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apnstub.exe

AskStub Application

Ask.com

This installer is part of the Ask.com (APN) network which will install the Ask.com branded toolbar or browser extension which will take control of the web browser's search functions. The application apnstub.exe by Ask.com has been detected as a potentially unwanted program by 5 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the APN Stub installer. This version of the installer will bundle the Ask.com Toolbar, a potentially unwanted web browser extension. It is also typically executed from the user's temporary directory. The file has been seen being downloaded from apnmedia.ask.com and multiple other hosts.
Publisher:
Ask.com  (signed and verified)

Product:
AskStub Application

Version:
5.2.1.0

MD5:
817e86b7c18a015223a405e79db836e9

SHA-1:
dba4d7540c69c6492d48e688a00b51387685f8a6

SHA-256:
27699897a2773d58ba8840d0352c206f30d32cdb595155ff0a5411da34c0c4c3

Scanner detections:
5 / 68

Status:
Potentially unwanted

Explanation:
Bundles that Ask.com toolbar as a third-party offer, a web browser extension that may modify a user's search and home pages.

Analysis date:
4/26/2024 5:05:30 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Boost by Reason
Optional.Ask.H
188838

Dr.Web
Trojan.DownLoader7.16675
9.0.1.0352

ESET NOD32
Win32/Bundled.Toolbar.Ask (variant)
7.9158

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Ask.H
14.8.8.2

XVirus List
Win32.Detected
2.8.8

File size:
348.2 KB (356,520 bytes)

Product version:
5.2.1.0

Copyright:
Copyright (C) Ask 2011

Original file name:
AskStub.exe

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Installer:
APN Stub

Language:
English (United States)

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\appdata\local\temp\{random}.tmp\apnstub.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Ask.com

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
6/19/2011 9:00:00 PM

Valid to:
6/18/2014 8:59:59 PM

Subject:
CN=Ask.com, OU=Distribution, OU=Digital ID Class 3 - Microsoft Software Validation v2, O=Ask.com, L=Oakland, S=California, C=US

Issuer:
CN=VeriSign Class 3 Code Signing 2010 CA, OU=Terms of use at https://www.verisign.com/rpa (c)10, OU=VeriSign Trust Network, O="VeriSign, Inc.", C=US

Serial number:
0965F2AC7236C7E1BDCA44ED139B273A

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
2/1/2012 5:06:17 PM

OS version:
5.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
9.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
6144:fG+p8Znpv7/XLpY+9YpxEKiMuIjRrIKyKHwcAnbfQsVi7tqqqqqqqqqqqqOoG:Jkpv7/XXmiMugRrylcAnbfQ9tqqqqqq4

Entry address:
0x7294

Entry point:
E8, A8, 3C, 00, 00, E9, 79, FE, FF, FF, 8B, FF, 55, 8B, EC, 81, EC, 28, 03, 00, 00, A3, 48, D4, 41, 00, 89, 0D, 44, D4, 41, 00, 89, 15, 40, D4, 41, 00, 89, 1D, 3C, D4, 41, 00, 89, 35, 38, D4, 41, 00, 89, 3D, 34, D4, 41, 00, 66, 8C, 15, 60, D4, 41, 00, 66, 8C, 0D, 54, D4, 41, 00, 66, 8C, 1D, 30, D4, 41, 00, 66, 8C, 05, 2C, D4, 41, 00, 66, 8C, 25, 28, D4, 41, 00, 66, 8C, 2D, 24, D4, 41, 00, 9C, 8F, 05, 58, D4, 41, 00, 8B, 45, 00, A3, 4C, D4, 41, 00, 8B, 45, 04, A3, 50, D4, 41, 00, 8D, 45, 08, A3, 5C, D4, 41...
 
[+]

Code size:
78 KB (79,872 bytes)

The file apnstub.exe has been seen being distributed by the following 2 URLs.

http://apnmedia.ask.com/media/toolbar/stub2/releases/.../ApnStub.exe

http://apnpip.ask.com/media/toolbar/stub2/releases/.../ApnStub.exe

The executing file has been seen to make the following network communications in live environments.

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a23-65-133-55.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.65.133.55:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a104-88-78-91.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (104.88.78.91:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a23-50-197-9.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.50.197.9:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a23-44-188-23.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.44.188.23:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to 199.36.102.106.df.iacapn.com  (199.36.102.106:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a23-61-97-240.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.61.97.240:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a23-53-91-27.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.53.91.27:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a104-122-215-222.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (104.122.215.222:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a23-4-246-207.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.4.246.207:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a23-37-43-27.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.37.43.27:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to 74.113.233.61.df.iaccap.com  (74.113.233.61:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a104-80-80-222.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (104.80.80.222:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a88-221-100-112.deploy.akamaitechnologies.com  (88.221.100.112:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a23-65-139-27.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.65.139.27:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a23-4-53-163.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.4.53.163:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a23-50-203-27.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.50.203.27:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a23-4-187-27.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.4.187.27:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a23-12-189-84.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.12.189.84:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to host-61-71-105-59.static.kbtelecom.net  (61.71.105.59:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a23-79-107-244.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.79.107.244:80)

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