W32.MagicCall

SUMMARY

W32.MagicCall is a virus that periodically (about every three minutes) attempts to connect these URLs:
http:/ /www.zymf.com/
http:/ /www.csdn.net/soft/openfile.asp?kind=1&id=6398

At the same time it tries to copy itself as A:MagicCall.exe.

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) September 4, 2002
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) September 3, 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: Low
• Modifies Files: Modifies the registry.
• Degrades Performance: Visits 2 websites every 3 minutes

Distribution

• Distribution Level: Low

TECHNICAL DETAILS

When W32.MagicCall runs, it remains in memory and copies itself as C:WindowsSystemInternet.exe.

It waits one minute, and then creates the value

Internet.exe   C:windowssystemInternet.exe

in the registry key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunServices

so that the virus runs each time that you start Windows.

NOTE: If the virus program is active in memory and you delete the registry value, the virus will add the value again.

Three minutes after the virus begins to run it tries to copy itself as A:MagicCall.exe. This will succeed if there is a writeable floppy disk in drive A.

Example execution of the virus program during the first 60 minutes

Elapsed time in minutes from start	Function that it attempts to perform
5	Contact URL: http:/ /www.zymf.com/
8	Save again as A:MagicCall.exe
11	Save again as A:MagicCall.exe
14	Save again as A:MagicCall.exe
17	Save again as A:MagicCall.exe
17	Contact URL: http:/ /www.zymf.com/
18	Rewrites itself C:windowssystemInternet.exe
21	Contact URL: http:/ /www.csdn.net/soft/openfile.asp?kind=1&id=6398
24	Contact URL: http:/ /www.zymf.com/
27	Contact URL: http:/ /www.zymf.com/
29	Save again as A:MagicCall.exe
33	Contact URL: http:/ /www.csdn.net/soft/openfile.asp?kind=1&id=6398
36	Contact URL: http:/ /www.csdn.net/soft/openfile.asp?kind=1&id=6398
39	Contact URL: http:/ /www.zymf.com/
41	Save again as A:MagicCall.exe
44	Contact URL: http:/ /www.csdn.net/soft/openfile.asp?kind=1&id=6398
47	Contact URL: http:/ /www.csdn.net/soft/openfile.asp?kind=1&id=6398
50	Contact URL: http:/ /www.csdn.net/soft/openfile.asp?kind=1&id=6398
53	Contact URL: http:/ /www.csdn.net/soft/openfile.asp?kind=1&id=6398
57	Contact URL: http:/ /www.csdn.net/soft/openfile.asp?kind=1&id=6398
60	Contact URL: http:/ /www.zymf.com/

Whenever the virus is able to write itself to the floppy disk, it will also modify several bytes of the boot sector at offsets from 3 to 10 (OEM ID String 8 bytes). The data is overwritten with these hexadecimal values:

2A 62 2C 54 75 49 48 43 i.e. "b,TuIHC"

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

NOTE: 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. Do one of the following:
   • Windows 95/98/Me: Restart the computer in Safe mode.
   • Windows NT/2000/XP: Stop the Internet.exe process that is running.
3. Run a full system scan, and delete all files that are detected as W32.MagicCall.
4. Remove the value
   
   Internet.exe   C:windowssystemInternet.exe
   
   from the registry key
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunServices
   

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

To update the virus definitions:
There are two ways to do this:

• Run LiveUpdate, which is the easiest way to obtain virus definitions. These virus definitions have undergone full quality assurance testing by Symantec Security Response and are posted to the LiveUpdate servers one time each week (usually Wednesdays) unless there is a major virus outbreak. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by LiveUpdate, look at the Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate) line at the top of this write-up.
• Download the definitions using the Intelligent Updater. Intelligent Updater virus definitions have undergone full quality assurance testing by Symantec Security Response. They are posted on U.S. business days (Monday through Friday). They must be downloaded from the Symantec Security Response Web site and installed manually. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by the Intelligent Updater, look at the Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) line at the top of this write-up.
  
  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.

To restart in Safe mode or stop the process:
Windows 95/98/Me
Restart the computer in Safe mode. All Windows 32-bit operating systems, except for Windows NT, can be restarted in Safe mode. For instructions on how to do this, read the document How to start the computer in Safe Mode.

Windows NT/2000/XP
To stop the virus process:

1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete one time.
2. Click Task Manager.
3. Click the Processes tab.
4. Double-click the Image Name column header to sort the processes alphabetically.
5. Scroll through the list, and look for Internet.exe.
6. If you find the file, click it, and then click End Process.
7. Close the Task Manager.
   

To scan for and delete the infected files:

1. Start your Symantec antivirus program, and make sure that it is configured to scan all files.
   • Norton AntiVirus consumer products: Read the document How to configure Norton AntiVirus to scan all files.
   • Symantec enterprise antivirus 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.MagicCall, click Delete.

To remove the value that the virus added to the registry:

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 only the keys that are specified. Read the document How to make a backup of the Windows registry for instructions.

1. Click Start, and 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
   
   Internet.exe   C:windowssystemInternet.exe
   
5. Exit the Registry Editor.