Modified by: Jennifer Gumban
ALIASES:

InstallCore (fs) (Sunbelt); a variant of Win32/InstallCore.QW application (ESET-NOD32);

 PLATFORM:

Windows

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 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: 714,208 bytes
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 07 Nov 2014

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 copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %User Temp%\ICReinstall_{malware name}.exe

(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%\ish{random 1}
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\css
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\dat
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\images
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\locale
  • %User Temp%\is{random 2}

(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.)

Dropping Routine

This adware drops the following files:

  • %Desktop%\Continue PDF Creator Installation.lnk
  • %User Temp%\is{random 2}\{random}_stp.EXE
  • %User Temp%\is{random 2}\{random}_stp.EXE.part
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\css\ie6_main.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\css\main.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\css\sdk-ui\browse.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\css\sdk-ui\button.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\css\sdk-ui\checkbox.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\css\sdk-ui\images\button-bg.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\css\sdk-ui\images\progress-bg.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\css\sdk-ui\images\progress-bg2.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\css\sdk-ui\images\progress-bg-corner.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\css\sdk-ui\progress-bar.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\csshover3.htc
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\dat\upd.DAT
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\form.bmp.Mask
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\images\Close.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\images\Close_Hover.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\images\Color_Button.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\images\Color_Button_Hover.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\images\Grey_Button.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\images\Grey_Button_Hover.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\images\Loader.gif
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\images\Logo.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\images\Progress.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\images\ProgressBar.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\images\text-bg.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\locale\DE.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\locale\EN.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\locale\ES.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\locale\FR.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\locale\IT.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\locale\PL.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\locale\PT.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\locale\RU.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{random 1}\locale\UA.locale

(Note: %Desktop% is the desktop folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Desktop in Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop in 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.. %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.)

Other Details

This adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://os.{BLOCKED}ddownloadcdn.com
  • http://securecloudfiledownload1398379264.{BLOCKED}site-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/fastsoftdownload/second/197/google-chrome.exe
  • http://securecloudfiledownload1398379264.{BLOCKED}site-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/system/softwares/files/000/000/039/original/Chrome28.0.1500.72.exe
  • http://geoip.{BLOCKED}team.com
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}ad-start.net/{random path}
  • http://d1rdh3xxuqlqfo.{BLOCKED}ront.net/ofr/isicicc.cis
  • http://os.{BLOCKED}ddownloadcdn.com/ofr/isicicc.cis
  • http://securecloudfiledownload1398379264.{BLOCKED}site-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/ofr/RAM.cis
  • http://cdneu.{BLOCKED}ddownloadcdn.com/ofr/Xotofofoto/MonitorDll.cis
  • http://cdnus.{BLOCKED}ddownloadcdn.com/ofr/RAM.cis
  • http://securecloudfiledownload1398379264.{BLOCKED}site-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/ofr/Xotofofoto/MonitorDll.cis
  • http://os.{BLOCKED}ddownloadcdn.com/ofr/RAM.cis
  • http://d3qor7nx9zb32s.{BLOCKED}ront.net/exe/PDFCreator.exe
  • http://os.{BLOCKED}-creator.org/CM_DS/?{value}
  • http://rp.{BLOCKED}deoconverter.com/?{value}
  • http://os.{BLOCKED}ddownloadcdn.com/ofr/RAM.cis
  • http://ocsp.{BLOCKED}ust.com/{random path}
  • http://ocsp.{BLOCKED}ca.com/{random path}

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.700
SSAPI PATTERN File: 1.565.00
SSAPI PATTERN Date: 12 Nov 2014

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 these components

[ Learn More ]
There may be some components 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 PDF Creator Installation.lnk

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%\ish{random 1}
  • %User Temp%\is{random 2}

Step 5

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