VBS.Keinef

SUMMARY

VBS.Keinef is a Visual Basic Script (VBS) threat that, depending on the variant, may modify the registry or the Win.ini file. Or, it can copy itself to your computer or to network drives. Additionally, it may attempt to send Windows password files to a pre-defined email address.

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) January 15, 2003
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) January 15, 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
• Releases Confidential Info: Attempts to send Windows password files to a pre-defined email address.

Distribution

• Distribution Level: Medium
• Shared Drives: May copy itself to all network drives as a .vbs file.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Depending on the variant, VBS.Keinef performs the following actions:

A variant

1. Modifies the Value Data of the (Default) value in the registry key:
   
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTexefileshellopencommand
   
   to:
   
   "Windowswscript.exe" "" "%1" "%*
   
   This will prevent you from running the .exe files.
   
2. Modifies the Value Data of the (Default) value in the registry key:
   
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTcomfileshellopencommand
   
   "Windowswscript.exe" "" "%1" "%*"
   
   This will prevent you from running the .com files.
   

B variant

1. Checks the system date. If the date is the 24th of any month, VBS.Keinef writes a Java Applet Class named "AppletSpamming.class" and adds it to the file WindowsSpoofing.htm.
2. Opens Spoofing.htm in Internet Explorer. However, this action is hidden, and you will not see the Spoofing.htm file when it is opened.
3. Displays the message:
   
   
   
4. Copies itself to all the network drivers as Klm#.vbs.
5. Modifies the WindowsWin.ini file on all the network drives by adding the text:
   
   run=c:klm#.vbs
   
   This causes the Klm#.vbs file to run when you start Windows.
   
   NOTE: The file name Klm#.vbs will vary. The # is a random number.

C variant

1. Searches for files in the Windows folder with the string "PWL" in the file name and adds these files to a list.
2. Sends all the files in the list it created as email attachments. The format of the email message is:
   
   Recipients: ovg_psws@hotmail.com
   Subject: Password
   Message: The message consist of the this information:
   
   Computer name, User name, User domain, Registered Organization, Registered Owner, Platform type
   
   Attachment: The files that VBS.Keinef found in step 1.

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. Update the virus definitions.
   
   NOTE: If you try to update the virus definitions and you find that LiveUpdate does not run, it is likely that your computer was infected by the A variant. In this case, first follow the instructions in the "Editing the registry" section later in this writeup, and then restart at step 1.
2. Run a full system scan and delete all the files detected as VBS.Keinef. Then look for and delete WindowsSpoofing.htm, if found.
3. Edit the Win.ini file on the networked Windows 95/98/Me computers, if infected by the B variant.
   

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

1. 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 the 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), in the "Protection" section, at the top of this writeup.
• 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), in the "Protection" section, at the top of this writeup.
  
  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.

2. 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 VBS.Keinef, click Delete.
4. Using Windows Explorer, look for the file WindowsSpoofing.htm, and delete it, if found.

3. Editing the Win.ini file
This is necessary only on Windows 95/98/Me computers.

NOTE for Windows Me users only: Due to the file-protection process in Windows Me, a backup copy of the file you are 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. The file will be regenerated as a copy of the file you are to edit when you save your changes to that particular file.

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. Type the following:
   
   edit c:windowswin.ini
   
   and then click OK.
   
   (The MS-DOS Editor opens.)
   
   NOTE: If Windows is installed in a different location, make the appropriate path substitution.
   
3. In the [windows] section of the file, look for a line similar to:
   
   run=c:windowssystemwininit.exe
   
4. If this line exists, select its entirety. Be sure that you do not select any other text, and then press Delete.
5. Click File, and then click Save.
6. Click File, and then click Exit.

Editing the registry
This is necessary only if your computer was infected with the A variant, which modifies the registry so that you cannot run the .com or .exe files. To work around this, first make a copy of the Registry Editor as a file with the .scr extension, and then run the file.

1. Do one of the following, depending on which version of Windows you are running:
   • Windows 95/98 users
     1. Click Start.
     2. Point to Programs.
     3. Click the MS-DOS Prompt. (A DOS window opens at the C:Windows prompt.) Proceed to step 2 of this section.
   • Windows Me users
     1. Click Start.
     2. Point to Programs.
     3. Point to Accessories.
     4. Click the MS-DOS Prompt. (A DOS window opens at the C:Windows prompt.) Proceed to step 2 of this section.
   • Windows NT/2000 users
     1. Click Start, and then click Run.
     2. Type command, and then press Enter. (A DOS window opens.)
     3. Type cd winnt, and then press Enter.
     4. Go to step 2 of this section.
   • Windows XP users:
     1. Click Start, and then click Run.
     2. Type command, and then press Enter. (A DOS window opens.)
     3. Type the following:
        
        cd
        cd windows
        
        Press Enter after typing each one.
        
     4. Proceed to step 2 of this section.
        
2. Type copy regedit.exe regedit.scr, and then press Enter.
   
3. Type start regedit.scr, and then press Enter. (The Registry Editor will open in front of the DOS window.)
   
   After you finish editing the registry, exit the Registry Editor, and then exit the DOS window as well.
   
4. Before continuing, 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 the specified keys only. For instructions, read the document, "How to make a backup of the Windows registry."
   
5. Navigate to and select the key: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTexefileshellopencommand.
   
   NOTE: The HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT key contains many subkey entries that refer to other file extensions. One of these file extensions is .exe. Changing this extension can prevent any files ending with an .exe extension from running. Make sure that you completely browse throughout this path until you reach the command subkey.
   
   Modify the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTexefileshellopencommand subkey, shown in the following figure:
   
   <<=== NOTE: Modify this key.
   
6. In the right pane, double-click the (Default) value.
7. Delete the current value data, and then type: "%1" %* (That is, type the characters: quote-percent-one-quote-space-percent-asterisk).
   
   NOTES
   • Under Windows 95/98/Me/NT, the Registry Editor automatically encloses the value within quotation marks. When you click OK, the (Default) value should look exactly like this:
     
     ""%1" %*"  
     
   • Under Windows 2000/XP, the additional quotation marks will not appear. When you click OK, the (Default) value should look exactly like this:
     
     "%1" %*
     
   • Make sure that you completely delete all the value data in the command key before typing the correct data. If you leave a space at the beginning of the entry, any attempt to run the program files will result in the error message, "Windows cannot find .exe." If this occurs, restart the entire process from the beginning of this document and make sure that you completely remove the current value data.
     
8. Navigate to and select the key:
   
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTcomfileshellopencommand
   
9. In the right pane, double-click the (Default) value.
10. Repeat the instructions in step 7.
11. Exit the Registry Editor.