Backdoor.Assasin.F

SUMMARY

Backdoor.Assasin.F, which is a variant of Backdoor.Assasin, gives a hacker unauthorized access to a compromised computer. The existence of the file Ide.exe is an indication of a possible infection.

This Trojan Horse is written in the Borland Delphi programming language and is compressed with UPX.

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) April 30, 2003
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) April 30, 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: Medium
• Compromises Security Settings: Allows unauthorized remote access to an infected computer.

Distribution

• Distribution Level: Low

TECHNICAL DETAILS

When Backdoor.Assasin.F runs, it does the following:

1. Creates the folder, %System%IDE, and copies itself to this location as Ide.exe.
   
   NOTE: %System% is a variable. The worm locates the System folder and copies itself to that location. By default, this is C:WindowsSystem (Windows 95/98/Me), C:WinntSystem32 (Windows NT/2000), or C:WindowsSystem32 (Windows XP).
   
   
2. Creates the following files:
   
   • %Windir%1.mzp
   • %System%IDE1.mzp
   • %System%IDE1.dll (Detected as Backdoor.Assasin)
   • %System%IDEIde0.idx
   • %System%IDEIde00.dll
   • %System%IDEIde1.idx
     
     NOTE: The last three files (ide*.*) are not viral, and therefore, Symantec antivirus products do not detect them.
     
     
3. Adds a value:
   
   IDE       %System%IDEide.exe
   
   to the following registry keys:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion
   RunServices
   
   so that the worm runs every time Windows starts.
   
   
4. Runs one of the following programs:
   
   • Iexplore.exe
   • Explorer.exe
   • Notepad.exe
     
     and then injects itself into that process.
     
     
5. Attempts to download files from two specified URLs.
   
   
6. Listens on a random port for commands from the hacker.

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. Reverse the changes that the Trojan made to the registry and restart the computer.
2. Update the virus definitions.
3. Run a full system scan and delete all the files detected as Backdoor.Assasin.F.
4. Delete the %System%IDE folder.
   

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

1. Reversing the changes that the Trojan made to the registry and restarting the computer

CAUTION: Symantec strongly recommends that you back up the registry before making 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_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
   
   
4. In the right pane, delete the value: 
   
   IDE      %System%IDEide.exe
   
   
5. Navigate to the key:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion
   RunServices
   
   
6. In the right pane, delete the value:
   
   IDE      %System%IDEide.exe
   
   
7. Exit the Registry Editor.
   
8. Restart the computer.

2. 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 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).
• 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).
  
  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.

3. 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 Backdoor.Assasin.F, click Delete.

4. Deleting the %System%IDE folder

1. Open Windows Explorer.
2. Navigate to the %System% folder.
   
   NOTE: %System% is a variable. The worm locates the System folder and copies itself to that location. By default, this is C:WindowsSystem (Windows 95/98/Me), C:WinntSystem32 (Windows NT/2000), or C:WindowsSystem32 (Windows XP).
   
   
3. Locate the folder named IDE, right-click it, and choose Delete.
   
4. Close Windows Explorer.