Analysis by: Clive Fuentebella
 Modified by: Maria Emreen Viray
ALIASES:

PUA.RegCurePro!gen1 (NORTON)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Potentially Unwanted Application

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware, Manually installed by user

This Potentially Unwanted Application arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites. It may be manually installed by a user.

As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

It does not send out the information it steals.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 1,371,632 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 04 Aug 2021
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Displays graphics/image, Modifies system registry

Arrival Details

This Potentially Unwanted Application arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It may be manually installed by a user.

Installation

This Potentially Unwanted Application creates the following folders:

  • %Common Programs%\RegCure
  • %Program Files%\RegCure

(Note: %Common Programs% is the folder that contains common program groups for all users, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000(32-bit), Server 2003(32-bit), XP, Vista(64-bit), 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit) , or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP(64-bit), Vista(64-bit), 7(64-bit), 8(64-bit), 8.1(64-bit), 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

Autostart Technique

This Potentially Unwanted Application drops the following files:

  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\RegCure.lnk
  • %Common Programs%\RegCure\RegCure.lnk
  • %Common Programs%\RegCure\Uninstall.lnk
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\0_days.htm
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\15_days.htm
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\1_days.htm
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\2_days.htm
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\30_days.htm
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\5_days.htm
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\Animated-Bar.gif
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\AutoUpdate.dll
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\LogSettings.xml
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\RegCure.exe
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\Tip1.html
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\Tip10.html
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\Tip11.html
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\Tip12.html
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\Tip13.html
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\Tip14.html
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\Tip15.html
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\Tip2.html
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\Tip3.html
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\Tip4.html
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\Tip5.html
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\Tip6.html
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\Tip7.html
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\Tip8.html
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\Tip9.html
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\buttonfill.jpg
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\buttonfill_expire.jpg
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\buttonfill_mo.jpg
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\buttonfill_mo_expire.jpg
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\config.xml
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\contentwrapper.gif
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\expire.css
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\footerbar.gif
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\help.chm
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\info_bubble.jpg
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\main.css
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\process-animation.gif
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\settings.xml
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\subtitlebar.gif
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\tile_titlebar.jpg
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\uninst.exe
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\whitelist.dat
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\zlibwapi.dll
  • %Public%\Desktop\RegCure.lnk
  • %Windows%\Tasks\RegCure Program Check.job
  • %Windows%\Tasks\RegCure.job

(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(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %Common Programs% is the folder that contains common program groups for all users, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000(32-bit), Server 2003(32-bit), XP, Vista(64-bit), 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit) , or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP(64-bit), Vista(64-bit), 7(64-bit), 8(64-bit), 8.1(64-bit), 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %Public% is the folder that serves as a repository of files or folders common to all users, which is usually C:\Users\Public in Windows Vista, 7, and 8.. %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.)

Other System Modifications

This Potentially Unwanted Application adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\RegCure
AffiliateID = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\
RegCure.exe
(Default) = %Program Files%\RegCure\RegCure.exe

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
RegCure
DisplayName = RegCure 1.5.1.3

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
RegCure
UninstallString = %Program Files%\RegCure\uninst.exe

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
RegCure
DisplayIcon = %Program Files%\RegCure\RegCure.exe

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
RegCure
DisplayVersion = 1.5.1.3

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
RegCure
URLInfoAbout = http://www.{BLOCKED}e.com

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
RegCure
Publisher = RegCure, Inc.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\RegCure
FirstTime = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\RegCure
FirstSincePatch = 0

Dropping Routine

This Potentially Unwanted Application drops the following files wherein it saves the information it gathers:

  • %Program Files%\RegCure\Logs\SystemInfo.log
  • %Program Files%\RegCure\Logs\SystemInfo.zip

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000(32-bit), Server 2003(32-bit), XP, Vista(64-bit), 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit) , or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP(64-bit), Vista(64-bit), 7(64-bit), 8(64-bit), 8.1(64-bit), 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

Download Routine

This Potentially Unwanted Application downloads an updated copy of itself from the following website(s):

  • http://www.{BLOCKED}logic.com/xoftspyse/updatecore.aspx?vid=31245&pid=2&lid=EN&cpid=84&version=15100

As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

Information Theft

This Potentially Unwanted Application gathers the following data:

  • System information gathered based on LogSettings.xml
    • running processes
    • specific registry entries

Drop Points

This Potentially Unwanted Application does not send out the information it steals.

Other Details

This Potentially Unwanted Application adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\RegCure

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
RegCure

It does the following:

  • displays exaggerated error messages after scan option and offers cleanup:
  • gives user the following options:
    • choose installation folder
      • uses %ProgramFiles% by default
    • manage startup programs in Autorun registry (disable/enable)

It adds the following scheduled tasks:

  • Name: RegCure
    Action: %Program Files%\RegCure\RegCure.exe -t
    Trigger: Weekly, @ 4:47 AM every Sunday,Thursday; starting 1/1/2006
  • Name: RegCure Program Check
    Action: %Program Files%\RegCure\RegCure.exe ShowReminders
    Trigger: @ log on; Daily, @ 5:00 PM

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000(32-bit), Server 2003(32-bit), XP, Vista(64-bit), 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit) , or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP(64-bit), Vista(64-bit), 7(64-bit), 8(64-bit), 8.1(64-bit), 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
SSAPI PATTERN File: 2.433.00
SSAPI PATTERN Date: 05 Aug 2021

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

Remove PUA.Win32.CureReg.A by using its own Uninstall option

[ Learn More ]
To uninstall the grayware process

Step 4

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as PUA.Win32.CureReg.A. 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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