Analysis by: Sabrina Lei Sioting
 Modified by: Sabrina Sioting

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Adware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This adware connects to several possibly malicious URLs.

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: 6,507,094 bytes
File Type: EXE
File Compression: Nullsoft PiMP SFX
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 02 Aug 2011

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 file(s)/component(s):

  • %User Temp%\getCountry
  • %User Temp%\ietb.cab
  • %User Temp%\InstallComplete
  • %User Temp%\nszB.tmp\NSISpcre.dll
  • %User Temp%\PicPick Toolbar.xpi
  • %User Temp%\PicPick.exe
  • %User Temp%\somoto.exe
  • %User Temp%\xx.ini
  • %User Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\PicPick\PicPick.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.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Application Data%\Toolbar4
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\{75656794-AB59-4712-BFBC-5D816D56F3BC}
  • %Program Files%\PicPick
  • %Program Files%\PicPick Toolbar
  • %User Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\PicPick

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

Other System Modifications

This adware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\
picpick.exe

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
PicPick

It adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\
Main
Start Page = "http://www.{BLOCKED}kpro.com/picpick/{5DCB3662-B42D-4748-8CBA-CDF6281809C5}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\AboutURLs
Tabs = "http://www.{BLOCKED}kpro.com/picpick/{5DCB3662-B42D-4748-8CBA-CDF6281809C5}?s_src=newtab"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
PicPick
URLInfoAbout = "http://www.{BLOCKED}ck.org"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Start Page = "http://www.{BLOCKED}pro.com/picpick/{5DCB3662-B42D-4748-8CBA-CDF6281809C5}"

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Start Page = "http://www.{BLOCKED}kpro.com/picpick/{5DCB3662-B42D-4748-8CBA-CDF6281809C5}"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {default}.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
DirectDraw\MostRecentApplication
Name = "iexplore.exe"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is aim.exe.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Start Page = "http://www.{BLOCKED}pro.com/picpick/{5DCB3662-B42D-4748-8CBA-CDF6281809C5}"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {default}.)

Other Details

This adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://www.{BLOCKED}ick.org/picpick_inst.html
  • http://{BLOCKED}ck.{BLOCKED}go.com/getCountry/
  • http://{BLOCKED}n.{BLOCKED}edpro.com/mirror/toolbars/picpick.exe
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}ck.org
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}dpro.com

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 8.900
SSAPI PATTERN File: 1.202.23
SSAPI PATTERN Date: 02 Aug 2011

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

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\
    • picpick.exe
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
    • PicPick

Step 3

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
    • Start Page = "http://www.{BLOCKED}kpro.com/picpick/{5DCB3662-B42D-4748-8CBA-CDF6281809C5}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\AboutURLs
    • Tabs = "http://www.{BLOCKED}kpro.com/picpick/{5DCB3662-B42D-4748-8CBA-CDF6281809C5}?s_src=newtab"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\PicPick
    • URLInfoAbout = "http://www.{BLOCKED}ck.org"
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main"
    • Start Page = "http://www.{BLOCKED}pro.com/picpick/{5DCB3662-B42D-4748-8CBA-CDF6281809C5}"

Step 4

Restore this modified 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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MainStart
    • From: Page = "http://www.{BLOCKED}kpro.com/picpick/{5DCB3662-B42D-4748-8CBA-CDF6281809C5}"
      To: Page = "{default}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DirectDraw\MostRecentApplication
    • From: Name = "iexplore.exe"
      To: Name = "aim.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
    • From: Start Page = "http://www.{BLOCKED}pro.com/picpick/{5DCB3662-B42D-4748-8CBA-CDF6281809C5}"
      To: Start Page = "{default}"

Step 5

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.
  • %Application Data%\Toolbar4
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\4wwmjcqo.default\extensions\{75656794-AB59-4712-BFBC-5D816D56F3BC}
  • %Program Files%\PicPick
  • %Program Files%\PicPick Toolbar
  • %User Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\PicPick

Step 6

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.
  • %User Temp%\getCountry
  • %User Temp%\ietb.cab
  • %User Temp%\InstallComplete
  • %User Temp%\nszB.tmp\NSISpcre.dll
  • %User Temp%\PicPick Toolbar.xpi
  • %User Temp%\PicPick.exe
  • %User Temp%\somoto.exe
  • %User Temp%\xx.ini
  • %User Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\PicPick\PicPick.lnk

Step 7

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