Analysis by: Mark Joseph Manahan
 Modified by: Nikko Tamana
ALIASES:

W32/InstallCore.B.gen!Eldorado (FProt), a variant of Win32/InstallCore.E application (Eset)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 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. It may be manually installed by a user.

This file contains a URL where it connects to possibly download other files.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 545,280 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 30 Aug 2012

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 may be manually installed by a user.

Installation

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

  • %User Temp%\is{random numbers}\{random numbers}.cfg
  • %User Temp%\is{random numbers}\{random numbers}.cfg
  • %User Temp%\is{random numbers}\{random numbers}.cfg
  • %User Temp%\is{random numbers}\{random numbers}.cfg
  • %User Temp%\is{random numbers}\{random numbers}_Setup.CIS
  • %User Temp%\is{random numbers}\[random numbers}_Setup.CIS
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\blank.gif
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\css\buttons.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\css\ie6_main.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\css\main.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\css\sdk-ui\browse.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\css\sdk-ui\button.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\css\sdk-ui\checkbox.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\css\sdk-ui\images\button-bg.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\css\sdk-ui\images\progress-bg.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\css\sdk-ui\progress-bar.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\defaultOffer\offer_code.dat
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\defaultOffer\offer_html.dat
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\defaultOffer\US\offer_code.dat
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\defaultOffer\US\offer_html.dat
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\images\back-button.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\images\Bg.jpg
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\images\close_button.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\images\finish-button.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\images\finish_button.jpg
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\images\icon.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\images\loader.gif
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\images\next-button-over.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\images\next-button.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\images\progress-bg.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\images\skip-button.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\images\Software.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\license.txt
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\locale\EN.locale
  • %Desktop%\Continue FoxTab PDF Converter Installation.lnk

(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.. %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop on Windows Vista and 7.)

It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %User Temp%\ICReinstall_{malware filename}.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:

  • %User Temp%\is{random numbers}
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\css
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\css\sdk-ui
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\css\sdk-ui\images
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\defaultOffer
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\defaultOffer\US
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\images
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}\locale

(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.)

Other Details

This file contains a URL where it connects to possibly download other files. As of this writing, this file contains the following URLs:

  • {BLOCKED}u.solvefile.com
  • {BLOCKED}s.solvefile.com
  • {BLOCKED}s.solvefile.com

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.300
SSAPI PATTERN File: 1.323.00
SSAPI PATTERN Date: 06 Sep 2012

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

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%\is{random numbers}
  • %User Temp%\ish{random numbers}

Step 4

Search and delete these files

[ Learn More ]
There may be some component 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.
  • %Desktop%\Continue FoxTab PDF Converter Installation.lnk
  • %User Temp%\ICReinstall_{malware filename}.exe

Step 5

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