Analysis by: Pearl Charlaine Espejo
ALIASES:

PUP.Adware.globalUpdate (Arcabit); PUA.AlteredSoftware (Ikarus)

 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

This potentially unwanted application may arrive bundled with malware packages as a malware component. It may be manually installed by a user.

It requires its main component to successfully perform its intended routine.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 220,672 bytes
File Type: DLL
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 23 Dec 2015

Arrival Details

This potentially unwanted application may arrive bundled with malware packages as a malware component.

It may be manually installed by a user.

Other System Modifications

This potentially unwanted application adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MozillaPlugins\
@staging.google.com/globalUpdate Update;version={number}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MozillaPlugins\
@staging.google.com/globalUpdate Update;version={number}\MimeTypes\application/x-vnd.google.oneclickctrl.{number}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\
PreApproved\{UID 1}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\
PreApproved\{UID 2}

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MozillaPlugins\
@staging.google.com/globalUpdate Update;version={number}
Path = "{malware path and filename}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MozillaPlugins\
@staging.google.com/globalUpdate Update;version={number}
Description = "globalUpdate Update"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MozillaPlugins\
@staging.google.com/globalUpdate Update;version={number}
ProductName = "globalUpdate Update"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MozillaPlugins\
@staging.google.com/globalUpdate Update;version={number}
Vendor = "globalUpdate"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MozillaPlugins\
@staging.google.com/globalUpdate Update;version={number}
Version = "{number}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Low Rights\ElevationPolicy\
{UID 1}
AppName = "GoogleUpdate.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Low Rights\ElevationPolicy\
{UID 1}
AppPath = "%Application Data%\globalUpdate\Update"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Low Rights\ElevationPolicy\
{UID 2}
AppName = "GoogleUpdateOnDemand.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Low Rights\ElevationPolicy\
{UID 2}
AppPath = "%Application Data%\globalUpdate\Update\1.3.25.0"

Other Details

This potentially unwanted application requires its main component to successfully perform its intended routine.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
SSAPI PATTERN File: 1.695.00
SSAPI PATTERN Date: 09 Jan 2016

Step 1

Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 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

Identify and terminate files detected as PUA_GLOBALUPDATE.GA

[ 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 4

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\MozillaPlugins\@staging.google.com/
    • globalUpdate Update;version = {number}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MozillaPlugins\@staging.google.com/
    • globalUpdate Update;version = {number}\MimeTypes\application/x-vnd.google.oneclickctrl.{number}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\PreApproved
    • {UID 1}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\PreApproved
    • {UID 2}

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as PUA_GLOBALUPDATE.GA. 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 this Knowledge Base page for more information.


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