LWP.Spenty

SUMMARY

LWP.Spenty is a macro virus which infects Lotus Word Pro documents. It replicates only in Chinese versions of Word Pro.

NOTE: Virus definitions dated prior to June 11, 2002 detect this as WordPro.Spenty

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) June 5, 2002
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) May 30, 2002

Threat Assessment

Wild

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

Damage

• Damage Level: Medium
• Payload Trigger: Any day during May, or the 20th of any month
• Deletes Files: All files on C: D: E: will be deleted
• Modifies Files: Infected documents are password protected to prevent modification. The password is: 720401

Distribution

• Distribution Level: Low

TECHNICAL DETAILS

When this virus is executed, it infects Lotus Word Pro documents as they are opened or created. The security settings of infected documents are changed to allow editing only by the creator of the document, and only when the correct password is entered. The password is "720401".

In Chinese versions of Word Pro, several menus, including the Scripts menu, do not function correctly while the virus is running. If the virus is executed during May or on the 20th of any month, then the virus attempts to download a file from several Web sites. If it succeeds, then the file is displayed and the Autoexec.bat file is altered to contain instructions to delete the contents of drives C, D, and E.

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

To remove this virus, update the virus definitions, run a full system scan, and repair all files that are detected as LWP.Spenty. If the virus was successful in altering the Autoexec.bat file on computers that are running Windows 95/98/Me, delete any text that the virus added.

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

To scan with Norton AntiVirus and repair the infected files:

1. Obtain the most recent virus definitions. There are two ways to do this:
   • Run LiveUpdate. LiveUpdate 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 Norton AntiVirus (NAV), and make sure that NAV is configured to scan all files.
   • NAV Consumer products: Read the document How to configure Norton AntiVirus to scan all files.
   • NAV Enterprise 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 LWP.Spenty, click Repair.

To look for and remove the text that the virus added to the Autoexec.bat file (Windows 95/98/Me only):

NOTE (for Windows Me users only): Due to the file-protection process in Windows Me, a backup copy of the file that you are about to edit exists in the C:WindowsRecent folder. Symantec recommends that you delete this file before you continue with the steps in this section. To do this using Windows Explorer, go to C:WindowsRecent, and in the right pane select the Win.ini file and delete it. It will be regenerated as a copy of the file that you are about to edit when you save your changes to that file.

1. Click Start, and click Run.
2. Type the following, and then click OK.
   
   edit c:autoexec.bat
   
   The MS-DOS Editor opens.
3. Look for text that contains instructions such as delete, format, or similar text. Delete and such lines that you find.
4. Click File, and click Save.
5. Click File, and click Exit.