W32.HLLW.Infex.B@mm

SUMMARY

W32.HLLW.Infex.B@mm is a mass-mailing worm that uses Microsoft Outlook to send itself to all the contacts in Outlook Address Book. The email attachment is q83d.rar.

The subject line is one of the following:

• VERY DANGEROUS I-WORM
• 64bit Notepad!
• Do you Get spam?
• Usama Bin laden II ?
• Saddam Dead or Alive?
• Nelson Mandella dead?
• Bush Resigns
• STOCK MARKET FALLS 80%
• Bill Gates ARRESTED
• Undocumented Secrets about <%string%>
  

Where %string% is one of the following:

• Microsoft
• Windows
• Aliens
• Televisions
• PayPhones

The worm attempts to spread itself through some file-sharing networks, such as BearShare, eDonkey2000, Gnucleus, Grokster, KaZaA, KaZaA Lite, KMD, Limewire, Morpheus, Overnet, Shareaza, Rapigator, Toadnode, Tesla, WinMX, and XoloX. It also attempts to send itself to other ICQ users.

This threat is written in the Microsoft Visual Basic programming language and is compressed with FSG.

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) October 1, 2003
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) September 29, 2003

TECHNICAL DETAILS

When W32.HLLW.Infex.B@mm runs, it does the following:

1. Copies itself as %Windir%Readme.exe.
   
   

   ---

   Note: %Windir% is a variable. The worm locates the Windows installation folder (by default, this is C:Windows or C:Winnt) and copies itself to that location.

   ---

   
   
2. Creates the Script.ini file under one of the following folders. The worm uses this script file to send a copy of itself to other mIRC users who connect to the same channel.
   
   • C:Program filesmirc32
   • C:Program filesmirc
   • C:mirc32
   • C:mirc
     
     
3. Creates the file, C:pirch98events.ini. The worm uses this file to send a copy of itself to other Pirch users.
   
   
4. Creates the file, %USERPROFILE%Local SettingsApplication DataMicrosoftCD BurningAutorun.inf, which contains the text:
   
   [AUTORUN]
   open=Fokken.exe
   
   

   ---

   Note: %USERPROFILE% is a variable. For example, in Windows 2000 machine, it can be C:Documents and Settings<Current User>.
   

   ---

   
   
5. Copies itself as %USERPROFILE%Local SettingsApplication DataMicrosoftCD BurningFokken.exe.
   
   
6. Copies itself to the following folders, if any exist:
   
   %ProgramFiles%KazaaMy Shared folder
   %ProgramFiles%Toadnodeshare
   %ProgramFiles%Teslafiles
   %ProgramFiles%KMDMy Shared folder
   %ProgramFiles%Edonkey2000incoming
   %ProgramFiles%gnucleusdownloads
   %ProgramFiles%icqshared files
   %ProgramFiles%kazaa litemy shared folders
   %ProgramFiles%limewireshared
   %ProgramFiles%morpheusmy shared folder
   %ProgramFiles%GroksterMy Grokster
   %ProgramFiles%BearShareShared
   %ProgramFiles%ShareazaDownloads
   %ProgramFiles%WinMXMy Shared Folder
   %ProgramFiles%OvernetIncoming
   %ProgramFiles%XoloXDownloads
   %ProgramFiles%RapigatorShare
   
   as one of the following:
   
   Ebook-txt Harry Potter - Order of the Phoenix.exe
   Ebook-txt Visual Basic dotnet for Dummies.exe
   Ebook-txt Visual C for Dummies.exe
   Ebook-txt Visual Fox Pro for Dummies.exe
   Ebook-txt MCSE Training Guide.exe
   Ebook-txt MCSD Training Guide.exe
   Ebook-txt A Plus Training Guide.exe
   Ebook-txt 50000 Serials.exe
   Ebook-txt Lord of the Rings (All 3 books).exe
   Ebook-txt Mirc Scripting Tutorial.exe
   Ebook-txt Visual Basic 6 for Beginners.exe
   Ebook-txt Hacking WinXp Pro.exe
   Ebook-txt Cracking Tutorial.exe
   Ebook-txt Phreaking for Dummies.exe
   Ebook-txt Java Applets 4 Dummies.exe
   Ebook-txt W32.Fokken.Description.exe
   Ebook-txt The Broken mind of People.exe
   Ebook-txt Mirc Scripting.exe
   Ebook-txt Irc tutorial.exe
   Ebook-txt AtomixMp3 Tips & Tricks.exe
   Ebook-txt Anarchy Cookbook 2003.exe
   Ebook-txt Undocumented Secrets of WinXP.exe
   Ebook-txt 1001 Sexual Stories.exe
   Ebook-txt Win32asm for Dummies.exe
   Ebook-txt Hacking for Beginners.exe
   Ebook-txt Roof on fire.exe
   book-txt Circles in a bush.exe
   Ebook-txt FBI Tricks.exe
   Ebook-txt Swift secrets of Fishing.exe
   Ebook-txt Scubadiving.exe
   
   or:
   
   Ebook-txt All about <%string%>.exe
   
   where %string% is one of the following:
   Sogs
   Cats
   Leopards
   Whales
   Fish
   Mammals
   Humans
   Hacking
   Pimples
   Music
   Movie Ripping
   Mp3 Encoding
   Encryption
   Multimedia
   Visual Basic
   Kid Care
   Medical
   AIDS
   HIV
   OS2
   Linux
   FreeBSD
   MacOS
   BeOS
   
   
7. Archives itself using %ProgramFile%WinRARar.exe as c:q83d.rar.
   
   
8. Uses Microsoft Outlook to send itself to all the contacts in the Outlook Address Book. The worm attaches the file, q83d.rar, to the email. The subject line and message body will be one of the following:
   
   Subject: VERY DANGEROUS I-WORM
   Message:
   A new Internet worm that is swirming on the net,and is to hit your mailbox. Every 10 minutes 3000 people get infected with the worm
   Still There is no cure for this worm, but this program can prevent it from comming onto Your Computer
   Password for the rar is: 123
   
   Subject: 64bit Notepad!
   Message:  Hi, this is just a new version of notepad, but this version is 64BIT whereas the older one was 32BIT. Check it out! Password for the rar is: 123
   
   Subject: Do you Get spam?
   Message:
   Every Hour 4 million people get spamed, This program is the cure for spam Password for the rar is: 123
   
   Subject: Usama Bin laden II ?
   Message:
   This is weird?, Can there be a New Bin Laden That will take over the world? Password for the rar is: 123
   
   Subject: Saddam Dead or Alive?
   Message:
   Is Saddam realy Dead or Alive?, well the attachment tells u all about it! Password for the rar is: 123
   
   Subject: Nelson Mandella dead?
   Message: Is Nelson Mandella dead?, Well the attached file explains it all Password for the rar is: 123
   
   Subject: Bush Resigns
   Message:
   The artical included states why he resigned Password for the rar is: 123
   
   Subject: STOCK MARKET FALLS 80%
   Message:
   The included document explains the why, who and the what Password for the rar is: 123
   
   Subject: Bill Gates ARRESTED
   Message:
   Yesterday Bill Gates got arrested for...(Check the attached file)Password for the rar is: 123
   
   Subject: Undocumented Secrets about <%string%>
   Message: The attachment file is included to reveal all the secrets, read on! Password for the rar is: 123
   
   
   Where %string% is one of the following:
   
   • Microsoft
   • Windows
   • Aliens
   • Televisions
   • PayPhones
     
     
9. If the current day is the 11th of any month, the worm pings a randomly created IP address.

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. Run a full system scan and delete all the files detected as W32.HLLW.Infex.B@mm.
   

For specific 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"

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).
• 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. 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.Infex.B@mm, click Delete.