VBS.Dedicated.D@mm

SUMMARY

VBS.Dedicated.D@mm is a Visual Basic Script (VBS) worm. It spreads using Microsoft Outlook and IRC. It arrives as the attachment Grand.Beast.vbs. The worm creates many files on your computer.

Protection

• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) May 7, 2001

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: Low

Distribution

• Distribution Level: Low

TECHNICAL DETAILS

When the worm is executed, it does the following:

1. To enable itself to run at startup, it drops itself as Lucifer.vbs into the C:WindowsStart MenuProgramsStartUp folder.
2. It drops itself as Grand.Beast.vbs into the WindowsSystem folder.
3. It makes 50 copies of itself as Lucifer<number from 1 to 50>.vbs in the WindowsSystemLucifer< the number of the infection (0, 1, 2, for example)> folder.
4. VBS.Dedicated.D@mm then sends an email message to all contacts in all address lists found in Microsoft Outlook. The email message is
   
   Subject: Lucifer will soon ...
   Message: thou shall give thy ...
   Attachment: Grand.Beast.vbs
   
5. Finally, it drops the Script.ini file into the C:Mirc folder to spread itself using mIRC.

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 worm, delete files detected as VBS.Dedicated.D@mm, replace the Script.ini file, and then delete the Lucifer files.

To remove the worm:

1. Run LiveUpdate to make sure that you have the most recent virus definitions.
2. Start Norton AntiVirus (NAV), and run a full system scan, making sure that NAV is set to scan all files.
3. Delete any files detected as VBS.Dedicated.D@mm.
4. If you use mIRC, replace the C:MircScript.ini file from a clean backup.

To find and delete files using Windows Find or Search utility:
Because this worm can drop many files, it is easier to search for these.

1. Click Start, point to Find or Search, and click Files or Folders.
2. Make sure that "Look in" is set to (C:), and that Include subfolders is checked.
3. In the "Named" or "Search for..." box, type--or copy and paste--the following file name:
   
   Lucifer.*
   
4. Click Find Now or Search Now.
5. Delete the files and folders that appear in the list.