BAT.Junkboat.Worm

SUMMARY

BAT.Junkboat.Worm is a worm that uses the KaZaA-file sharing network and mIRC to spread. It also creates the file C:Love_Me.vbs which has the ability to email BAT.Junkboat.Worm to all addresses in the Microsoft Outlook Address Book.

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) February 19, 2003
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) February 14, 2003

Threat Assessment

Wild

• Wild Level: Low
• Number of Infections: 0 - 49
• Number of Sites: 0 - 2
• Geographical Distribution: Low
• Threat Containment: Easy
• Removal: Moderate

Damage

• Damage Level: Low
• Modifies Files: win.ini

Distribution

• Distribution Level: Medium
• Shared Drives: Attempts to spread via the KaZaA file-sharing network and through IRC.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

When BAT.Junkboat.Worm is executed, it does the following:

1. Copies itself as these files:
   • C:Love_Me.bat
   • C:WindowsLove_Me.bat
     
     
2. Creates the hidden folder, C:Love_Me, and copies itself there as these files:
   • C:Love_MeXcopy.TXT.bat
   • C:Love_MeEdit.MP3.bat
   • C:Love_MeFormat.AVI.bat
   • C:Love_MeCHDSK.ZIP.bat
   • C:Love_MeBootdisk.TXT.bat
   • C:Love_MeCommand.GIF.bat
   • C:Love_MeChoice.JPEG.bat
   • C:Love_MeAttrib.GIF.bat
   • C:Love_MeWin.TXT.bat
   • C:Love_MeSystem.dll.bat
   • C:Love_MeFdisk.JPEG.bat
   • C:Love_MeMEM.GIF.bat
   • C:Love_Mewin32.TXT.bat
     
     
3. Creates these files:
   • C:MircScript.ini
   • C:Mirc32Script.ini
   • C:Progra~1MircScript.ini
   • C:Progra~1Mirc32Script.in
     
4. Adds the following line to the Win.ini file:
   
   load=C:Love_Me.bat
   
   so that the worm starts when you start Windows 95/98/Me.
   
5. Adds or modifies values to:
   
   DisableSharing dword:00000000
   DownloadDir C:\Program Files\Kazaa\My Shared Folder
   Dir0 012345:C:
   
   in the registry key:
   
   HKEY_CURRENT_USERsoftwareKazaaLocalContent
   
6. Modifies the value to:
   
   StartPage http:/ /naturalsex.org
   
   in the registry key:
   
   HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerMain
   
   This changes your Internet Explorer home page to a sexually oriented Web site.
   
7. Creates the file, C:Love_Me.vbs. Symantec AntiVirus products detect this file as VBS.Junkboat@mm. VBS.Junkboat@mm is a worm that uses Microsoft Outlook to spread. The email that it sends is:
   
   Subject: Network Security
   Message: The latest in Network Security this program protects against hackers for the moment its freeware.
   Attachment: C:Love_Me.bat

Recommendations

Symantec Security Response encourages all users and administrators to adhere to the following basic security "best practices":

• Turn off and remove unneeded services. By default, many operating systems install auxiliary services that are not critical, such as an FTP server, telnet, and a Web server. These services are avenues of attack. If they are removed, blended threats have less avenues of attack and you have fewer services to maintain through patch updates.
• If a blended threat exploits one or more network services, disable, or block access to, those services until a patch is applied.
• Always keep your patch levels up-to-date, especially on computers that host public services and are accessible through the firewall, such as HTTP, FTP, mail, and DNS services (for example, all Windows-based computers should have the current Service Pack installed.). Additionally, please apply any security updates that are mentioned in this writeup, in trusted Security Bulletins, or on vendor Web sites.
• Enforce a password policy. Complex passwords make it difficult to crack password files on compromised computers. This helps to prevent or limit damage when a computer is compromised.
• Configure your email server to block or remove email that contains file attachments that are commonly used to spread viruses, such as .vbs, .bat, .exe, .pif and .scr files.
• Isolate infected computers quickly to prevent further compromising your organization. Perform a forensic analysis and restore the computers using trusted media.
• Train employees not to open attachments unless they are expecting them. Also, do not execute software that is downloaded from the Internet unless it has been scanned for viruses. Simply visiting a compromised Web site can cause infection if certain browser vulnerabilities are not patched.

REMOVAL

These instructions pertain to all current and recent Symantec antivirus products, including the Symantec AntiVirus and Norton AntiVirus product lines.

1. Update the virus definitions.
2. Run a full system scan and delete all the files detected as BAT.Junkboat.Worm or VBS.Junkboat@mm.
3. Reverse the changes that the worm made to the registry.
4. Edit the Win.ini file and remove the line the worm added (Windows 95/98/Me).
5. Reset the Internet Explorer home page.
   

For specific details on each of these procedures, read the following instructions.

1. Updating the virus definitions
Symantec Security Response fully tests all the virus definitions for quality assurance before they are posted to our servers. There are two ways to obtain the most recent virus definitions:

• Running LiveUpdate, which is the easiest way to obtain the virus definitions. These virus definitions are posted to the LiveUpdate servers once each week (usually on Wednesdays), unless there is a major virus outbreak. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by LiveUpdate, refer to the Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate), in the "Protection" section, at the top of this writeup.
• Downloading the definitions using the Intelligent Updater. The Intelligent Updater virus definitions are posted on U.S. business days (Monday through Friday). You should download the definitions from the Symantec Security Response Web site and manually install them. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by the Intelligent Updater, refer to the Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater), in the "Protection" section, at the top of this writeup.
  
  The Intelligent Updater virus definitions are available here. For detailed instructions on how to download and install the Intelligent Updater virus definitions from the Symantec Security Response Web site, click here.

2. Scanning for and deleting the infected files

1. Start your Symantec antivirus program and make sure that it is configured to scan all the files.
   • For Norton AntiVirus consumer products: Read the document, "How to configure Norton AntiVirus to scan all files."
   • For Symantec AntiVirus Enterprise products: Read the document, "How to verify that a Symantec Corporate antivirus product is set to scan All Files."
2. Run a full system scan.
3. If any files are detected as infected with BAT.Junkboat.Worm or VBS.Junkboat@mm, click Delete.

3. Reversing the changes that the worm made to the registry
If you use KaZaA, you should reset the values that the worm changed to the correct settings.

CAUTION: Symantec strongly recommends that you back up the registry before you make any changes to it. Incorrect changes to the registry can result in permanent data loss or corrupted files. Modify the specified keys only. Read the document, "How to make a backup of the Windows registry," for instructions.

1. Click Start, and then click Run. (The Run dialog box appears.)
2. Type regedit
   
   Then click OK. (The Registry Editor opens.)
   
3. Navigate to the key:
   
   HKEY_CURRENT_USERsoftwareKazaaLocalContent
   
4. Change the Value data of each of the following values to the correct setting:
   
   NOTE: If you are not sure what the correct setting is for you computer, refer to your KaZaA documentation or contact KaZaA technical support.
   
   DisableSharing
   DownloadDir
   Dir0
   
5. Exit the Registry Editor.

4. Editing the Win.ini file
If you are running Windows 95/98/Me, follow these steps:

1. The functions you perform depend on your operating system:
   • Windows 95/98: Go to step b.
   • Windows Me: If you are running Windows Me, the Windows Me file-protection process may have made a backup copy of the Win.ini file that you are to edit. If this backup copy exists, it will be in the C:WindowsRecent folder. Symantec recommends that you delete this file before continuing with the steps in this section. To do this:
     • Start Windows Explorer.
     • Browse to and select the C:WindowsRecent folder.
     • In the right pane, select the Win.ini file and delete it. The Win.ini file will be regenerated when you save your changes to it in step f.
       
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. Type the following:
   
   edit c:windowswin.ini
   
   Then click OK. (The MS-DOS Editor opens.)
   
   NOTE: If Windows is installed in a different location, make the appropriate path substitution.
   
4. In the [windows] section of the file, look for a line similar to:
   
   load=C:Love_Me.bat
   
   Delete this line if you find it.
   
5. Click File, and then click Save.
6. Click File, and then click Exit.

5. Resetting the Internet Explorer home page

1. Start Microsoft Internet Explorer.
2. Connect to the Internet and go to the page you want to set as your home page.
3. Click Tools, and then click Internet Options.
4. In the Home page section of the General tab, click Use Current, and then click OK.