W32.HLLW.Zule

SUMMARY

W32.HLLW.Zule is a worm that spreads across the KaZaA file-sharing network by tricking KaZaA users into downloading and opening the program. It also uses IRC to distribute itself. It attempts to delete files and folders belonging to various security software products.

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) December 30, 2002
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) December 26, 2002

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
• Deletes Files: It attempts to delete files and folders belonging to various security software products.
• Compromises Security Settings: May delete security software.

Distribution

• Distribution Level: Medium
• Shared Drives: Copies itself to KaZaA shared folders

TECHNICAL DETAILS

When W32.HLLW.Zule runs, it does following:

It copies itself as one or more of these files:

• C:Boot.exe
• C:JuZZle.bak
• C:Windowsscript.~ni
• C:WindowsCommandformat.com
• D:BattlefieldMPpatch.exe
• E:XXX.exe
• F:X-mas.exe
• G:Stoned.exe
• H:Scheisse.exe
• C:Programmeficken.exe
• D:Lustig.exe
• E:Funny.exe
• F:SimpsonsGame.exe
• G:Hidden.exe
• H:Microsoft.exe
• C:WindowsMirakulix.exe
• A:Simpsons.exe
• A:Bloody.exe
• C:Dokumente und EinstellungenAll usersStartmenProgrammeAutostartootWin.bat
• C:WindowsStartmenProgrammeAutostartootWin.bat
• C:WindowsStart menuProgramsstartupootWin.bat
• C:WindowsErotica.exe

It creates a subfolder named Certified in the same folder as the one from which the worm was executed. It then copies itself to the Certified folder as these files:

• Battlefield Bloodpatch.exe
• Gta3 Crack NoCD.exe
• Battlefield MP Update to 1.4 (new!!!).exe
• Sex in Office (xxx game).exe
• Warcraft3 More Blood! (Patch).exe
• How to get doom 3 demo!!!.exe
• Unreal Tournament 2003 Deutsch BloodPatch!.exe
• Doom3 Preview!!!.exe
• Mafia Extreme BloodPatch!.exe
• How to Crack all gamez.exe
• Pantera Music Game (brutal).exe
• Catch Bill Gates! (small game).exe
• Sarah Connor - Hidden Song (zipped in exe).exe
• Unreal Tournament 2003 Demo - Trainer!!!.exe
• juZZle.exe
• XXX -the hardcore game-.exe
• Mafia Trainer!!!.exe
• Warcraft 3 Trainer (for Cheaters).exe
• Gta3 NoCD +++ most blood.exe
• Crackz for many games (Gta3,Ut2003,Warcraft3,Mafia,...).exe
• Der Super Guru downloader!.exe
• Spiderman fast downloader.exe

It also copies itself as C:ProgrammeKazaaMy shared folderErotica XXX Game.exe. Then the worm can spread using the KaZaA file-sharing network.

W32.HLLW.Zule also creates the file C:WindowsScript.~ni and modifies all ini files in the following folders to spreading itself across IRC channels:

• C:ProgrammeMirc
• C:Mirc
• D:ProgrammeMirc
• D:Mirc
• E:ProgrammeMirc
• E:Mirc
• F:ProgrammeMirc
• F:Mirc
• G:ProgrammeMirc
• G:Mirc

These ini files are detected as IRC.Family.Gen by Symantec antivirus products.

The worm creates the following files. They are not malicious and are not detected as such by Symantec antivirus products. You should delete them manually.

• C:WindowsjuZZle.txt
• C:Jdate.mp3
• C:Jinf.mp3
• C:<computer name>.mp3

It attempts to delete these files and folders:

• C:ProgrammeNorton*.exe
• C:ProgrammeNorton*.dll
• C:ProgrammeNorton*.dat
• C:ProgrammeNorton*.vxd
• C:Norton*.exe
• C:Norton*.dll
• C:Norton*.dat
• C:Norton*.vxd
• C:ProgrammeAntivir*.avc
• C:ProgrammeAntivir*.set
• C:ProgrammeAntivir*.dll
• C:ProgrammeAntivir*.vxd
• C:ProgrammeAntivir*.exe
• C:Antivir*.Avc
• C:Antivir*.Set
• C:Antivir*.dll
• C:Antivir*.vxd
• C:Antivir*.exe
• C:ProgrammeMcafee*.dat
• C:ProgrammeMcafee*.dll
• C:ProgrammeMcafee*.exe
• C:ProgrammeMcafee*.vsc
• C:ProgrammeMcafee*.dat
• C:ProgrammeMcafee*.dll
• C:ProgrammeMcafee*.exe
• C:ProgrammeMcafee*.vsc
• C:Mcafee*.dat
• C:Mcafee*.dll
• C:Mcafee*.exe
• C:Mcafee*.vsc
• C:Mcafee*.dat
• C:Mcafee*.dll
• C:Mcafee*.exe
• C:Mcafee*.Vsc
• C:ProgrammeFsiF-Prot*.exe
• C:ProgrammeFsiF-Prot*.dll
• C:ProgrammeFsiF-Prot*.vxd
• C:ProgrammeFsiF-Prot*.rep
• C:ProgrammeF-Prot*.exe
• C:ProgrammeF-Prot*.dll
• C:ProgrammeF-Prot*.vxd
• C:ProgrammeF-Prot*.rep
• C:F-Prot*.exe
• C:F-Prot*.dll
• C:F-Prot*.vxd
• C:F-Prot*.rep
• C:Fsi
• C:WindowsCommandFormat.com
• C:WindowsSystemFormat.com
• C:WindowsSystem32Format.com

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

These instructions are for all current and recent Symantec antivirus products, including the Symantec AntiVirus and Norton AntiVirus product lines.

1. Update the virus definitions.
2. Run a full system scan, and delete all files that are detected as W32.HLLW.Zule.

For details on how to do this, read the following instructions.

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 the 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) line at the top of this writeup.
• 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) line at the top of this writeup.
  
  The Intelligent Updater virus definitions are available here. For detailed instructions on how to download and install the Intelligent Updater virus definitions from the Symantec Security Response Web site, click here.

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 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.Zule, click Delete.