PUA.Win32.GameHack.AO

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.

File Size: 1,917,120 bytes

File Type: EXE

Memory Resident: Yes

Initial Samples Received Date: 16 Mar 2020

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:

"%User Profile%\Cheathappens\Work\Runtime\~CheathappensTrainer9408.tmp" "16744820695884" "{malware file path and name}"
"iexplore" http://www.{BLOCKED}appens.com/cheat_index.asp?titleID=22223
"%System Root%\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe" http://www.{BLOCKED}appens.com/cheat_index.asp?titleID=22223
iexplore http://www.{BLOCKED}appens.com/cheat_index.asp?titleID=22223
"%Program Files%\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE" SCODEF:204 CREDAT:275457 /prefetch:2

It creates the following folders:

%AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Recovery\High\Active
%User Profile%\Cheathappens
%User Profile%\Cheathappens\Work\Runtime\Version
%User Profile%\Cheathappens\Debug
%Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\DNTException
%User Profile%\Cheathappens\Work
%Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\IECompatCache
%User Profile%\Cheathappens\Keys
%AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DomainSuggestions
%Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\PrivacIE
%Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\IECompatUACache
%User Profile%\Cheathappens\Work\Runtime

(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).. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %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).)

Other System Modifications

This Potentially Unwanted Application deletes the following files:

%AppDataLocal%Low\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Services\search_{0633EE93-D776-472f-A0FF-E1416B8B2E3A}.ico

(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 adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
DirectInput\MostRecentApplication
Version = "\x00\x07\x00\x00"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
DirectInput\MostRecentApplication
Name = "~CHEATHAPPENSTRAINER9408.TMP"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
DirectInput\MostRecentApplication
Id = "~CHEATHAPPENSTRAINER9408.TMP5D54F288000F7600"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
DirectInput\MostRecentApplication
MostRecentStart = "\xbf\xc2\xdac2\x9d\xd5\x01"

Dropping Routine

This Potentially Unwanted Application drops the following files:

%User Profile%\Cheathappens\Work\Runtime\~CheathappensTrainer9408.tmp
%User Temp%\3.ogg
%User Temp%\7.ogg
%AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Recovery\High\Active\{671BD2A2-0901-11EA-B6EF-005056BC7934}.dat
%User Temp%\Options
%User Profile%\Cheathappens\Work\Runtime\inetcheck.dat
%User Temp%\help.txt
%User Temp%\0.ogg
%User Profile%\Cheathappens\Work\Runtime\cheathappens.net
%User Temp%\6.ogg
%AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MSIMGSIZ.DAT
%User Temp%\4.ogg
%AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DomainSuggestions\en-US.6
%AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Recovery\High\Active\RecoveryStore.{671BD2A0-0901-11EA-B6EF-005056BC7934}.dat
%AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Recovery\High\Active\{6DD6A5B3-0901-11EA-B6EF-005056BC7934}.dat
%User Temp%\CH.dll
%User Temp%\1.ogg
%User Profile%\Cheathappens\Debug\.debug
%User Temp%\5.ogg

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %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).. %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 Potentially Unwanted Application connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

http://www.{BLOCKED}appens.com/inetcheck.txt
http://www.{BLOCKED}appens.com/unauthorized/128096957.zip
http://www.{BLOCKED}appens.com/trainer_troubleshooting_lite.asp
http://www.{BLOCKED}appens.com/cheat_index.asp?titleID=22223
http://go.{BLOCKED}oft.com
http://api.{BLOCKED}g.com
http://www.{BLOCKED}g.com
http://sqm.{BLOCKED}try.microsoft.com
http://ieonline.{BLOCKED}oft.com

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

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.GameHack.AO

[ Learn More ]

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.
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.
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 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\DirectInput\MostRecentApplication
- Version = "\x00\x07\x00\x00"

In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\DirectInput\MostRecentApplication
- Name = "~CHEATHAPPENSTRAINER9408.TMP"

In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\DirectInput\MostRecentApplication
- Id = "~CHEATHAPPENSTRAINER9408.TMP5D54F288000F7600"

In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\DirectInput\MostRecentApplication
- MostRecentStart = "\xbf\xc2\xdac2\x9d\xd5\x01"

Step 4

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 Profile%\Cheathappens\Work\Runtime\~CheathappensTrainer9408.tmp
%User Temp%\3.ogg
%User Temp%\7.ogg
%AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Recovery\High\Active\{671BD2A2-0901-11EA-B6EF-005056BC7934}.dat
%User Temp%\Options
%User Profile%\Cheathappens\Work\Runtime\inetcheck.dat
%User Temp%\help.txt
%User Temp%\0.ogg
%User Profile%\Cheathappens\Work\Runtime\cheathappens.net
%User Temp%\6.ogg
%AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MSIMGSIZ.DAT
%User Temp%\4.ogg
%AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DomainSuggestions\en-US.6
%AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Recovery\High\Active\RecoveryStore.{671BD2A0-0901-11EA-B6EF-005056BC7934}.dat
%AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Recovery\High\Active\{6DD6A5B3-0901-11EA-B6EF-005056BC7934}.dat
%User Temp%\CH.dll
%User Temp%\1.ogg
%User Profile%\Cheathappens\Debug\.debug
%User Temp%\5.ogg

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.

%AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Recovery\High\Active
%User Profile%\Cheathappens
%User Profile%\Cheathappens\Work\Runtime\Version
%User Profile%\Cheathappens\Debug
%Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\DNTException
%User Profile%\Cheathappens\Work
%Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\IECompatCache
%User Profile%\Cheathappens\Keys
%AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DomainSuggestions
%Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\PrivacIE
%Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\IECompatUACache
%User Profile%\Cheathappens\Work\Runtime

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as PUA.Win32.GameHack.AO. 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 7

Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.

%AppDataLocal%Low\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Services\search_{0633EE93-D776-472f-A0FF-E1416B8B2E3A}.ico

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