Infostealer.Widget

SUMMARY

Infostealer.Widget is a password-stealing Trojan that usually comes disguised as a SubSeven removal tool. It sends all of your cached passwords to an email address in Russia.

Note: Definitions prior to May 10, 2006 may detect this threat as Trojan.PWSteal.Widget.

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) July 17, 2002
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) July 16, 2002

TECHNICAL DETAILS

When Infostealer.Widget runs, it does the following:

It runs two programs. One is the password stealer and the second is a legitimate SubSeven removal tool.

Infostealer.Widget installs the following files onto your computer:

• %temp%~xxxxxxx.tmp (where x represents a randomly chosen letter). This is a legitimate SubSeven removal tool.
• %system%Tasksvr32.exe
• %system%Coolx.dll

NOTES:

• %temp% is a variable. The Trojan locates the Windows temporary folder and copies the file to that location.
• %system% is a variable. The Trojan locates the System folder, which by default is C:WindowsSystem (Windows 95/98/Me), C:WinntSystem32 (Windows NT/2000), or C:WindowsSystem32 (Windows XP), and copies itself to that location.

Infostealer.Widget creates the value

Microsoft Task Manager      tasksvr32.exe

under the registry key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun

To send the passwords that it gathers, Infostealer.Widget uses its own SMTP engine to contact the receiving mail server.

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

NOTE: These instructions are for all current and recent Symantec antivirus products, including the Symantec AntiVirus and Norton AntiVirus product lines.

1. Update the virus definitions, run a full system scan, and delete all files that delete all files that are detected as Infostealer.Widget.
2. Delete the value
   
   Microsoft Task Manager      tasksvr32.exe
   
   from the registry key
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
   
3. Restart the computer, and before running any programs, remove any temporary files that remain in the %temp% folder.

For details on how to do this, read the following instructions.

To scan for and delete the infected files:

1. Obtain the most recent virus definitions. There are two ways to do this:
   • Run LiveUpdate, which is the easiest way to obtain virus definitions. These virus definitions have undergone full quality assurance testing by Symantec Security Response and are posted to the LiveUpdate servers one time each week (usually Wednesdays) unless there is a major virus outbreak. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by LiveUpdate, look at the Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate) line at the top of this write-up.
   • Download the definitions using the Intelligent Updater. Intelligent Updater virus definitions have undergone full quality assurance testing by Symantec Security Response. They are posted on U.S. business days (Monday through Friday). They must be downloaded from the Symantec Security Response Web site and installed manually. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by the Intelligent Updater, look at the Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) line at the top of this write-up.
     
     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. Start your Symantec antivirus program, and make sure that it is configured to scan all files.
   • Norton AntiVirus Consumer products: Read the document How to configure Norton AntiVirus to scan all files.
   • Symantec Enterprise antivirus products: Read the document How to verify a Symantec Corporate antivirus product is set to scan All Files.
3. Run a full system scan.
4. If any files are detected as infected by Infostealer.Widget, click Delete.

To remove the value from the registry:

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 only the keys that are specified. Read the document How to make a backup of the Windows registry for instructions.

1. Click Start, and click Run. The Run dialog box appears.
2. Type regedit and then click OK. The Registry Editor opens.
3. Navigate to the following key:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
   
4. In the right pane, delete the following value:
   
   Microsoft Task Manager      tasksvr32.exe
   
5. Exit the Registry Editor.

To empty the %temp% folder:

1. Restart the computer.
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. Type the following and then click OK:
   
   %temp%
   
   The Temp folder for the currently logged-on user is displayed.
4. In most cases, you can safely delete the contents. If you are not sure, copy any files or folders to a different location. To delete the contents, click Edit and then click Select All. Press Delete and click Yes if you see a confirmation prompt.