VBS.Pie@mm

SUMMARY

This is a Visual BASIC Script worm that spreads by sending itself to all addresses in the Microsoft Outlook address book. It also spreads by mIRC. The worm arrives with an attachment named Su_Premio.txt.vbs. This worm is very similar to VBS.Plan worm.

NOTE: Virus definitions dated prior to April 18, 2001, detect this as Bloodhound.VBS.Worm.

Protection

• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) April 18, 2001

Threat Assessment

Wild

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

Damage

• Damage Level: Medium
• Large Scale E-mailing: Sends itself to all addresses in the Microsoft Outlook address book.
• Modifies Files: Overwrites files with the following extensions: .vbs, .vbe, .js, .jse, .css, .wsh, .sct, .hta, .jpg, and jpeg files. Files with extensions of .mp2 and .mp3 are hidden from the user by setting the hidden directory attribute.
• Degrades Performance: Slows down the system.
• Causes System Instability: Might overload email servers.

Distribution

• Distribution Level: Low
• Subject of Email: Aquí está SU PREMIO !
• Name of Attachment: SU_PREMIO.TXT.VBS
• Size of Attachment: 15K
• Shared Drives: All local and Network drives.
• Target of Infection: Overwrites files with the following extensions: .vbs, .vbe, .js, .jse, .css, .wsh, .sct, .hta, .jpg and .jpeg.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

When executed, VBS.Pie@mm does the following:

1. It copies itself to the hard disk as the following files:
   • WindowsSu_Premio.txt.vbs
   • WindowsSystemSu_Premio.txt.vbs
2. The worm changes the security level of Microsoft Word to 1, and it turns off macro virus protection in Word.
3. It sends itself to all addresses in the Microsoft Outlook address book as:
   
   Subject:
   Aquí está SU PREMIO !
   or
   NUEVO BIRUS (¡¡cuidado!!)
   
   Message:
   Usted o quizás alguna de sus amistades en internet completó pocos días...
   or
   NEW BIRUS es un nuevo birus que se transmite por internet...
   
4. It creates the following files:
   • WindowsSpamming.vbs
   • Start MenuProgramsStartUpicq2000b.lnk
5. It then deletes the following folders, if they exist:
   • C:Mis Documentos
   • C:My Documents
   • C:Meus Documentos
   • C:Meine Dokumente
   • C:Miei Documenti
   • C:Mes Documents
6. VBS.Pie@mm searches all files on local and network drives, and overwrites files the have the extensions .vbs, .vbe, .js, .jse, .css, .wsh, .sct, .hta, .jpg, and jpeg. Files with extensions of .mp2 and .mp3 are hidden by setting the hidden directory attribute.
7. The worm overwrites the mIRC Script.ini file to send itself out to mIRC users.

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:

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.Pie@mm.
4. Using Windows Explorer, delete the following files:
   • icq2000b.lnk. This will be found in the StartUp folder, the location of which can vary.
   • Spamming.vbs from the Windows folder.
5. (Optional) Search all local hard drives for hidden .mp2 and .mp3 files, and remove the hidden attribute.
6. (Word 2000 users only) Change the security level of Microsoft Word back to the desired level by clicking the Tools menu, clicking Macro, clicking Security, and choosing the desired level.