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ADW_POPUPPERS

January 16, 2014
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Adware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This adware 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

File Size:

1,476,096 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

16 Jan 2014

Arrival Details

This adware 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 adware creates the following folders:

  • %System Root%\DOCUME~1
  • %System Root%\DOCUME~1\Wilbert
  • %User Profile%\LOCALS~1
  • %User Temp%\nsy3.tmp
  • %Program Files%\OpenKeyword

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.. %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, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista and 7.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
OpenKeyword = "%Program Files%\OpenKeyword\OpenKeywordAgent.exe"

Other System Modifications

This adware deletes the following files:

  • %User Temp%\nst1.tmp
  • %User Temp%\nsy3.tmp
  • %System Root%\DelUS.bat

(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, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista and 7.. %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)

It adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\OpenKeyword

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\OpenKeyword\
update

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
OpenKeyword

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\openkey

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\OpenKeyword\
advert

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\OpenKeyword
dir = "%Program Files%\OpenKeyword"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\OpenKeyword\
update
ver = "10"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
OpenKeyword
Comments = "OpenKeyword"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
OpenKeyword
DisplayIcon = "%Program Files%\OpenKeyword\OpenKeyword.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
OpenKeyword
DisplayName = "Windows OpenKeyword"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
OpenKeyword
DisplayVersion = "10"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
OpenKeyword
HelpLink = "http://www.{BLOCKED}yword.co.kr"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
OpenKeyword
Publisher = "Maroin"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
OpenKeyword
UninstallString = "%Program Files%\OpenKeyword\uninst.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
OpenKeyword
URLInfoAbout = "http://www.{BLOCKED}yword.co.kr"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
OpenKeyword
URLUpdateInfo = "http://www.{BLOCKED}yword.co.kr"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\OpenKeyword\
advert
today = "20140114"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\OpenKeyword\
advert
count = "0"

It deletes the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\OpenKeyword\
advert\keyword

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\OpenKeyword\
advert\url

Dropping Routine

This adware drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\nsy3.tmp\KillProcDLL.dll
  • %User Temp%\nsy3.tmp\DLLWebCount.dll
  • %User Temp%\nsy3.tmp\DLLWaitForKillProgram.dll
  • %Program Files%\OpenKeyword\OpenKeyword.exe
  • %Program Files%\OpenKeyword\OpenKeywordAgent.exe
  • %Program Files%\OpenKeyword\openkey.dll
  • %User Temp%\nsy3.tmp\GetVersion.dll
  • %Program Files%\OpenKeyword\uninst.exe
  • %User Temp%\nsy3.tmp\SelfDelete.dll
  • \DelUS.bat

(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, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista and 7.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).)

Other Details

This adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://openkeyword.{BLOCKED}o.kr/mmsv/Access3.php?{random characters}

It deletes itself after execution.

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

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

[ 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_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • OpenKeyword
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\OpenKeyword
    • update
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
    • OpenKeyword
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software
    • openkey
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\OpenKeyword
    • advert

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • OpenKeyword = "%Program Files%\OpenKeyword\OpenKeywordAgent.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\OpenKeyword
    • dir = "%Program Files%\OpenKeyword"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\OpenKeyword\update
    • ver = "10"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\OpenKeyword
    • Comments = "OpenKeyword"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\OpenKeyword
    • DisplayIcon = "%Program Files%\OpenKeyword\OpenKeyword.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\OpenKeyword
    • DisplayName = "Windows OpenKeyword"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\OpenKeyword
    • DisplayVersion = "10"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\OpenKeyword
    • HelpLink = "http://www.{BLOCKED}yword.co.kr"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\OpenKeyword
    • Publisher = "Maroin"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\OpenKeyword
    • UninstallString = "%Program Files%\OpenKeyword\uninst.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\OpenKeyword
    • URLInfoAbout = "http://www.{BLOCKED}yword.co.kr"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\OpenKeyword
    • URLUpdateInfo = "http://www.{BLOCKED}yword.co.kr"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\OpenKeyword\advert
    • today = "20140114"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\OpenKeyword\advert
    • count = "0"

Step 5

Search and delete these components

[ Learn More ]
There may be some components 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%\nsy3.tmp\KillProcDLL.dll
  • %User Temp%\nsy3.tmp\DLLWebCount.dll
  • %User Temp%\nsy3.tmp\DLLWaitForKillProgram.dll
  • %Program Files%\OpenKeyword\OpenKeyword.exe
  • %Program Files%\OpenKeyword\OpenKeywordAgent.exe
  • %Program Files%\OpenKeyword\openkey.dll
  • %User Temp%\nsy3.tmp\GetVersion.dll
  • %Program Files%\OpenKeyword\uninst.exe
  • %User Temp%\nsy3.tmp\SelfDelete.dll
  • \DelUS.bat

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.
  • %System Root%\DOCUME~1
  • %System Root%\DOCUME~1\Wilbert
  • %User Profile%\LOCALS~1
  • %User Temp%\nsy3.tmp
  • %Program Files%\OpenKeyword

Step 7

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

  • %User Temp%\nst1.tmp
  • %User Temp%\nsy3.tmp
  • %System Root%\DelUS.bat

Step 9

Restore these deleted registry keys/values from backup

*Note: Only Microsoft-related keys/values will be restored. If the malware/grayware also deleted registry keys/values related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on your computer.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\OpenKeyword\advert
    • keyword
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\OpenKeyword\advert
    • url


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