TROJ_SCAR.APO
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
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.
It deletes itself after execution.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
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 drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %Application Data%\Stickads\stickads.exe
(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.)
It creates the following folders:
- %Application Data%\Stickads
(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.)
Autostart Technique
This Trojan adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
stickads = "%Application Data%\Stickads\stickads.exe"
Other System Modifications
This Trojan adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Stickads
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Stickads
DisplayName = "Stickads Remove"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Stickads
UnInstallString = "%Application Data%\Stickads\stickads -D"
Other Details
This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- http://{BLOCKED}d.net/update/installed1.php?{random characters}
- http://{BLOCKED}d.net/update/ad.php?mac=00:50:56:9F:37:27
- http://{BLOCKED}d.net/update/installlist.php?mac=00:50:56:9F:37:27
It deletes itself after execution.
This report is generated via an automated analysis system.
SOLUTION
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
Restart in Safe Mode
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_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
- Stickads
Step 4
Delete this registry value
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\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- stickads = "%Application Data%\Stickads\stickads.exe"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Stickads
- DisplayName = "Stickads Remove"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Stickads
- UnInstallString = "%Application Data%\Stickads\stickads -D"
Step 5
Search and delete this folder
- %Application Data%\Stickads
Step 6
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TROJ_SCAR.APO. 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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