Classification

Category :

Malware

Type :

-

Aliases :

Surfrbar, Junksurf

Summary

Surfbar is a Visual Basic Script trojan that drops an executable file onto C: drive and executes it. It has been spammed in email messages that use a vulnerability in Internet Explorer to execute the script automatically.

Removal

Based on the settings of your F-Secure security product, it will either move the file to the quarantine where it cannot spread or cause harm, or remove it.

A False Positive is when a file is incorrectly detected as harmful, usually because its code or behavior resembles known harmful programs. A False Positive will usually be fixed in a subsequent database update without any action needed on your part. If you wish, you may also:

  • Check for the latest database updates

    First check if your F-Secure security program is using the latest updates, then try scanning the file again.

  • Submit a sample

    After checking, if you still believe the file is incorrectly detected, you can submit a sample of it for re-analysis.

    Note: If the file was moved to quarantine, you need to collect the file from quarantine before you can submit it.

  • Exclude a file from further scanning

    If you are certain that the file is safe and want to continue using it, you can exclude it from further scanning by the F-Secure security product.

    Note: You need administrative rights to change the settings.

Technical Details

Variant:Surfrbar.A

Variant:Junksurf.A

Surfbar.A is drops the DRG.EXE file onto C: drive and runs it.

The DRG.EXE file attempts to download a file called SURFERBAR.DLL from Internet and puts it to 'C:\Program Files\' folder with WIN32.DLL name. Then this file is registered to Windows with the RegSrv32.exe utlility.

The WIN32.DLL file is an Internet Explorer plugin. It provides customized search capabilities and can be also classified as an adware. This adware drops the file called WINSRV32.EXE to 'C:\Program Files\' folder.

The WINSRV32.EXE file stays in memory and every 10 seconds does the following:

1. Refreshes ITBarLayout value in the following Registry key:

[HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar\WebBrowser]
 

2. Changes the startup page of IE to: 'www.surferbar.com' website

3. Constantly creates the following Registry key:

[HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\runonce]
"win32" = "c:\\program files\\winsrv32.exe"
 

These actions make it hard to remove the installed adware from a system, that is why the WINSRV32.EXE file is classified as a trojan.

The trojan has been spammed in messages that look as follows:

Hey,

How have you been?
What have you been doing lately?

Ive just been at home doing nothing :( bored at uni etc.

Anyway's lets catch up soon,

Luv,
You know who ;)
 

or

Why hello ;)

Whats been happening on your side of the woods?

We haven't been doing much at all really!

Anyways seeya tommorow.
 

or

Hey,

Want to go to the pub on Saturday?

Last Saturday was a blast!

Let me know!
 

The message is html formatted and contains a hidden link that is executed automatically. To do this it uses a vulnerability that could be fixed with an update available at:

https://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-032.asp