W32.HLLW.Symten@mm

SUMMARY

W32.HLLW.Symten@mm is a mass-mailing Worm that distributes itself by a randomly generated email. The worm is written in Visual Basic.

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) July 23, 2003
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) July 17, 2003

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: Low
• Modifies Files: Modifies system registry.

Distribution

• Distribution Level: High

TECHNICAL DETAILS

When the worm runs, it performs the following actions:

1. It drops itself into the following directories:
   • c:
   • c:winnt
   • c:windows
     
     Using the following filenames:
   • 6BDD1FC1-810F-11D0-BEC7-08002BE2092F.EXE
   • x86_Microsoft_Windows_Networking_Dxmrtp_6595b64144ccf1df_4868_x-ww_212f7d9e.exe
   • x86_Microsoft_Windows_Networking_RtcDll_6595b64144ccf1df_4868_x-ww_b168a28c.exe
   • x86_Microsoft_Windows_CPlusPlusRuntime_6595b64144ccf1df_x-ww_2726e76a.exe
   • svchost.exe
   • oleaut32.exe
   • swflash.exe
   • QuickTimeUpdateHelper.exe
   • SYMTEM_(Writen_by_INDUSTRY).exe
   • 5283952.exe
   • up(21379123).exe
   • elkern_UPS_23913.exe
   • massive_head_injury.jpg.exe
   • MS_UPDATE_(126).exe
   • ITS_A_BOMB.exe
   • I_AM_A_WORM_DONT_OPEN_ME_LOL.exe
   • WINDOWS_XP.exe
   • INFECT_YOUR_COMPUTER_NOW(hehe).exe
   • HI_KIRSTY.exe
   • CHANNEL_UKVX(undernet).exe
   • SYMTEM.exe
   • _backup.exe.exe
   • _backup.exe
     
2. It attempts to drop itself using the following filenames:
   • C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersDocumentsSYMTEM.EXE
   • C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersStart MenuProgramsStartupSYMTEM.EXE
   • C:WindowsAll UsersStart MenuProgramsStartupSYMTEM.EXE
     
3. It attempts to overwrite the following files with itself:
   • C:Program FilesCommon FilesInstallShieldEngine6Intel 32Ikernel.exe
   • C:Program FilesNetMeetingconf.exe
   • C:Program FilesMSN Messengermsnmsgr.exe
   • C:Program FilesCommon FilesMicrosoft SharedMSInfomsinfo32.exe
     
4. It adds the value
   
   Swf32 C:\_backup.exe
   
   to the registry key
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunServices
   
5. It enumerates contacts in the Outlook Address Book and sends itself using Microsoft Outlook. The email message has the following characteristics:
   
   Subject: <word1><word2><word3><word4>

<word1> is randomly chosen from the following list:
• Re:
• Fwd :
• RE: RE:

<word2> is randomly chosen from the following list:
• New
• This is cool
• Watch out
• Open
• Look at

<word3> is randomly chosen from the following list:
• MSPatch
• Program
• Patch
• update

<word1> is randomly chosen from the following list:
• (237)
• (2378)
• (23781)
• (237813)

Body:
Look at this!!! Microsoft svchost Patch:
Please run a search on your computer for the file name SVCHOST.EXE if this file is found on your system run the update patch provided in the attatchment of this email.
Regards,
Adam Voldran
MSUpdate Devision
Microsoft Corp.

Attachment: (randomly chosen from the following list)
• 6BDD1FC1-810F-11D0-BEC7-08002BE2092F.EXE
• x86_Microsoft_Windows_Networking_Dxmrtp_6595b64144ccf1df_4868_x-ww_212f7d9e.exe
• x86_Microsoft_Windows_Networking_RtcDll_6595b64144ccf1df_4868_x-ww_b168a28c.exe
• x86_Microsoft_Windows_CPlusPlusRuntime_6595b64144ccf1df_x-ww_2726e76a.exe
• svchost.exe
• oleaut32.exe
• swflash.exe
• QuickTimeUpdateHelper.exe
• SYMTEM_(Writen_by_INDUSTRY).exe
• 5283952.exe
• up(21379123).exe
• elkern_UPS_23913.exe
• massive_head_injury.jpg.exe
• MS_UPDATE_(126).exe
• ITS_A_BOMB.exe
• I_AM_A_WORM_DONT_OPEN_ME_LOL.exe
• WINDOWS_XP.exe
• INFECT_YOUR_COMPUTER_NOW(hehe).exe
• HI_KIRSTY.exe
• CHANNEL_UKVX(undernet).exe

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 files that are detected as W32.HLLW.Symten@mm.
4. Delete the value that the worm added to the registry, and restore the values that the worm changed.
5. Restore deleted or overwritten files

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.Symten@mm, click Delete.

4. Deleting the value that the worm added to the registry

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

---

1. Click Start, and then click Run. (The Run dialog box appears.)
2. Type regedit and then click OK. (The Registry Editor opens.)
3. Navigate to the key:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunServices
   
4. In the right pane, delete the value Swf32
5. Exit the Registry Editor.

5. Restore deleted or overwritten files
Restore deleted or overwritten files from a clean backup, or reinstall them.