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PUA.Win32.InstallCore.MANHOBZM

December 24, 2021
 Analysis by: Khristian Joseph Morales
 ALIASES:

W32/InstallCore.AIOC!tr (FORTINET)

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

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

791,896 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

23 Dec 2021

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.

Installation

This Potentially Unwanted Application drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\ie6_main.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\main.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui\browse.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui\button.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui\checkbox.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui\images\button-bg.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui\images\progress-bg-corner.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui\images\progress-bg.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui\images\progress-bg2.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui\progress-bar.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\csshover3.htc
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\fciv.exe
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\form.bmp.Mask
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\BG.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Close.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Close_Hover.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Color_Button.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Color_Button_Hover.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Grey_Button.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Grey_Button_Hover.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Icon_Generic.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Loader.gif
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Pause_Button.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Progress.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\ProgressBar.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Quick_Specs.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Resume_Button.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\sponsored.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\step01.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\step02.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\step03.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\step04.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\locale\DE.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\locale\EN.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\locale\ES.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\locale\FR.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\locale\JA.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\locale\PL.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\locale\PT.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\locale\RU.locale
  • %User Temp%\{random characters}.log
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\bootstrap_14419.html

(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(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It adds the following processes:

  • "{Grayware Filepath}\{GrayWare Filename}.exe" /_ShowProgress /PrTxt:{encoded base-64}

It creates the following folders:

  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui\images
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\locale\

(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(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

Other System Modifications

This Potentially Unwanted Application deletes the following files:

  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\bootstrap_27241.html
  • %User Temp%\{random characters}log
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\ie6_main.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\main.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui\browse.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui\button.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui\checkbox.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui\images\button-bg.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui\images\progress-bg-corner.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui\images\progress-bg.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui\images\progress-bg2.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui\progress-bar.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\csshover3.htc
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\fciv.exe
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\form.bmp.Mask
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\BG.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Close.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Close_Hover.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Color_Button.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Color_Button_Hover.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Grey_Button.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Grey_Button_Hover.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Icon_Generic.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Loader.gif
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Pause_Button.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Progress.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\ProgressBar.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Quick_Specs.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Resume_Button.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\sponsored.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\step01.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\step02.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\step03.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\step04.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\locale\DE.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\locale\EN.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\locale\ES.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\locale\FR.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\locale\JA.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\locale\PL.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\locale\PT.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\locale\RU.locale

(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(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It deletes the following folders:

  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui\images
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}

(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(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

Other Details

This Potentially Unwanted Application connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://survey-{BLOCKED}.com
  • http://info.sour{BLOCKED}.com/?v=1.02&c={random characters}&cntr=0
  • http://info.sour{BLOCKED}.com/?v=1.02&c={random characters}&cntr=1
  • http://info.sour{BLOCKED}.com/?v=1.02&c={random characters}&cntr=2
  • http://rp.sour{BLOCKED}.com/?pcrc={random characters}v=2.0

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.800

SSAPI PATTERN File:

2.476.00

SSAPI PATTERN Date:

30 Dec 2021

Step 1

Trend Micro Predictive Machine Learning detects and blocks malware at the first sign of its existence, before it executes on your system. When enabled, your Trend Micro product detects this malware under the following machine learning name:

     
    • TROJ.Win32.TRX.XXPE50FSX017

Step 2

Before doing any scans, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.

Step 3

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 4

Search and delete this file

[ Learn More ]
There may be some 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%\ish{numbers}\css\ie6_main.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\main.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui\browse.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui\button.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui\checkbox.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui\images\button-bg.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui\images\progress-bg-corner.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui\images\progress-bg.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui\images\progress-bg2.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui\progress-bar.css
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\csshover3.htc
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\fciv.exe
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\form.bmp.Mask
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\BG.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Close.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Close_Hover.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Color_Button.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Color_Button_Hover.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Grey_Button.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Grey_Button_Hover.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Icon_Generic.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Loader.gif
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Pause_Button.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Progress.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\ProgressBar.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Quick_Specs.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\Resume_Button.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\sponsored.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\step01.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\step02.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\step03.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images\step04.png
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\locale\DE.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\locale\EN.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\locale\ES.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\locale\FR.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\locale\JA.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\locale\PL.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\locale\PT.locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\locale\RU.locale
  • %User Temp%\{random characters}.log
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\bootstrap_14419.html
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\bootstrap_27241.html

Step 5

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%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui\images
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css\sdk-ui
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\css
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\images
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}\locale
  • %User Temp%\ish{numbers}

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as PUA.Win32.InstallCore.MANHOBZM. 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 the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:


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