ADW_UTILQ
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
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 deletes itself after execution.
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 creates the following folders:
- %Program Files%\UtilQ
(Note: %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 adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
UtilQService = "%Program Files%\UtilQ\UtilQService.exe run"
Other System Modifications
This adware modifies the following file(s):
- %Windows%\inf\intl.PNF
(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.)
It deletes the following files:
- %User Temp%\nsr1.tmp
- %Windows%\fonts\msgothic.ttf
- %Windows%\fonts\msuigoth.ttf
- %Windows%\fonts\MSMINCHO.TTF
- %Windows%\fonts\Gulim.ttf
- %Windows%\fonts\Gulimche.ttf
- %Windows%\fonts\Dotum.ttf
- %Windows%\fonts\Batang.ttf
- %Windows%\fonts\Gungsuh.ttf
- %Windows%\fonts\Simsun.ttf
- %Windows%\fonts\nsimsun.ttf
- %Windows%\fonts\MingLiU.ttf
- %Windows%\fonts\pmingliu.ttf
- %System%\SET12.tmp
- %System%\kbd101b.dll
- %System%\SET18.tmp
- %System%\kbd101c.dll
- %System%\SET1E.tmp
- %System%\kbd103.dll
- %System%\SET24.tmp
- %System%\kbd106.dll
- %System%\SET2A.tmp
- %System%\kbdjpn.dll
- %System%\SET30.tmp
- %System%\kbdkor.dll
- %User Temp%\nsi7.tmp
(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.. %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.. %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.)
It adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\UtilQ
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\UtilQ
SetUpService = "true"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
Enable = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
Size = "a"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
InitHits = "64"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
Factor = "14"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\International
W2KLpk = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\UtilQ
rCreateShortcut = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\UtilQ
rPathBasic = "%Desktop%"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\UtilQ
rPathLast = "%Desktop%"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\UtilQ
rDwonAddItemPath = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\International
W2KLpk = "0"
Dropping Routine
This adware drops the following files:
- %Program Files%\UtilQ\UtilQDown.exe
- %Program Files%\UtilQ\UtilQService.exe
- %System%\remover.exe
- ./bundle.ini
- %System%\SETF.tmp
- %System%\SET15.tmp
- %System%\SET1B.tmp
- %System%\SET21.tmp
- %System%\SET27.tmp
- %System%\SET2D.tmp
- %System%\SET12.tmp
- %System%\SET18.tmp
- %System%\SET1E.tmp
- %System%\SET24.tmp
- %System%\SET2A.tmp
- %System%\SET30.tmp
(Note: %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).. %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.)
Other Details
This adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- http://{BLOCKED}q.com/app/bundle/bundle.ini
It deletes itself after execution.
This report is generated via an automated analysis system.
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
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 3
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
- UtilQ
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\International
- CpMRU
Step 4
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\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- UtilQService = "%Program Files%\UtilQ\UtilQService.exe run"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\UtilQ
- SetUpService = "true"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
- Enable = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
- Size = "a"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
- InitHits = "64"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
- Factor = "14"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\International
- W2KLpk = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\UtilQ
- rCreateShortcut = "0"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\UtilQ
- rPathBasic = "%Desktop%"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\UtilQ
- rPathLast = "%Desktop%"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\UtilQ
- rDwonAddItemPath = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\International
- W2KLpk = "0"
Step 5
Search and delete these components
- %Program Files%\UtilQ\UtilQDown.exe
- %Program Files%\UtilQ\UtilQService.exe
- %System%\remover.exe
- ./bundle.ini
- %System%\SETF.tmp
- %System%\SET15.tmp
- %System%\SET1B.tmp
- %System%\SET21.tmp
- %System%\SET27.tmp
- %System%\SET2D.tmp
- %System%\SET12.tmp
- %System%\SET18.tmp
- %System%\SET1E.tmp
- %System%\SET24.tmp
- %System%\SET2A.tmp
- %System%\SET30.tmp
Step 6
Search and delete this folder
- %Program Files%\UtilQ
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as ADW_UTILQ. 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.
Step 8
Restore deleted/modified files and/or registry entries from backup
*Note: Only Microsoft-related files/keys/values will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted registry keys/values related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on your computer.
- %Windows%\inf\intl.PNF
Step 9
Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.
- %User Temp%\nsr1.tmp
- %Windows%\fonts\msgothic.ttf
- %Windows%\fonts\msuigoth.ttf
- %Windows%\fonts\MSMINCHO.TTF
- %Windows%\fonts\Gulim.ttf
- %Windows%\fonts\Gulimche.ttf
- %Windows%\fonts\Dotum.ttf
- %Windows%\fonts\Batang.ttf
- %Windows%\fonts\Gungsuh.ttf
- %Windows%\fonts\Simsun.ttf
- %Windows%\fonts\nsimsun.ttf
- %Windows%\fonts\MingLiU.ttf
- %Windows%\fonts\pmingliu.ttf
- %System%\SET12.tmp
- %System%\kbd101b.dll
- %System%\SET18.tmp
- %System%\kbd101c.dll
- %System%\SET1E.tmp
- %System%\kbd103.dll
- %System%\SET24.tmp
- %System%\kbd106.dll
- %System%\SET2A.tmp
- %System%\kbdjpn.dll
- %System%\SET30.tmp
- %System%\kbdkor.dll
- %User Temp%\nsi7.tmp
Did this description help? Tell us how we did.