ALIASES:

HEUR:AdWare.Win32.Amonetize.heur (Kaspersky); Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

 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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 351,744 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 27 Dec 2019

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 adds the following processes:

  • %System%\DllHost.exe /Processid:{F9717507-6651-4EDB-BFF7-AE615179BCCF}
  • %System%\svchost.exe -k netsvcs

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)

Other System Modifications

This Adware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\foremilk.harbors.1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
foremilk.harbors.1\CLSID

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\foremilk.harbors

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
foremilk.harbors\CurVer

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Wow6432Node\CLSID\{{GUID}}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Wow6432Node\CLSID\{{GUID}}\
ProgID

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Wow6432Node\CLSID\{{GUID}}\
VersionIndependentProgID

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Wow6432Node\CLSID\{{GUID}}\
Programmable

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Wow6432Node\CLSID\{{GUID}}\
LocalServer32

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Wow6432Node\CLSID\{{GUID}}\
TypeLib

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Wow6432Node\CLSID\{{GUID}}\
Version

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Wow6432Node\Interface\{0CCC84B3-DBBF-4FB2-8049-C0D4E2B58E13}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Wow6432Node\Interface\{0CCC84B3-DBBF-4FB2-8049-C0D4E2B58E13}\
ProxyStubClsid32

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Wow6432Node\Interface\{0CCC84B3-DBBF-4FB2-8049-C0D4E2B58E13}\
TypeLib

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
foremilk.harbors.1
(Default) = "Inst Class"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
foremilk.harbors.1\CLSID
(Default) = "{{GUID}}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
foremilk.harbors
(Default) = "Inst Class"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
foremilk.harbors\CurVer
(Default) = "foremilk.harbors.1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Wow6432Node\CLSID\{{GUID}}
(Default) = "Inst Class"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Wow6432Node\CLSID\{{GUID}}\
ProgID
(Default) = "foremilk.harbors.1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Wow6432Node\CLSID\{{GUID}}\
VersionIndependentProgID
(Default) = "foremilk.harbors"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Wow6432Node\CLSID\{{GUID}}\
LocalServer32
(Default) = "{malware file path and name}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Wow6432Node\CLSID\{{GUID}}\
LocalServer32
ServerExecutable = "{malware file path and name}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Wow6432Node\CLSID\{{GUID}}\
TypeLib
(Default) = "{{GUID}}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Wow6432Node\CLSID\{{GUID}}\
Version
(Default) = "1.0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Wow6432Node\Interface\{0CCC84B3-DBBF-4FB2-8049-C0D4E2B58E13}
(Default) = "IBoot"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Wow6432Node\Interface\{0CCC84B3-DBBF-4FB2-8049-C0D4E2B58E13}\
ProxyStubClsid32
(Default) = "{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Wow6432Node\Interface\{0CCC84B3-DBBF-4FB2-8049-C0D4E2B58E13}\
TypeLib
(Default) = "{287C0237-009F-47C6-AA9E-1D5BA15182B2}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Wow6432Node\Interface\{0CCC84B3-DBBF-4FB2-8049-C0D4E2B58E13}\
TypeLib
Version = "1.0"

It deletes the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Wow6432Node\CLSID\{{GUID}}\
LocalServer32\ServerExecutable

Other Details

This Adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://www.{BLOCKED}download.com

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850

Step 1

Before doing any scans, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.

Step 2

Identify and terminate files detected as Adware.Win32.Amonetize.G

[ Learn More ]
  1. Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
  2. If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
  3. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

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_CLASSES_ROOT
    • foremilk.harbors.1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foremilk.harbors.1
    • CLSID
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
    • foremilk.harbors
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foremilk.harbors
    • CurVer
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID
    • {{GUID}}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{{GUID}}
    • ProgID
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{{GUID}}
    • VersionIndependentProgID
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{{GUID}}
    • Programmable
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{{GUID}}
    • LocalServer32
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{{GUID}}
    • TypeLib
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{{GUID}}
    • Version
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\Interface
    • {0CCC84B3-DBBF-4FB2-8049-C0D4E2B58E13}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\Interface\{0CCC84B3-DBBF-4FB2-8049-C0D4E2B58E13}
    • ProxyStubClsid32
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\Interface\{0CCC84B3-DBBF-4FB2-8049-C0D4E2B58E13}
    • TypeLib

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\Classes\foremilk.harbors.1
    • (Default) = "Inst Class"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foremilk.harbors.1\CLSID
    • (Default) = "{{GUID}}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foremilk.harbors
    • (Default) = "Inst Class"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foremilk.harbors\CurVer
    • (Default) = "foremilk.harbors.1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{{GUID}}
    • (Default) = "Inst Class"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{{GUID}}\ProgID
    • (Default) = "foremilk.harbors.1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{{GUID}}\VersionIndependentProgID
    • (Default) = "foremilk.harbors"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{{GUID}}\LocalServer32
    • (Default) = "{malware file path and name}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{{GUID}}\LocalServer32
    • ServerExecutable = "{malware file path and name}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{{GUID}}\TypeLib
    • (Default) = "{{GUID}}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{{GUID}}\Version
    • (Default) = "1.0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\Interface\{0CCC84B3-DBBF-4FB2-8049-C0D4E2B58E13}
    • (Default) = "IBoot"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\Interface\{0CCC84B3-DBBF-4FB2-8049-C0D4E2B58E13}\ProxyStubClsid32
    • (Default) = "{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\Interface\{0CCC84B3-DBBF-4FB2-8049-C0D4E2B58E13}\TypeLib
    • (Default) = "{287C0237-009F-47C6-AA9E-1D5BA15182B2}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\Interface\{0CCC84B3-DBBF-4FB2-8049-C0D4E2B58E13}\TypeLib
    • Version = "1.0"

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Adware.Win32.Amonetize.G. 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 the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:

Step 6

Restore these deleted registry keys/values from backup

*Note: Only Microsoft-related keys/values will be restored. If the malware/grayware also deleted registry keys/values related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on your computer.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{{GUID}}\LocalServer32
    • ServerExecutable


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