Analysis by: Paul Steven Nadera
ALIASES:

JS/Mindspark.G potentially unwanted application (NOD32); HEUR:AdWare.Script.SearchExt.gen (Kaspersky)

 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: 73,097 bytes
File Type: Other
Initial Samples Received Date: 04 Feb 2020

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 files:

  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\{Extension ID}\000003.log
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\{Extension ID}\CURRENT
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\{Extension ID}\LOCK
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\{Extension ID}\LOG
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\{Extension ID}\MANIFEST-000001
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\_locales\{locale_id}\messages.json
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\_metadata\computed_hashes.json
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\_metadata\verified_contents.json
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\_metadata\verified_contents.json
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\config\config.json
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\_metadata\icons\icon16.png
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\icons\icon19disabled.png
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\icons\icon19on.png
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\icons\icon48.png
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\icons\icon128.png
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\ajax.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\babAPI.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\babClickHandler.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\babContentScript.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\babContentScriptAPI.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\background.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\browserUtils.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\chrome.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\contentScriptConnectionManager.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\dateTimeUtils.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\dlp.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\dlpHelper.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\extensionDetect.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\index.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\localStorageContentScript.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\logger.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\meta.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\offerService.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\pageUtils.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\PartnerId.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\polyfill.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\product.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\remoteConfigLoader.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\splashPageRedirectHandler.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\storageUtils.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\TemplateParser.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\ul.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\urlFragmentActions.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\urlUtils.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\util.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\webtooltabAPI.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js\webTooltabAPIProxy.js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\manifest.json
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\ntp1.html

(Note: %AppDataLocal% is the Local Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It creates the following folders:

  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\{Extension ID}
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\_locales
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\_metadata
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\config
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\icons
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\js
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\_locales\ar
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\_locales\de
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\_locales\en
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\_locales\es
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\_locales\es_419
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\_locales\fr
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\_locales\it
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\_locales\ja
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\_locales\ko
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\_locales\nl
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\_locales\pt_BR
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}\13.917.16.52171_0\_locales\pt_PT

(Note: %AppDataLocal% is the Local Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

Other Details

This Adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • https://easypdfcombine.dl.{BLOCKED}y.com/blank.jhtml
  • https://hp.{BLOCKED}y.com/easypdfcombine/ttab02chr/index.html?p2=%5EBSB%5Echr999%5ETTAB03%5E&n=78673895&ptb=D2FECBC7-3402-4258-BDC7-D7B64B11E9B8&si=&cwsid=mmajffilgegaippfphhmkmnbfmcgeopd&assist=1&st=tab
  • https://live.tb.{BLOCKED}k.com/tr.gif?anxa=CAPNative&anxv={BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.16.52171&anxe=ToolbarActive&anxt=D2FECBC7-3402-4258-BDC7-D7B64B11E9B8&anxtv={BLOCKED}.anxtv={BLOCKED}.16.52171&anxp=%5EBSB%5Echr999%5ETTAB03%5E&anxsi&anxd=2019-11-13T20%3A35%3A37.212Z&f=00400000&anxr=1583470892286&coid=BSB&userSegment&cwsid=mmajffilgegaippfphhmkmnbfmcgeopd
  • https://hp.{BLOCKED}y.com/easypdfcombine/ttab02chr/wtt.appcache
  • https://hp.{BLOCKED}y.com/easypdfcombine/ttab02chr/assets/1583163623097/app.js
  • https://hp.{BLOCKED}y.com/easypdfcombine/ttab02chr/assets/1583163623097/async-iac_canvas_animation_ui.js
  • https://hp.{BLOCKED}y.com/easypdfcombine/ttab02chr/assets/1583163623097/icomoon.woff2
  • https://hp.{BLOCKED}y.com/easypdfcombine/ttab02chr/assets/1583163623097/weather-icon.woff2
  • https://hp.{BLOCKED}y.com/easypdfcombine/ttab02chr/assets/1583163623097/async-iac_keep_settings_assist.assist_ui.js
  • https://weatherblink.{BLOCKED}rv.com/weather/lookup?uuid=D2FECBC7-3402-4258-BDC7-D7B64B11E9B8
  • https://hp.{BLOCKED}y.com/easypdfcombine/ttab02chr/index.html
  • https://weatherblink.{BLOCKED}rv.com/weather/lookup?uuid=D2FECBC7-3402-4258-BDC7-D7B64B11E9B8&placeId=6f4e656e2cea645d65e4cace8cbb46e1c7a27f9a7dc55745a666f7beb1798b17&address=null%2C%20Makati
  • https://anx.tb.{BLOCKED}k.com/anx.gif?anxuu=F803264C-4930-4ADA-8021-DDCB4AAAFD7C&anxa=WebTooltab&anxv=webtooltab-2.1.1&anxd=-&anxsn=&anxu=https%3A%2F%2Fhp.myway.com%2Feasypdfcombine%2Fttab02chr%2Findex.html&anxl=en&anxlv=1583470887833&anxrd=none&anxrp=-&anxrk=-&anxrm=-&anxrb=-&anxrc=-&anxrs=-&anxsq=2&anxt=D2FECBC7-3402-4258-BDC7-D7B64B11E9B8&anxp=%5EBSB%5Echr999%5ETTAB03%5E&anxsi=&buid=1fd8bbec-87bb-475c-83e2-1251c7f84578&pageType=tab&name=Wallpapers&productData=%7B%22item%22%3A%22White%22%2C%22url%22%3A%22data%3Aimage%2Fpng%3Bbase64%2CiVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mP8%2Fx8AAwMCAO%2Bip1sAAAAASUVORK5CYII%3D%22%2C%22category%22%3A%22Featured%22%2C%22dailyBackgroundEnabled%22%3Afalse%2C%22wallpaperOnBoarding%22%3Anull%2C%22pageLoad%22%3A1%7D&anxe=Info&anxr=920439533
  • https://anx.tb.{BLOCKED}k.com/anx.gif?anxuu=F803264C-4930-4ADA-8021-DDCB4AAAFD7C&anxa=CAPSearch&anxv=webtooltab-2.1.1&anxd=-&anxsn=&anxu=https%3A%2F%2Fhp.myway.com%2Feasypdfcombine%2Fttab02chr%2Findex.html&anxl=en&anxlv=1583470909570&anxrd=none&anxrp=-&anxrk=-&anxrm=-&anxrb=-&anxrc=-&anxrs=-&anxsq=6&anxt=D2FECBC7-3402-4258-BDC7-D7B64B11E9B8&anxp=%5EBSB%5Echr999%5ETTAB03%5E&anxsi=&buid=1fd8bbec-87bb-475c-83e2-1251c7f84578&pageType=tab&productData=%7B%22pageLoad%22%3A1%7D&anxe=TabPageView&anxr=933921294

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
SSAPI PATTERN File: 2.267.00
SSAPI PATTERN Date: 12 Mar 2020

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

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 this file

[ Learn More ]
There may be some 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.
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\{Extension ID}\000003.log
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\{Extension ID}\CURRENT
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\{Extension ID}\LOCK
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\{Extension ID}\LOG
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\{Extension ID}\MANIFEST-000001

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.
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\{Extension ID}
  • %AppDataLocal%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\{Extension ID}

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Adware.Win32.Mindspark.CRZ. 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:


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