Downloader.MisleadApp/afinding.exe

Discussion in 'Malware Help (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by buzz4_nt, Jun 23, 2008.

  1. buzz4_nt

    buzz4_nt Private E-2

    Running XP SP2, my Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition reported that on last Friday night at 8:15 (when I wasn't even logged into the machine) it found Downloader.MisleadApp - c:\windows\system32\afinding.exe and could not quarantine it or delete it because access was denied. In my task manager I found it running and was able to delete the afinding.exe process. I ran HJT and it showed O23 - Service: AFinding log Service (AFinding) - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\afinding.exe.

    The strange thing is that the Dated Modified for afinding.exe matches many other entries in system32 - 8/4/2004 5:00 AM - which is the D/T stamp for a bunch of the Microsoft entries. So, is this really malware?
     
  2. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Yes it is malware and if you have this, you may have other problems. It runs as a service so if you kill the process, it will just restart after some time period.

    Please follow the instructions in the below link and attach the requested logs when you finish these instructions. If something does not run, write down the info to explain to us later but keep on going. Do not assume that because one step does not work that they all will not.

    READ & RUN ME FIRST. Malware Removal Guide
     
  3. buzz4_nt

    buzz4_nt Private E-2

    OK, I have run the 5 items. Spybot S&D did not find anything. I am attaching the logs from SAS, MalwareBytes, ComboFix and MGtools (I believe I will have to send this one separately as you limit to 3 files?)

    Thanks.
     

    Attached Files:

  4. buzz4_nt

    buzz4_nt Private E-2

    MGTools.zip
     

    Attached Files:

  5. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Okay it looks like the scans took care of all the related malware problems that occurred due to the afinding service. We do have a little more to do.

    IS the below folders something you created?
    Code:
    GE1601~1      May  8 2008              "GenzymeSP1_incidents"
    GE6D79~1      Jun 17 2008              "GenzymeValOQs"
    Uninstall the below software:
    J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 6
    Java 2 Runtime Environment, SE v1.4.2_03
    Java 2 Runtime Environment, SE v1.4.2_12
    Viewpoint Media Player <-- should have been uninstalled in step 1 of the READ ME

    Run C:\MGtools\analyse.exe by double clicking on it (Note: if using Vista, don't double click, use right click and select Run As Administrator). This is really HijackThis (select Do a system scan only) and select the following lines but DO NOT CLICK FIX until you exit all browser sessions including the one you are reading in right now:

    O2 - BHO: (no name) - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - (no file)
    O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - (no file)

    After clicking Fix, exit HJT.

    Now reboot your PC!

    After reboot, now install the current version of Sun Java from: Sun Java Runtime Environment

    Copy the bold text below to notepad. Save it as fixme.reg to your desktop. Be sure the "Save as" type is set to "all files" Once you have saved it double click it and allow it to merge with the registry.
    Make sure that you tell me if you receive a success message about adding the above
    to the registry. If you do not get a success message, it definitely did not work.

    Now run Ccleaner!

    Now run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it.


    Then attach the below log:
    • C:\MGlogs.zip
    Make sure you tell me how things are working now!
     
  6. buzz4_nt

    buzz4_nt Private E-2

    yes, the Genzyme folders are mine.

    I uninstalled Viewpoint media player.

    I need Java (1.4 or 1.5) on my machine to run our application. I don't want to put latest Java version as we have not certified our app with it.

    I will soon run analyse.exe.
     
  7. buzz4_nt

    buzz4_nt Private E-2

    yes, the registry entries were added successfully
     
  8. buzz4_nt

    buzz4_nt Private E-2

    Here is the MGlogs.zip file. Thanks Chas.
     

    Attached Files:

  9. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Okay but just realize that you are putting yourseld at high risk for infections from Virtumonde and others that take advantage of security issues in older versions of Java.

    You're logs are clean. If you are not having any other malware problems, it is time to do our final steps:
    1. You can uninstall SUPERAntiSpyware now.
    2. We recommed you keep Malwarebytes Anti-Malware as a scanner. It uses no resources except a little disk space until you run a scan.
    3. If we had you use ComboFix, uninstall ComboFix (This uninstall will only work as written if you installed ComboFix on your Desktop & renamed it like we requested.)
      • Click START then RUN and enter the below into the run box and then click OK. Note the quotes are required
      • "%userprofile%\Desktop\cf" /u
        • Notes: The space between the cf" and the /u, it must be there.
        • This will uninstall ComboFix and also reset hidden files and folders settings back to Windows defaults.
      • Delete the C:\cf folder from combofix.
    4. If we had you download any registry patches like fixme.reg or fixWLK.reg (or any others), you can delete these files now.
    5. If running Vista, it is time to make sure you have reenabled UAC by double clicking on the C:\MGtools\enableUAC.reg file and allowing it to be added to the registry.
    6. Go to add/remove programs and uninstall HijackThis.
    7. You can delete the C:\MGtools folder and the C:\MGtools.exe file. You can also delete the C:\MGlogs.zip
    8. If you are running Vista, Windows XP or Windows ME, do the below:
      • Refer to the cleaning steps in the READ ME for your Window version and see the steps to Disable System Restore which will flush your Restore Points.
      • Then reboot and Enable System Restore to create a new clean Restore Point.
    9. After doing the above, you should work thru the below link:
     

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