W32.Beagle.AZ@mm

SUMMARY

W32.Beagle.AZ@mm is a mass-mailing worm that also spreads through file-sharing networks. The email will have a variable subject and attachment name. The attachment will have a .com, .cpl, .exe, or .scr file extension.

Note: Virus definitions version 70126ax (extended version: 20050126.050) or greater are required to detect this threat.

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) January 26, 2005
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) January 26, 2005

Threat Assessment

Wild

• Wild Level: Low
• Number of Infections: More than 1000
• Number of Sites: More than 10
• Geographical Distribution: Low
• Threat Containment: Easy
• Removal: Moderate

Damage

• Damage Level: Medium
• Payload: Downloads a remote file.
• Large Scale E-mailing: Sends email to addresses collected from the compromised computer.
• Compromises Security Settings: Lowers security settings by ending security-related processes.

Distribution

• Distribution Level: High
• Subject of Email: Varies
• Name of Attachment: Varies with .com, .cpl, .exe, or .scr file extension
• Size of Attachment: Varies

TECHNICAL DETAILS

When Beagle.AZ@mm is executed, it performs the following actions:

1. Deletes the following values:
   
   "My AV"
   "ICQ Net"
   
   from the registry keys:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
   HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
   
   to prevent other malware from being launched when Windows starts.
   
   
2. Creates the following files:
   
   
   • %System%sysformat.exe
   • %System%sysformat.exeopen
   • %System%sysformat.exeopenopen
     
     Note: %System% is a variable that refers to the System folder. By default this is C:WindowsSystem (Windows 95/98/Me), C:WinntSystem32 (Windows NT/2000), or C:WindowsSystem32 (Windows XP).
     
     
3. Adds the value:
   
   "sysformat" = "%System%sysformat.exe"
   
   to the registry key:
   
   HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
   
   
4. Adds the value:
   
   "riga" = "[Binary data]"
   
   to the registry subkey:
   
   HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREMicrosoftParams
   
   
5. Attempts to end the following processes associated with antivirus and security applications:
   
   
   • APVXDWIN.EXE
   • ATUPDATER.EXE
   • AUPDATE.EXE
   • AUTODOWN.EXE
   • AUTOTRACE.EXE
   • AUTOUPDATE.EXE
   • Avconsol.exe
   • AVENGINE.EXE
   • AVPUPD.EXE
   • Avsynmgr.exe
   • AVWUPD32.EXE
   • AVXQUAR.EXE
   • bawindo.exe
   • blackd.exe
   • ccApp.exe
   • ccEvtMgr.exe
   • ccProxy.exe
   • ccPxySvc.exe
   • CFIAUDIT.EXE
   • DefWatch.exe
   • DRWEBUPW.EXE
   • ESCANH95.EXE
   • ESCANHNT.EXE
   • FIREWALL.EXE
   • FrameworkService.exe
   • ICSSUPPNT.EXE
   • ICSUPP95.EXE
   • LUALL.EXE
   • LUCOMS~1.EXE
   • mcagent.exe
   • mcshield.exe
   • MCUPDATE.EXE
   • mcvsescn.exe
   • mcvsrte.exe
   • mcvsshld.exe
   • navapsvc.exe
   • navapw32.exe
   • NISUM.EXE
   • nopdb.exe
   • NPROTECT.EXE
   • NUPGRADE.EXE
   • OUTPOST.EXE
   • PavFires.exe
   • pavProxy.exe
   • pavsrv50.exe
   • Rtvscan.exe
   • RuLaunch.exe
   • SAVScan.exe
   • SHSTAT.EXE
   • SNDSrvc.exe
   • symlcsvc.exe
   • UPDATE.EXE
   • UpdaterUI.exe
   • Vshwin32.exe
   • VsStat.exe
   • VsTskMgr.exe
     
     
6. Searches the hard disk for folders containing the string "shar" in their name, and copies itself to them using one of the following file names:
   
   
   • 1.exe
   • 2.exe
   • 3.exe
   • 4.exe
   • 5.scr
   • 6.exe
   • 7.exe
   • 8.exe
   • 9.exe
   • 10.exe
   • Ahead Nero 7.exe
   • Windown Longhorn Beta Leak.exe
   • Opera 8 New!.exe
   • XXX hardcore images.exe
   • WinAmp 6 New!.exe
   • WinAmp 5 Pro Keygen Crack Update.exe
   • Adobe Photoshop 9 full.exe
   • Matrix 3 Revolution English Subtitles.exe
   • ACDSee 9.exe
     
     
7. Searches for email addresses in files with the following extensions:
   
   
   • .adb
   • .asp
   • .cfg
   • .cgi
   • .dbx
   • .dhtm
   • .eml
   • .htm
   • .jsp
   • .mbx
   • .mdx
   • .mht
   • .mmf
   • .msg
   • .nch
   • .ods
   • .oft
   • .php
   • .pl
   • .sht
   • .shtm
   • .stm
   • .tbb
   • .txt
   • .uin
   • .wab
   • .wsh
   • .xls
   • .xml
     
     
8. Uses its own SMTP engine to send email messages to any addresses found.
   
   The email may have the following characteristics:
   
   From:
   Spoofed.
   
   Subject:
   One of the following:
   
   
   • Delivery by mail
   • Delivery service mail
   • Is delivered mail
   • Registration is accepted
   • You are made active
     
     
     Message body:
     One of the following:
     
     
   • Before use read the help
   • Thanks for use of our software.
     
     
     Attachment:
     One of the following:
     
     
   • Jol03
   • guupd02
   • siupd02
   • upd02
   • viupd02
   • wsd01
   • zupd02
     
     with one of the following extensions:
     
     
   • .com
   • .cpl
   • .exe
   • .scr
     
     
9. Avoids sending email to addresses containing any of the following strings:
   
   
   • @avp.
   • @foo
   • @iana
   • @messagelab
   • @microsoft
   • abuse
   • admin
   • anyone@
   • bsd
   • bugs@
   • cafee
   • certific
   • contract@
   • f-secur
   • feste
   • free-av
   • gold-certs@
   • google
   • help@
   • icrosoft
   • info@
   • kasp
   • linux
   • listserv
   • local
   • news
   • nobody@
   • noone@
   • noreply
   • ntivi
   • panda
   • pgp
   • postmaster@
   • rating@
   • root@
   • samples
   • sopho
   • spam
   • support
   • unix
   • update
   • winrar
   • winzip
     
     
10. Attempts to download a file from the following domains, and saves it as %System%e_file.exe:
    
    
    • www.24-7-transportation.com
    • www.DarrkSydebaby.com
    • www.FritoPie.NET
    • www.adhdtests.com
    • www.aegee.org
    • www.aimcenter.net
    • www.alupass.lu
    • www.amanit.ru
    • www.andara.com
    • www.angelartsanctuary.com
    • www.anthonyflanagan.com
    • www.approved1stmortgage.com
    • www.argontech.net
    • www.asianfestival.nl
    • www.atlantisteste.hpg.com.br
    • www.aviation-center.de
    • www.bbsh.org
    • www.bga-gsm.ru
    • www.boneheadmusic.com
    • www.bottombouncer.com
    • www.bradster.com
    • www.buddyboymusic.com
    • www.bueroservice-it.de
    • www.calderwoodinn.com
    • www.capri-frames.de
    • www.celula.com.mx
    • www.ceskyhosting.cz
    • www.chinasenfa.com
    • www.cntv.info
    • www.compsolutionstore.com
    • www.coolfreepages.com
    • www.corpsite.com
    • www.couponcapital.net
    • www.cpc.adv.br
    • www.crystalrose.ca
    • www.cscliberec.cz
    • www.curtmarsh.com
    • www.customloyal.com
    • www.deadrobot.com
    • www.dontbeaweekendparent.com
    • www.dragcar.com
    • www.ecofotos.com.br
    • www.elenalazar.com
    • www.ellarouge.com.au
    • www.esperanzaparalafamilia.com
    • www.eurostavba.sk
    • www.everett.wednet.edu
    • www.fcpages.com
    • www.featech.com
    • www.fepese.ufsc.br
    • www.firstnightoceancounty.org
    • www.flashcorp.com
    • www.fleigutaetscher.ch
    • www.fludir.is
    • www.freeservers.com
    • www.gamp.pl
    • www.gci-bln.de
    • www.gcnet.ru
    • www.generationnow.net
    • www.gfn.org
    • www.giantrevenue.com
    • www.glass.la
    • www.handsforhealth.com
    • www.hartacorporation.com
    • www.himpsi.org
    • www.idb-group.net
    • www.immonaut.sk
    • www.ims-i.com
    • www.innnewport.com
    • www.irakli.org
    • www.irinaswelt.de
    • www.jansenboiler.com
    • www.jasnet.pl
    • www.jhaforpresident.7p.com
    • www.jimvann.com
    • www.jldr.ca
    • www.justrepublicans.com
    • www.kencorbett.com
    • www.knicks.nl
    • www.kps4parents.com
    • www.kradtraining.de
    • www.kranenberg.de
    • www.lasermach.com
    • www.leonhendrix.com
    • www.magicbottle.com.tw
    • www.mass-i.kiev.ua
    • www.mepbisu.de
    • www.mepmh.de
    • www.metal.pl
    • www.mexis.com
    • www.mongolische-renner.de
    • www.mtfdesign.com
    • www.oboe-online.com
    • www.ohiolimo.com
    • www.onepositiveplace.org
    • www.oohlala-kirkland.com
    • www.orari.net
    • www.pankration.com
    • www.pe-sh.com
    • www.pfadfinder-leobersdorf.com
    • www.pipni.cz
    • www.polizeimotorrad.de
    • www.programmierung2000.de
    • www.pyrlandia-boogie.pl
    • www.raecoinc.com
    • www.realgps.com
    • www.redlightpictures.com
    • www.reliance-yachts.com
    • www.relocationflorida.com
    • www.rentalstation.com
    • www.rieraquadros.com.br
    • www.scanex-medical.fi
    • www.sea.bz.it
    • www.selu.edu
    • www.sigi.lu
    • www.sljinc.com
    • www.smacgreetings.com
    • www.soloconsulting.com
    • www.spadochron.pl
    • www.srg-neuburg.de
    • www.ssmifc.ca
    • www.sugardas.lt
    • www.sunassetholdings.com
    • www.szantomierz.art.pl
    • www.the-fabulous-lions.de
    • www.tivogoddess.com
    • www.tkd2xcell.com
    • www.topko.sk
    • www.transportation.gov.bh
    • www.travelchronic.de
    • www.traverse.com
    • www.uhcc.com
    • www.ulpiano.org
    • www.uslungiarue.it
    • www.vandermost.de
    • www.vbw.info
    • www.velezcourtesymanagement.com
    • www.velocityprint.com
    • www.vikingpc.pl
    • www.vinirforge.com
    • www.wecompete.com
    • www.worest.com.ar
    • www.woundedshepherds.com
    • www.wwwebad.com
    • www.wwwebmaster.com

Symantec Gateway Security 2.0.1 and 5400 Series
Symantec Gateway Security 1.0 and 5300 Series

• Antivirus component: An update for the Symantec Gateway Security AntiVirus engine to protect against the W32.Beagle.AZ@mm worm is now available. Symantec Gateway Security 5000 Series users are advised to run LiveUpdate.
• IDS/IPS component: An update for the Symantec Gateway Security 5000 Series IDS/IPS engine is not expected.
• Full application inspection firewall component: By default, when configured through the Policy Wizard, the SMTP rule created on the security gateway will block infected computers from directly sending email to the Internet.

Symantec Enterprise Firewall 8.0
By default, when configured through the Policy Wizard, the SMTP rule created on the security gateway will block infected computers from directly sending email to the Internet.

Symantec Enterprise Firewall 7.0.x
Symantec VelociRaptor 1.5
By default, when configured through the SMTP Wizard using the default settings, the SMTP rule created on the security gateway will block infected computers from directly sending email to the Internet.

Symantec Clientless VPN Gateway 4400 Series
Symantec Clientless VPN Gateway v5.0 is not affected by this threat. To reduce risk of further propagation you should also include a rule that only allows mail access from authenticated remote users to your internal mail server.

Symantec Gateway Security 300 and 400 Series
For protection against this threat, Symantec recommends that administrators use the Anti-virus Policy Enforcement (AVpe) feature of the Symantec Gateway Security 300 and 400 series to make sure all their Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition or Symantec Client Security clients are up-to-date with the latest virus definitions. Administrators are also encouraged to only allow inbound and outbound mail traffic to and from their internal mail servers to reduce the risk of further worm propagation.

Symantec Firewall/VPN 100/200 Series
Administrators are encouraged to only allow inbound and outbound mail traffic to and from their internal mail servers to reduce the risk of further worm propagation.

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

Removal using the W32.Beagle@mm Removal Tool
Symantec Security Response has developed a removal tool to clean the infections of W32.Beagle.AZ@mm. Use this removal tool first, as it is the easiest way to remove this threat.

Manual Removal
The following instructions pertain to all current and recent Symantec antivirus products, including the Symantec AntiVirus and Norton AntiVirus product lines.

1. Disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP).
2. Update the virus definitions.
3. Restart the computer in Safe mode or VGA mode.
4. Run a full system scan and delete all the files detected as W32.Beagle.AZ@mm.
5. Delete the value that was added to the registry.
   

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

1. To disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP)
If you are running Windows Me or Windows XP, we recommend that you temporarily turn off System Restore. Windows Me/XP uses this feature, which is enabled by default, to restore the files on your computer in case they become damaged. If a virus, worm, or Trojan infects a computer, System Restore may back up the virus, worm, or Trojan on the computer.

Windows prevents outside programs, including antivirus programs, from modifying System Restore. Therefore, antivirus programs or tools cannot remove threats in the System Restore folder. As a result, System Restore has the potential of restoring an infected file on your computer, even after you have cleaned the infected files from all the other locations.

Also, a virus scan may detect a threat in the System Restore folder even though you have removed the threat.

For instructions on how to turn off System Restore, read your Windows documentation, or one of the following articles:

• "How to disable or enable Windows Me System Restore"
• "How to turn off or turn on Windows XP System Restore"

Note: When you are completely finished with the removal procedure and are satisfied that the threat has been removed, re-enable System Restore by following the instructions in the aforementioned documents.

For additional information, and an alternative to disabling Windows Me System Restore, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article, "Antivirus Tools Cannot Clean Infected Files in the _Restore Folder," Article ID: Q263455.

2. To update 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 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).
• Downloading the definitions using the Intelligent Updater: The Intelligent Updater virus definitions are posted daily. 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).
  
  The Intelligent Updater virus definitions are available: Read "How to update virus definition files using the Intelligent Updater" for detailed instructions.
  

3. To restart the computer in Safe mode or VGA mode
Shut down the computer and turn off the power. Wait for at least 30 seconds, and then restart the computer in Safe mode or VGA mode.

• For Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, or XP users, restart the computer in Safe mode. For instructions, read the document, "How to start the computer in Safe Mode."
• For Windows NT 4 users, restart the computer in VGA mode.
  

4. To scan for and delete 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 W32.Beagle.AZ@mm, click Delete.

5. To delete the value from the registry
Important: Symantec strongly recommends that you back up the registry before making any changes to it. Incorrect changes to the registry can result in permanent data loss or corrupted files. Modify the specified subkeys only. Read the document, "How to make a backup of the Windows registry," for instructions.

1. Click Start > Run.
2. Type regedit
   
   Then click OK.
   
   
3. Navigate to the subkey:
   
   HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
   
   
4. In the right pane, delete the value:
   
   "sysformat" = "%System%sysformat.exe"
   
   
5. Navigate to the following subkey:
   
   HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREMicrosoftParams
   
   
6. In the right pane, delete the value:
   
   "riga" = "[Binary data]"
   
   
7. Exit the Registry Editor.
   
   
8. Restart the computer in Normal mode. For instructions, read the section on returning to Normal mode in the document, "How to start the computer in Safe Mode."