PUA.Win32.InstallIQ.AO
Downloader.Win32.Agent.ckxt (KASPERSKY)
Windows
Threat Type: Potentially Unwanted Application
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: No
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.
It does not have any propagation routine.
It does not have any backdoor routine.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
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 drops the following files:
- %User Temp%\pkg_{Random}\stub.log → Deleted afterwards
- %User Temp%\pkg_{Random}\wrapper.xml → Deleted afterwards
- %User Temp%\pkg_{Random}\autorun.txt → Deleted afterwards
- %User Temp%\pkg_{Random}\timings.txt → Deleted afterwards
- %User Temp%\pkg_{Random}\{Malware File Name}.log → Deleted afterwards
- %User Temp%\pkg_{Random}\stubinfo.ini → Deleted afterwards
- %User Temp%\pkg_{Random}\detectionrules.dat → Deleted afterwards
- %AppDataLocalLow%\cookieman.exe → Deleted afterwards
- %User Temp%\cookies.sqlite → Deleted afterwards
- %User Temp%\cookies → Deleted afterwards
- %Cookies%\{User Name}@installiq[1].txt
(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).. %AppDataLocalLow% is the LocalLow Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\LocalLow on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %Cookies% is the Internet Explorer browser cookies folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Cookies on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Cookies on Windows Vista and 7, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCookies on Windows 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)
It adds the following processes:
- {Malware File Path}\{Malware File Name}.exe" /wrapper /dir="%User Temp%\pkg_{Random}" /pproc="{Parent Process Name}"
(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).)
It creates the following folders:
- %User Temp%\pkg_{Random}
(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).)
Other System Modifications
This Potentially Unwanted Application deletes the following files:
- %AppDataLocalLow%\cookie.ini
(Note: %AppDataLocalLow% is the LocalLow Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\LocalLow on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Freeze.com\
Installer
test = 1
It deletes the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Freeze.com
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Freeze.com\
Installer
Propagation
This Potentially Unwanted Application does not have any propagation routine.
Backdoor Routine
This Potentially Unwanted Application does not have any backdoor routine.
Rootkit Capabilities
This Potentially Unwanted Application does not have rootkit capabilities.
Other Details
This Potentially Unwanted Application adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Freeze.com
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Freeze.com\
Installer
It does the following:
- It connects to the following website to send and receive information:
- http://dl.{BLOCKED}liq.com/api/detectionrequest.aspx?keyid=1&shortname=applianflv_upgrade&langid={Language ID}
- http://dl.{BLOCKED}liq.com/postback/V1/landing.aspx
- It shows the following upon execution:
- It shows another window with a warning message to configure the user's firewall or antivirus and to ensure that internet connection of the machine:
If installation is cancelled, it will show the following image: - It opens the following website through browser:
- http://{BLOCKED}smiles.com/
It does not exploit any vulnerability.
SOLUTION
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
Delete this registry key
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\Freeze.com
- Installer
- Installer
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\
- Freeze.com
- Freeze.com
Step 4
Search and delete this file
- %User Temp%\pkg_{Random}\stub.log
- %User Temp%\pkg_{Random}\wrapper.xml
- %User Temp%\pkg_{Random}\autorun.txt
- %User Temp%\pkg_{Random}\timings.txt
- %User Temp%\pkg_{Random}\{Malware File Name}.log
- %User Temp%\pkg_{Random}\stubinfo.ini
- %User Temp%\pkg_{Random}\detectionrules.dat
- %AppDataLocalLow%\cookieman.exe
- %User Temp%\cookies.sqlite
- %User Temp%\cookies
- %Cookies%\{User Name}@installiq[1].txt
Step 5
Search and delete these folders
- %User Temp%\pkg_{Random}
Step 6
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as PUA.Win32.InstallIQ.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.
- %AppDataLocalLow%\cookie.ini
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