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PUA.Win32.Somoto.YQIOVO

July 13, 2019
 Analysis by: Jay Garcia
 ALIASES:

BrowserModifier:Win32/DeepSync (Microsoft); HEUR:AdWare.MSIL.Syncapad.gen (Kaspersky)

 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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

2,069,976 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

13 Jul 2019

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%\IXP000.TMP\TMP{random numbers}$.TMP
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\AppSync.exe
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\config.txt
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\pref.txt
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\brand.js
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\AppSync.exe.config
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\PdfPro100.ico
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\1517130957005_490x60.png
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\1517143390278_1512482433840_logo.png
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\alert-icon.png
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\bg.jpg
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\install.css
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\install.html
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\install.js
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\jquery-3.2.1.slim.min.js
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\loader.gif
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\logo.png
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\retake.css
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\retake.html
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\retake.js
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\spinner.gif
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\uninstall.css
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\uninstall.html
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\uninstall.js
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\win10_install.css
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\win10_install.html
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\win10_install.js

(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:

  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\AppSync.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(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).)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
wextract_cleanup0 = "rundll32.exe %System%\advpack.dll,DelNodeRunDLL32 "%User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\""

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

SSAPI PATTERN File:

2.193.00

SSAPI PATTERN Date:

18 Jul 2019

Step 1

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 2

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 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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\RunOnce
    • wextract_cleanup0 = rundll32.exe %System%\advpack.dll,DelNodeRunDLL32 %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\

Step 5

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%\IXP000.TMP\TMP4351$.TMP
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\AppSync.exe
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\config.txt
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\pref.txt
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\brand.js
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\AppSync.exe.config
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\PdfPro100.ico
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\1517130957005_490x60.png
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\1517143390278_1512482433840_logo.png
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\alert-icon.png
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\bg.jpg
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\install.css
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\install.html
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\install.js
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\jquery-3.2.1.slim.min.js
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\loader.gif
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\logo.png
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\retake.css
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\retake.html
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\retake.js
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\spinner.gif
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\uninstall.css
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\uninstall.html
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\uninstall.js
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\win10_install.css
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\win10_install.html
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\win10_install.js

Step 6

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as PUA.Win32.Somoto.YQIOVO. 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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