W32.HLLW.Gaobot.JB

SUMMARY

W32.HLLW.Gaobot.JB is a minor variant of W32.HLLW.Gaobot.BF that uses a different file name and is repacked with PECompact. It attempts to spread to network shares that have weak passwords and allows attackers to access an infected computer through an IRC channel.

The worm uses multiple vulnerabilities to spread, including:

• The DCOM RPC vulnerability (described in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-026) using TCP port 135.
• The RPC locator vulnerability (described in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-001) using TCP port 445.
• The WebDav vulnerability (described in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-007) using TCP port 80.

Behavior

Symptoms

Transmission

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) February 11, 2004
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) February 5, 2004

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: Medium
• Causes System Instability: Can perform DDoS attacks using SYN, Ping, or UDP packets.
• Compromises Security Settings: Allows unauthorized exection of remote commands.

Distribution

• Distribution Level: Medium
• Ports: 135, 445, a few of range between 1000 and 3000, and one from above 10000.
• Shared Drives: Copies itself to administrative shares on machines with weak passwords.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

When W32.HLLW.Gaobot.JB is executed, it performs the following actions:

1. Copies itself as %System%Microsoft.exe.

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Note: %System% is a variable. The worm locates the System folder and copies itself to that location. By default, this is C:WindowsSystem (Windows 95/98/Me), C:WinntSystem32 (Windows NT/2000), or C:WindowsSystem32 (Windows XP).

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2. Adds the value:

"Configuration Loader"="%System%microsoft.exe"

to the registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion
RunServices

so that the worm runs when you start Windows.

3. Connects to a predefined IRC channel, using its own IRC client, and listens for the commands from a hacker.


4. Allows an attacker to remotely control a compromised computer and to perform any of the following actions:

• Manage the installation of the worm
• Dynamically update the installed worm
• Download and execute files
• Steal system information
• Send the worm to other IRC users
• Add new accounts

5. Schedules a Network Job to run the worm.


6. Performs Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks against targeted systems. The attacked IP addresses are randomly calculated.


7. Acts as a proxy server to direct attacks to another machine.


8. Sends data to TCP port 135, which exploits the DCOM RPC vulnerability, or sends data to TCP port 445 to exploit the RPC locator vulnerability.


9. Probes the following shares:

• admin$
• c$
• d$
• e$
• print$
• c
  
  using the following user names and passwords, as well as any usernames found using NetUserEnum():
  
  
  User
  
  Administrator
  Administrateur
  Coordinatore
  Administrador
  Verwalter
  Ospite
  admin
  administrator
  Default
  Convidado
  mgmt
  Standard
  User
  Administrador
  Owner
  Test
  Guest
  Gast
  Inviter
  a
  aaa
  abc
  x
  xyz
  Dell
  home
  pc
  test
  temp
  win
  asdf
  qwer
  login
  
  
  Password
  
  admin
  Admin
  password
  Password
  1
  12
  123
  1234
  12345
  123456
  1234567
  12345678
  123456789
  654321
  54321
  111
  000000
  00000000
  11111111
  88888888
  pass
  passwd
  database
  abcd
  oracle
  sybase
  123qwe
  server
  computer
  Internet
  super
  123asd
  ihavenopass
  godblessyou
  enable
  xp
  2002
  2003
  2600
  110
  111111
  121212
  123123
  1234qwer
  123abc
  007
  alpha
  patrick
  pat
  administrator
  root
  sex
  god
  foobar
  a
  aaa
  abc
  test
  temp
  win
  pc
  asdf
  secret
  qwer
  yxcv
  zxcv
  home
  xxx
  owner
  login
  Login
  pwd
  pass
  love
  mypc
  mypass
  pw
  
  

10. Copies itself to any systems it compromised using the aforementioned exploits.


11. Steals the CD keys of the following games:

• Soldier of Fortune II - Double Helix
• Neverwinter
• WestwoodNox
• Tiberian Sun
• Red Alert 2
• Red Alert
• Project IGI 2
• Command & Conquer Generals
• Battlefield 1942 Secret Weapons of WWII
• Battlefield 1942 The Road to Rome
• Battlefield 1942
• Rainbow Six III RavenShield
• Nascar Racing 2003
• Nascar Racing 2002
• NHL 2003
• NHL 2002
• FIFA 2003
• FIFA 2002
• Need For Speed Hot Pursuit 2
• The Gladiators
• Unreal Tournament 2003
• Legends of Might and Magic
• Counter-Strike
• Half-Life
  
  

12. Ends the following processes associated with antivirus and firewall software:

• ZONEALARM.EXE
• WFINDV32.EXE
• WEBSCANX.EXE
• VSSTAT.EXE
• VSHWIN32.EXE
• VSECOMR.EXE
• VSCAN40.EXE
• VETTRAY.EXE
• VET95.EXE
• TDS2-NT.EXE
• TDS2-98.EXE
• TCA.EXE
• TBSCAN.EXE
• SWEEP95.EXE
• SPHINX.EXE
• SMC.EXE
• SERV95.EXE
• SCRSCAN.EXE
• SCANPM.EXE
• SCAN95.EXE
• SCAN32.EXE
• SAFEWEB.EXE
• RESCUE.EXE
• RAV7WIN.EXE
• RAV7.EXE
• PERSFW.EXE
• PCFWALLICON.EXE
• PCCWIN98.EXE
• PAVW.EXE
• PAVSCHED.EXE
• PAVCL.EXE
• PADMIN.EXE
• OUTPOST.EXE
• NVC95.EXE
• NUPGRADE.EXE
• NORMIST.EXE
• NMAIN.EXE
• NISUM.EXE
• NAVWNT.EXE
• NAVW32.EXE
• NAVNT.EXE
• NAVLU32.EXE
• NAVAPW32.EXE
• N32SCANW.EXE
• MPFTRAY.EXE
• MOOLIVE.EXE
• LUALL.EXE
• LOOKOUT.EXE
• LOCKDOWN2000.EX
• JEDI.EXE
• IOMON98.EXE
• IFACE.EXE
• ICSUPPNT.EXE
• ICSUPP95.EXE
• ICMON.EXE
• ICLOADNT.EXE
• ICLOAD95.EXE
• IBMAVSP.EXE
• IBMASN.EXE
• IAMSERV.EXE
• IAMAPP.EXE
• FRW.EXE
• FPROT.EXE
• FP-WIN.EXE
• FINDVIRU.EXE
• F-STOPW.EXE
• F-PROT95.EXE
• F-PROT.EXE
• F-AGNT95.EXE
• ESPWATCH.EXE
• ESAFE.EXE
• ECENGINE.EXE
• DVP95_0.EXE
• DVP95.EXE
• CLEANER3.EXE
• CLEANER.EXE
• CLAW95CF.EXE
• CLAW95.EXE
• CFINET32.EXE
• CFINET.EXE
• CFIAUDIT.EXE
• CFIADMIN.EXE
• BLACKICE.EXE
• BLACKD.EXE
• AVWUPD32.EXE
• AVWIN95.EXE
• AVSCHED32.EXE
• AVPUPD.EXE
• AVPTC32.EXE
• AVPM.EXE
• AVPDOS32.EXE
• AVPCC.EXE
• AVP32.EXE
• AVP.EXE
• AVNT.EXE
• AVKSERV.EXE
• AVGCTRL.EXE
• AVE32.EXE
• AVCONSOL.EXE
• AUTODOWN.EXE
• APVXDWIN.EXE
• ANTI-TROJAN.EXE
• ACKWIN32.EXE
• _AVPM.EXE
• _AVPCC.EXE
• _AVP32.EXE

13. Attemps to kill some processes associated with other worms:

• dllhost.exe
• msblast.exe
• mspatch.exe
• penis32.exe
• scvhosl.exe
• tftpd.exe
• winhlpp32.exe
• winppr32.exe

14. Listens on randomly calculated ports, a few of range between 1000 and 3000 and one from above 10000, and waits for other computers to download the worm.

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

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. Do one of the following:
   • Windows 95/98/Me: Restart the computer in Safe mode.
   • Windows NT/2000/XP: End the Worm process.
4. Run a full system scan and delete all the files detected as W32.HLLW.Gaobot.JB.
5. Reverse the changes that the Trojan made to the registry.
   

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

1. Disabling 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"
  

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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.

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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. 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 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).
  

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  Note: If the worm is currently running, LiveUpdate may not run. In this situation, download the definitions using the Intelligent Updater, as described next.

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

3. Restarting the computer in Safe mode or ending the Trojan process

Windows 95/98/Me
Restart the computer in Safe mode. All the Windows 32-bit operating systems, except for Windows NT, can be restarted in Safe mode. For instructions, read the document, "How to start the computer in Safe Mode."

Windows NT/2000/XP
To end the Trojan process:
1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete once.
2. Click Task Manager.
3. Click the Processes tab.
4. Double-click the Image Name column header to alphabetically sort the processes.
5. Scroll through the list and look for microsoft.exe.
6. If you find the file, click it, and then click End Process.
7. Exit the Task Manager.
   

4. 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 W32.HLLW.Gaobot.JB, click Delete.

5. Reversing the changes made to the registry

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WARNING: 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 keys only. Read the document, "How to make a backup of the Windows registry," for instructions.

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1. Click Start, and then click Run. (The Run dialog box appears.)
2. Type regedit
   
   Then click OK. (The Registry Editor opens.)
   
   
3. Navigate to the key:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
   
   
4. In the right pane, delete the value:
   
   "Configuration Loader"="%System%microsoft.exe"
   
   
5. Navigate to the key:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion
   RunServices
   
   
6. In the right pane, delete the value:
   
   "Configuration Loader"="%System%microsoft.exe"
   
   
7. Exit the Registry Editor.