data%\Delta\sqlite3.dll
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\searchplugins\delta.xml
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\user.js
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\components\FFDisp.dll
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\delta.css
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\delta.xul
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\dpk.htm
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\hlprs.js
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\arwDwn.gif
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\closeo.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs\ae.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs\bg.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs\ch.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs\cn.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs\cz.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs\de.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs\eg.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs\en.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs\es.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs\fr.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs\gr.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs\he.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs\il.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs\it.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs\ja.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs\jp.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs\nl.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs\no.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs\pl.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs\pt.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs\ro.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs\ru.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs\sa.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs\se.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs\sv.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs\tr.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs\ua.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs\us.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\help_16.gif
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\home.gif
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\icon_seperator.png
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\logo.PNG
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\privecy_16_hot.gif
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\sign.jpg
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\specialoffer.gif
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\tellafriend.gif
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\uninstall.gif
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\loader.xul
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\mtstart.js
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\serp.js
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\tmplt.js
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\install.rdf
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\META-INF\manifest.mf
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\META-INF\zigbert.rsa
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\META-INF\zigbert.sf
%Cookies%\{User name}@reports[1].txt
%User Temp%\nsaC.tmp\Time.dll 11KB A 5/20/2013 7:35:44 PM
%User Temp%\nst8.tmp\Time.dll 11KB A 5/20/2013 7:35:43 PM
%User Temp%\nswE.tmp\Time.dll 11KB A 5/20/2013 7:35:44 PM
%Program Files%\Delta\delta\1.8.16.16\bh\delta.dll
%Program Files%\Delta\delta\1.8.16.16\deltaApp.dll
%Program Files%\Delta\delta\1.8.16.16\deltaEng.dll
%Program Files%\Delta\delta\1.8.16.16\deltasrv.exe
%Program Files%\Delta\delta\1.8.16.16\deltaTlbr.dll
%Program Files%\Delta\delta\1.8.16.16\escortShld.dll
%Program Files%\Delta\delta\1.8.16.16\uninstall.exe

It creates the following folders:

%Application Data%\Delta
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\searchplugins
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\chrome.manifest 1KB A 11/2/2012 6:37:20 AM
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\components 1KB D 1/1/1601 8:00:00 AM
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\META-INF
%User Temp%\mt_ffx
%User Temp%\mt_ffx\Delta
%User Temp%\mt_ffx\Delta\delta
%User Temp%\mt_ffx\Delta\delta\1.8.16.16
%Program Files%\Delta
%Program Files%\Delta\delta
%Program Files%\Delta\delta\1.8.16.16
%Program Files%\Delta\delta\1.8.16.16\bh

Autostart Technique

This adware registers itself as a BHO to ensure its automatic execution every time Internet Explorer is used by adding the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Browser Helper Objects\{GUID}

It adds the following registry entries to install itself as a Browser Helper Object (BHO):

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Browser Helper Objects\{GUID}
{Default} = "delta Helper Object"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Browser Helper Objects\{GUID}
NoExplorer = "1"

Other System Modifications

This adware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID\{GUID}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
AppID\{GUID}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Delta

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Delta\
delta

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Delta

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Delta\
delta

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Delta\
delta\Instl

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Low Rights\ElevationPolicy\
{GUID}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
delta

It adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Delta\
delta
tlbrSrchUrl = ""

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Delta\
delta
lastB = "about:blank"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Delta\
delta\Instl
InstallDir = "%Program Files%\Delta\delta\1.8.16.16"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Low Rights\ElevationPolicy\
{GUID}
Policy = "3"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Low Rights\ElevationPolicy\
{GUID}
AppName = "deltasrv.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Low Rights\ElevationPolicy\
{GUID}
AppPath = "%Program Files%\Delta\delta\1.8.16.16"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Toolbar
{GUID} = "Delta Toolbar"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
delta
DisplayName = "Delta toolbar "

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
delta
UninstallString = ""%Program Files%\Delta\delta\1.8.16.16\uninstall.exe""

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
delta
DisplayIcon = ""%Program Files%\Delta\delta\1.8.16.16\deltasrv.exe""

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
delta
DisplayVersion = "1.8.16.16"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
delta
Comments = "Delta toolbar "

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
delta
Publisher = "Delta"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
delta
NoModify = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
delta
NoRepair = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
delta
EstimatedSize = "9c4"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Control\Session Manager
PendingFileRenameOperations = "\??\%User Temp%\nswE.tmp\Time.dll"

Other Details

This adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

http://reports.{BLOCKED}ra.com/reports/jsRprt.srf?rid=nsis&nsisState=0&prdct=delta&tlbrId=base&aflt=orgnl&vrsn=1.8.16.16&instlRef=&hardId=b0b2d6e3000000000000000c296817cc&hostApp=IE&smplGrp=none&bho=0&tlbr=0&ie=6.0.2900.5512&ffx=3.6.8%20(en-US)&os=5.1&hp=&ds=&nt=&

SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.300

SSAPI PATTERN File: 1.401.00

SSAPI PATTERN Date: 21 May 2013

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

Close all opened browser windows

Step 4

Remove ADW_DELTA by using its own Uninstall option

[ Learn More ]

To uninstall the grayware process

Step 5

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.

In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID
- {GUID}
In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\AppID
- {GUID}

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.

%Application Data%\Delta
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\searchplugins
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\components
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\META-INF
%User Temp%\mt_ffx
%User Temp%\mt_ffx\Delta
%User Temp%\mt_ffx\Delta\delta
%User Temp%\mt_ffx\Delta\delta\1.8.16.16
%Program Files%\Delta
%Program Files%\Delta\delta
%Program Files%\Delta\delta\1.8.16.16
%Program Files%\Delta\delta\1.8.16.16\bh

To delete folders created that this malware/grayware created:

For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:

Right-click Start then click Search....
In the File name* input box, type any of the following:
%Application Data%\Delta
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\searchplugins
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\components
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\META-INF
%User Temp%\mt_ffx
%User Temp%\mt_ffx\Delta
%User Temp%\mt_ffx\Delta\delta
%User Temp%\mt_ffx\Delta\delta\1.8.16.16
%Program Files%\Delta
%Program Files%\Delta\delta
%Program Files%\Delta\delta\1.8.16.16
%Program Files%\Delta\delta\1.8.16.16\bh
In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer then press Enter.
Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
Repeat steps above for the remaining folders.
*Note: The file name input box title varies depending on the Windows version (e.g. Search for files or folders named or All or part of the file name.).

For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012:

Open a Windows Explorer window.
- For Windows Vista, 7, and Server 2008 users, click Start>Computer.
- For Windows 8, 8.1, and Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen,then click File Explorer.
In the Search Computer/This PC input box, type:
%Application Data%\Delta
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\searchplugins
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\components
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\content\imgs\flgs
%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\ffxtlbr@delta.com\META-INF
%User Temp%\mt_ffx
%User Temp%\mt_ffx\Delta
%User Temp%\mt_ffx\Delta\delta
%User Temp%\mt_ffx\Delta\delta\1.8.16.16
%Program Files%\Delta
%Program Files%\Delta\delta
%Program Files%\Delta\delta\1.8.16.16
%Program Files%\Delta\delta\1.8.16.16\bh
Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
Repeat steps above for the remaining folders.
*Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7.

Step 7

Search and delete these files

[ 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.

%Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\user.js
%Cookies%\{User name}@reports[2].txt
%User Temp%\nsaC.tmp\Time.dll
%User Temp%\nst8.tmp\Time.dll
%User Temp%\nswE.tmp\Time.dll
%User Temp%\~nsu.tmp\Au_.exe

Step 8

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

NOTES:

For Step 5, remove only the registry keys HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID\{GUID} and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\AppID\{GUID} with the following registry entries:

{Default} = "escort"
{Default} = "esrv"
{Default} = "escorTlbr"
{Default} = "escortEng"

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ADW_DELTA

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