VBS.CandyLove

SUMMARY

On February 14 of any year, VBS.CandyLove deletes all files from the Windows folder and executes 1001 copies of Notepad. It also copies itself to the A drive as six different file names all ending with the .vbs extension. This virus can slow down your system or cause it to stop responding.

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) July 31, 2002
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) July 29, 2002

TECHNICAL DETAILS

When VBS.CandyLove is executed it does the following:

It copies itself as %windir%ilove.vbs.

NOTE: %windir% is a variable. The worm locates the Windows main installation folder (by default this is C:Windows or C:Winnt) and copies itself to that location.

So that it runs when you start Windows, it adds the value

3r1k4            wscript.exe %windows%ilove.vbs

to the registry key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun

It also adds the key HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware3r1k4

to keep a track number of times the virus has been executed on the infected system. If the counter reaches 1000 or more, it will display this message:

feliz día de san valentín, día del amor, día de la amistad, dia de los enamorados...
son los mejores desceos del  (FBI) Fuerza Bruta Inteligente ...Hacked oaxaca....tqm..
cualquier comentario escribir a anonimomix@mixmail.com

Payload
VBS.CandyLove has a payload that is triggered on February 14 of any year. The payload is as follows:

• It opens 1001 copies of Notepad.
• It deletes these files:
  • C:Windows*.*
  • C:Autoexec*.*
  • C:Programas orton*.*
  • C:WindowsEscritorio*.*

VBS.CandyLove then goes into a forever loop. In this loop, it randomly chooses a file name from this list of six file names:

• Te amo.vbs
• Te quiero.vbs
• Solo pienso en ti.vbs
• Eres lo mejor.vbs
• Poemas de amor.vbs
• Amigo.vbs

It then attempts to copy itself to the A drive as that file name.

It will repeat this over and over again until you kill the process of Wscript.exe. (This is the Windows script engine that translates the script into executable code and executes it. To stop this virus once it is in the forever loop, you must stop the process of Wscript.exe).

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. If it is running, stop the Wscript.exe process. (Or restart the computer in Safe mode.)
2. Update the virus definitions, run a full system scan, and delete all files that are detected as VBS.CandyLove.
3. Delete the value
   
   3r1k4            wscript.exe %windows%ilove.vbs
   
   from the registry key
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
   
   
4. Delete the key HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware3r1k4
5. Replace any files that were deleted by the virus.
   

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

To stop the Wscript.exe process:

1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete one time.
   • On Windows 95/98/Me computers, the Close Program dialog box appears.
   • On Windows 2000 computers, the Windows Security dialog box appears. Click Task Manager, and then click the Process tab.
   • On Windows XP computers, the Task Manager appears. Click the Process tab.
2. Locate the Wscript.exe item, select it, and then click End Task.

NOTE: If you are not able to do this, restart the computer in Safe mode. All Windows 32-bit operating systems except Windows NT can be restarted in Safe mode. For instructions on how to do this, read the document How to start the computer in Safe Mode.

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. Symantec posts definitions on U.S. business days (Monday through Friday). You must download from the Symantec Security Response Web site and install 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 VBS.CandyLove, click Delete.

To remove the value and key 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 then 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:
   
   3r1k4            wscript.exe %windows%ilove.vbs
   
5. Navigate to the following key and delete it:
   
   HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware3r1k4
   
6. Exit the Registry Editor.

Files that were deleted by the Trojan should be replaced from a clean backup or reinstalled.