Analysis by: Maria Emreen Viray
 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Potentially Unwanted Application

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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

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 uses a user interface (UI).

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 10,039,808 bytes
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 16 Jun 2022
Payload: Displays windows

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:

  • %Program Files%\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher\FNPLicensingService.exe
  • %Program Files%\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher\fnp_registrations.xml
  • %ProgramData%\FLEXnet\SW_D_{random}_tsf.data
  • %ProgramData%\FLEXnet\SW_D_{random}_tsf.data_backup.{number}

(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).. %ProgramData% is a version of the Program Files folder where any user on a multi-user computer can make changes to programs. This contains application data for all users. This is usually C:\ProgramData on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit), or C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows Server 2003(32-bit), 2000(32-bit) and XP.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Program Files%\Common Files\Macrovision Shared
  • %Program Files%\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher
  • %ProgramData%\FLEXnet

(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).. %ProgramData% is a version of the Program Files folder where any user on a multi-user computer can make changes to programs. This contains application data for all users. This is usually C:\ProgramData on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit), or C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows Server 2003(32-bit), 2000(32-bit) and XP.)

Autostart Technique

This Potentially Unwanted Application registers as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\FLEXnet Licensing Service
ImagePath = "%Program Files%\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher\FNPLicensingService.exe"

Other Details

This Potentially Unwanted Application uses the following user interface:

It does the following:

  • It is used to activate specific SolidWorks products.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
SSAPI PATTERN File: 2.523.00
SSAPI PATTERN Date: 16 Jun 2022

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

[ 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. Before you could do this, you must restart in Safe Mode. For instructions on how to do this, you may refer to this page If the preceding step requires you to restart in safe mode, you may proceed to edit the system registry.

 
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\FLEXnet Licensing Service
    • ImagePath = "%Program Files%\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher\FNPLicensingService.exe"

Step 4

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.
  •  %Program Files%\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher\FNPLicensingService.exe
  • %Program Files%\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher\fnp_registrations.xml
  • %ProgramData%\FLEXnet\SW_D_{random}_tsf.data
  • %ProgramData%\FLEXnet\SW_D_{random}_tsf.data_backup.{number}

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.
  • %Program Files%\Common Files\Macrovision Shared
  • %Program Files%\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher
  • %ProgramData%\FLEXnet

Step 6

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