ALIASES:

Adware:Win32/ComedyPlanet (Microsoft); Generic Dropper.i (McAfee); Download.Adware (Symantec); ARC:Inno, ARC:[data0001]:EmbeddedEXE, [data0001/data0000]:Trojan-Downloader.Win32.Agent.gn (Kaspersky); Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Trojan arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 422,010 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 11 Oct 2012

Arrival Details

This Trojan 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 Trojan creates the following folders:

  • %User Temp%\is-3CFVG.tmp
  • %User Temp%\is-175N4.tmp
  • %Program Files%\Comedy-Planet
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Comedy-Planet

(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, XP, and Server 2003.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.. %Start Menu% is the current user's Start Menu folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows NT and C:\Windows\Start Menu or C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

Autostart Technique

This Trojan adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Comedy-Planet = "%Program Files%\Comedy-Planet\comedy-planet.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan deletes the following files:

  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Comedy-Planet\Comedy-Planet.pif

(Note: %Start Menu% is the current user's Start Menu folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows NT and C:\Windows\Start Menu or C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

It adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Comedy-Planet_is1

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\joke

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\joke\DefaultIcon

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\joke\Shell

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\joke\Shell\
open

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\joke\Shell\
open\command

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Comedy-Planet_is1
Inno Setup: Setup Version = "4.2.7"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Comedy-Planet_is1
Inno Setup: App Path = "%Program Files%\Comedy-Planet"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Comedy-Planet_is1
InstallLocation = "%Program Files%\Comedy-Planet"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Comedy-Planet_is1
Inno Setup: Icon Group = "Comedy-Planet"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Comedy-Planet_is1
Inno Setup: User = "Administrator"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Comedy-Planet_is1
Inno Setup: Deselected Tasks = "desktopicon,quicklaunchicon"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Comedy-Planet_is1
DisplayName = "Comedy-Planet 2.200"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Comedy-Planet_is1
UninstallString = "%Program Files%\Comedy-Planet\unins000.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Comedy-Planet_is1
QuietUninstallString = "%Program Files%\Comedy-Planet\unins000.exe /SILENT"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Comedy-Planet_is1
Publisher = "Comedy Planet Inc"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Comedy-Planet_is1
URLInfoAbout = "http://www.{BLOCKED}-planet.com"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Comedy-Planet_is1
HelpLink = "http://www.{BLOCKED}-planet.com"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Comedy-Planet_is1
URLUpdateInfo = "http://www.{BLOCKED}-planet.com"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Comedy-Planet_is1
NoModify = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Comedy-Planet_is1
NoRepair = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
joke
EditFlags = "{random values}"

Dropping Routine

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\is-3CFVG.tmp\is-0APNG.tmp
  • %User Temp%\is-175N4.tmp\_shfoldr.dll
  • %Program Files%\Comedy-Planet\unins000.dat
  • %Program Files%\Comedy-Planet\is-US2U4.tmp
  • %Program Files%\Comedy-Planet\is-G02J8.tmp
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Comedy-Planet\Comedy-Planet.lnk
  • %System%\msupd4.exe

(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, XP, and Server 2003.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.. %Start Menu% is the current user's Start Menu folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows NT and C:\Windows\Start Menu or C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.. %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.)

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.200

Step 1

For Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 users, before doing any scans, please make sure you disable System Restore to allow full scanning of your computer.

Step 2

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
    • Comedy-Planet_is1
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
    • joke
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\joke
    • DefaultIcon
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\joke
    • Shell
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\joke\Shell
    • open
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\joke\Shell\open
    • command

Step 4

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Comedy-Planet = "%Program Files%\Comedy-Planet\comedy-planet.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Comedy-Planet_is1
    • Inno Setup: Setup Version = "4.2.7"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Comedy-Planet_is1
    • Inno Setup: App Path = "%Program Files%\Comedy-Planet"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Comedy-Planet_is1
    • InstallLocation = "%Program Files%\Comedy-Planet"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Comedy-Planet_is1
    • Inno Setup: Icon Group = "Comedy-Planet"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Comedy-Planet_is1
    • Inno Setup: User = "Administrator"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Comedy-Planet_is1
    • Inno Setup: Deselected Tasks = "desktopicon,quicklaunchicon"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Comedy-Planet_is1
    • DisplayName = "Comedy-Planet 2.200"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Comedy-Planet_is1
    • UninstallString = "%Program Files%\Comedy-Planet\unins000.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Comedy-Planet_is1
    • QuietUninstallString = "%Program Files%\Comedy-Planet\unins000.exe /SILENT"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Comedy-Planet_is1
    • Publisher = "Comedy Planet Inc"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Comedy-Planet_is1
    • URLInfoAbout = "http://www.{BLOCKED}-planet.com"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Comedy-Planet_is1
    • HelpLink = "http://www.{BLOCKED}-planet.com"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Comedy-Planet_is1
    • URLUpdateInfo = "http://www.{BLOCKED}-planet.com"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Comedy-Planet_is1
    • NoModify = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Comedy-Planet_is1
    • NoRepair = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\joke
    • EditFlags = "{random values}"

Step 5

Search and delete these files

[ Learn More ]
There may be some component 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.
  • %User Temp%\is-3CFVG.tmp\is-0APNG.tmp
  • %User Temp%\is-175N4.tmp\_shfoldr.dll
  • %Program Files%\Comedy-Planet\unins000.dat
  • %Program Files%\Comedy-Planet\is-US2U4.tmp
  • %Program Files%\Comedy-Planet\is-G02J8.tmp
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Comedy-Planet\Comedy-Planet.lnk
  • %System%\msupd4.exe

Step 6

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.
  • %User Temp%\is-3CFVG.tmp
  • %User Temp%\is-175N4.tmp
  • %Program Files%\Comedy-Planet
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Comedy-Planet

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TROJ_DROPPER.OZ. 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 8

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.

  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Comedy-Planet\Comedy-Planet.pif


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