ADW_DLOADR
a variant of Win32/ELEX.Q application(Eset)
Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)
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
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 files:
- %Application Data%\iSafe\preference.ini
- %Application Data%\iSafe\log\bugreport.zip
- %Application Data%\iSafe\log\install.log
- %Application Data%\iSafe\log\iSafeTray.log
- %Application Data%\iSafe\log\uninstall.log
- %Application Data%\iSafe\log_bak\iSafeKrnlCall.LOG
- %Application Data%\iSafe\log_bak\iSafeSvc2.LOG
- %Program Files%\iSafe\iSafeKrnl.sys
- %Program Files%\iSafe\skin2\image\new\{multiple files}.png
- %Program Files%\iSafe\skin2\layout\new\{multiple files}.xml
- %Program Files%\iSafe\skin2\layout\new\pop\{multiple files}.xml
- %Program Files%\iSafe\tws\defs\base0000.dat
- %Program Files%\iSafe\tws\defs\catalog.dat
- %Program Files%\iSafe\tws\plugins\filavutd.dll
- %Program Files%\iSafe\tws\plugins\virut.tmp
- %Program Files%\iSafe\tws\quarantine\catalog.dat
- %User Temp%\downloader_helper.ini
(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, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).. %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista and 7.)
It drops and executes the following files:
- %User Temp%\dl_{random digits}.exe
- %User Temp%\DL_00000000\dl.exe
- %User Temp%\ISAFE_00000000\uninstall.exe
(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista and 7.)
It creates the following folders:
- %All Users Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\YAC
- %Application Data%\iSafe
- %Application Data%\iSafe\log
- %Application Data%\iSafe\log_bak
- %Program Files%\iSafe
- %Program Files%\iSafe\cfg
- %Program Files%\iSafe\data
- %Program Files%\iSafe\font
- %Program Files%\iSafe\lang
- %Program Files%\iSafe\log
- %Program Files%\iSafe\skin2
- %Program Files%\iSafe\skin2\image
- %Program Files%\iSafe\skin2\image\new
- %Program Files%\iSafe\skin2\layout
- %Program Files%\iSafe\skin2\layout
- %Program Files%\iSafe\skin2\layout\new
- %Program Files%\iSafe\skin2\layout\new\pop
- %Program Files%\iSafe\skin2\sytle
- %Program Files%\iSafe\tws
- %Program Files%\iSafe\tws\defs
- %Program Files%\iSafe\tws\logs
- %Program Files%\iSafe\tws\plugins
- %Program Files%\iSafe\tws\quarantine
- %Program Files%\iSafe\tws\task
- %Program Files%\iSafe\tws\temp
- %Program Files%\iSafe\tws\trace
- %Program Files%\iSafe\tws\x64
- %Program Files%\iSafe\user
(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users or Common profile folder, which is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users in Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, and C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista and 7.. %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).)
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\iSafeNetFilter
DisplayName = "iSafeNetFilter"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\iSafeNetFilter
ImagePath = "%Program Files%\iSafe\iSafeNetFilter.sys"
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\iSafeNetFilter
Other System Modifications
This adware adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
MenuOrder\Start Menu2\Programs\
YAC
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Control\Session Manager
PendingFileRenameOperations = "{hex values}"
Other Details
This adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- http://www.{BLOCKED}c.mx/{BLOCKED}load/config/db.php?name={malware file name}
- http://www.{BLOCKED}c.mx/{BLOCKED}nload/config/default.db
- http://www.{BLOCKED}c.mx/en/{BLOCKED}ion.html?uid=411f3a52-26ed-4872-9a07-8c966acba234_b0b2d6e3_1395017691
- http://www.{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}oud.com/v4/sof-easydl/VBOX_HARDDISK_VB316f4beb-ff70531b?action=dft.YAC.start
- {BLOCKED}3.{BLOCKED}3.180.130:80/original/iSafe_setup.exe
- http://www.{BLOCKED}m.{BLOCKED}65.com/ads/sendss?sid=yac&ptid=dft&hdid=VBOX_HARDDISK_VB316f4beb-ff70531b
- http://www.{BLOCKED}c.mx/{BLOCKED}nload/config/default.db
SOLUTION
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
Remove ADW_DLOADR by using its own Uninstall option
Step 3
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 4
Delete this registry key
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\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MenuOrder\Start Menu2\Programs
- YAC
- YAC
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
- iSafeNetFilter
- iSafeNetFilter
Step 5
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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager
- PendingFileRenameOperations = "{hex values}"
- PendingFileRenameOperations = "{hex values}"
Step 6
Search and delete these folders
- %All Users Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\YAC
- %Application Data%\iSafe
- %Program Files%\iSafe
Step 7
Search and delete this file
- %User Temp%\downloader_helper.ini
- %User Temp%\dl_{random digits}.exe
- %User Temp%\DL_00000000\dl.exe
- %User Temp%\ISAFE_00000000\uninstall.exe
Step 8
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as ADW_DLOADR. 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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