Analysis by: Michael Jay Villanueva
 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 may be manually installed by a user.

It modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

It connects to certain websites to send and receive information. It gathers information and reports it to its servers.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 745,472 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 16 Jan 2017
Payload: Steals information, Connects to URLs/IPs

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.

It may be manually installed by a user.

Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification

This potentially unwanted application modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

Other Details

This potentially unwanted application connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • http://{BLOCKED}h.shcottiergrati.bid/h_redir.php?offer_id={value}&aff_id={value}&source={value}&aff_sub={string}&aff_sub2={value}&aff_sub3={value}&aff_sub4={value}&aff_sub5={value}&url=http://hoh.shcottiergrati.bid/offer.php?affId={aff_id}&trackingId={value}&instId={value}&ho_trackingid={transaction_id}&cc={country_code}&cc_typ={string}&sb={OS bit version}&wv={OS Version}&db={Default Browser}&uac={value}&cid={value}&v={value}
  • http://{BLOCKED}p.sinterseptalc.bid/aff_c?offer_id={value}&aff_id={value}&source={value}&aff_sub={string}&aff_sub2={value}&aff_sub3={value}&aff_sub4={value}&aff_sub5={value}&url=http://hoh.shcottiergrati.bid/offer.php?affId={aff_id}&trackingId={value}&instId={value}&ho_trackingid={transaction_id}&cc={country_code}&cc_typ={string}&sb={OS bit version}&wv={OS Version}&db={Default Browser}&uac={value}&cid={value}&v={value}
  • http://{BLOCKED}h.adowableunco.bid/installer.php?affId={value}&instId={value}&ho_trackingid={value}&trackingId={value}&cc={Country Code}&uac={value}&cid={value}&v={value}
  • http://{BLOCKED}l.glyceraceousfive.bid/installer.php?affId={value}&instId={value}&ho_trackingid={value}&trackingId={value}&cc={Country Code}&uac={value}&cid={value}&v={value}
  • http://{BLOCKED}l.glyceraceousfive.bid/report.php?typ=sys&affId={value}&instId={value}&ho_transId={value}&transId={value}&chk_s_b={Environment}&chk_s_v={value}&chk_c_ma={Environment}&chk_c_mo={Platform}&chk_mac={MAC Address}&randid={value}
  • http://{BLOCKED}l.glyceraceousfive.bid/report.php?typ={string}&transId={value}&affId={value}&instId={value}&ho_transId={value}&s1={string}&s2={value}&s3={value}&s4={value}&s5={value}&cid={value}&uac={value}&randid={value}

It gathers the following information and reports it to its servers:

  • OS Version
  • Country Code
  • Default Browser
  • Machine Environment
  • MAC Address
  • User Account Information

NOTES:
However, as of this analysis, the spyware does not complete its routine due to an error, wherein it possibly needs an additional component.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
SSAPI PATTERN File: 1.803.00
SSAPI PATTERN Date: 19 Jan 2017

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

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as PUA_STARTSURF.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.

Step 3

Reset Internet security settings

[ Learn More ]


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