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 deletes itself after execution.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 1,201,584 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 06 Sep 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 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

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.300

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

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_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • UtilQ
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\International
    • CpMRU

Step 4

Delete this registry value

[ 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_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

[ 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.
  • %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

[ 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.
  • %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


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