PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Potentially Unwanted Application

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 1,082,456 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 09 Nov 2019

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.

Installation

This Potentially Unwanted Application adds the following processes:

  • "%System Root%\Program Files\DriverUpdate\DriverUpdate.exe" -installscan

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

It creates the following folders:

  • %System Root%\Users\Public\Documents\Downloaded Installers\{D7FB714F-E3D0-4C5C-BA88-A55211EA5CD7}
  • %System Root%\Users\Public\Documents\Downloaded Installers

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

Other System Modifications

This Potentially Unwanted Application adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SlimWare Utilities Inc

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\
SlimWare Utilities Inc\DriverUpdate\Registration

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\
SlimWare Utilities Inc\DriverUpdate\InstallerData

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\
SlimWare Utilities Inc
MachineID = "bx\xab\x1cx\xed\x96L\xa8!K\xda\xde\xf1\xcf\x0c"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\
Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
explorer
GlobalAssocChangedCounter = "12"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\
SlimWare Utilities Inc\DriverUpdate\InstallerData
upl = "{random characters}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\
SlimWare Utilities Inc\DriverUpdate\InstallerData
userSegments = "{random characters}"

Dropping Routine

This Potentially Unwanted Application drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\swuA6AA.tmp.msi
  • %System Root%\Users\Public\Documents\Downloaded Installers\{D7FB714F-E3D0-4C5C-BA88-A55211EA5CD7}\setup.msi

(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(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.)

Other Details

This Potentially Unwanted Application connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://apps-api.{BLOCKED}reutilities.com/rpc/installer-data-update
  • http://download.{BLOCKED}update.net/5.8.8/x64/DriverUpdate-setup.msi.bz2
  • http://trk.{BLOCKED}reutilities.com/ulc.php?{random characters}

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 PUA.Win32.DriverUpdate.I

[ 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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • SlimWare Utilities Inc
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\SlimWare Utilities Inc\DriverUpdate
    • Registration
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\SlimWare Utilities Inc\DriverUpdate
    • InstallerData

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\Wow6432Node\SlimWare Utilities Inc
    • MachineID = "bx\xab\x1cx\xed\x96L\xa8!K\xda\xde\xf1\xcf\x0c"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer
    • GlobalAssocChangedCounter = "12"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\SlimWare Utilities Inc\DriverUpdate\InstallerData
    • upl = "{random characters}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\SlimWare Utilities Inc\DriverUpdate\InstallerData
    • userSegments = "{random characters}"

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.
  • %User Temp%\swuA6AA.tmp.msi
  • %System Root%\Users\Public\Documents\Downloaded Installers\{D7FB714F-E3D0-4C5C-BA88-A55211EA5CD7}\setup.msi

Step 6

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.
  • %System Root%\Users\Public\Documents\Downloaded Installers\{D7FB714F-E3D0-4C5C-BA88-A55211EA5CD7}
  • %System Root%\Users\Public\Documents\Downloaded Installers

Step 7

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as PUA.Win32.DriverUpdate.I. 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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