W32.Protoride.Worm

SUMMARY

W32.Protoride.Worm is a worm that attempts to spread through the local network. It may have backdoor capabilities.

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) January 18, 2004
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) January 16, 2004

Threat Assessment

Wild

• Wild Level: Low
• Number of Infections: 0 - 49
• Number of Sites: 0 - 2
• Geographical Distribution: Low
• Threat Containment: Easy
• Removal: Moderate

Damage

• Damage Level: Medium
• Compromises Security Settings: Allows unauthorized remote access.

Distribution

• Distribution Level: Medium
• Shared Drives: Attempts to connect to other computers within the same network range as a randomly generated IP address.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

When W32.Protoride.Worm is executed, it does the following:

1. Modifies the (Default) values in the registry key:
   
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTexefileshellopencommand
   
   to:
   
   <Path to the worm> "%1 %*"
   
   
2. Attempts to connect to other computers within the same network range as a randomly generated IP address.
   
   For example, if the randomly generated IP address is A.B.C.D, the worm will then attempt to connect to all the computers, with an IP address that begins with A.x.x.x.
   
   
3. Tries to copy itself as the following:
   • X:Documents and SettingsAll UsersMen・InicioProgramasInicioMsUpdate.exe
   • X:Documents and SettingsAll UsersStart MenuProgramsStartupMsUpdate.exe
   • X:WINDOWSMen・InicioProgramasinicioMsUpdate.exe
   • X:WINDOWSStart MenuProgramsStartupMsUpdate.exe
   • X:WINDOWS.000Men・InicioProgramasinicioMsUpdate.exe
   • X:WINDOWS.000Start MenuProgramsStartupMsUpdate.exe
   • X:Win98Men・InicioProgramasinicioMsUpdate.exe
   • X:Win98Start MenuProgramsStartupMsUpdate.exe
   • X:WinMEMen・InicioProgramasinicioMsUpdate.exe
   • X:WinMEStart MenuProgramsStartupMsUpdate.exe
     
     
4. Attempts to connect to predetermined IRC servers and wait for a command from the attacker.

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. Reverse the changes made to the registry.
2. Disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP).
3. Update the virus definitions.
4. Do one of the following:
   • Windows 95/98/Me: Restart the computer in Safe mode.
   • Windows NT/2000/XP: End the malicious process.
5. Run a full system scan and delete all the files detected as W32.Protoride.Worm.
   

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

1. Reversing the changes that were made to the registry
Because the worm modified the registry so that the worm runs any time you run a .exe file, first make a copy of the Registry Editor as a file with the .com extension, and then run the copy.

1. Do one of the following, depending on the version of Windows you are running:
   • Windows 95/98 users:
     1. Click Start.
     2. Point to Programs.
     3. Click the MS-DOS Prompt. (A DOS window opens at the C:Windows prompt.) Proceed to step B of this section.
        
        
   • Windows Me users:
     1. Click Start.
     2. Point to Programs.
     3. Point to Accessories.
     4. Click the MS-DOS Prompt. (A DOS window opens at the C:Windows prompt.) Proceed to step B of this section.
        
        
   • Windows NT/2000 users:
     1. Click Start, and then click Run.
     2. Type command, and then press Enter. (A DOS window opens.)
     3. Type cd winnt, and then press Enter.
     4. Go to step B of this section.
        
        
   • Windows XP users:
     1. Click Start, and then click Run.
     2. Type command, and then press Enter. (A DOS window opens.)
     3. Type the following:
        
        cd
        cd windows
        
        Press Enter after typing each one.
        
     4. Proceed to step B of this section.
        
        
2. Type copy regedit.exe regedit.com
   
   and then press Enter.
   
   
3. Type start regedit.com
   
   and then press Enter. (The Registry Editor opens in front of the DOS window.)
   
   After you finish editing the registry, exit the Registry Editor, and then exit the DOS window as well.
   
   
4. Before continuing, 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. For instructions, read the document, "How to make a backup of the Windows registry."
   
   
5. Navigate to and select the key:
   
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTexefileshellopencommand
   
   NOTE: The HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT key contains many subkey entries that refer to other file extensions. One of these file extensions is .exe. Changing this extension can prevent any files ending with a .exe extension from running. Make sure that you completely browse through this path until you reach the command subkey.
   
   Modify the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTexefileshellopencommand subkey, shown in the following figure:
   
   <<=== NOTE: Modify this key.
   
   
6. In the right pane, double-click the (Default) value.
7. Delete the current value data, and then type:
   
   "%1" %*
   
   That is, type the characters: quote-percent-one-quote-space-percent-asterisk.
   
   NOTES
   • Under Windows 95/98/Me/NT, the Registry Editor automatically encloses the value within quotation marks. When you click OK, the (Default) value should look exactly like this:
     
     ""%1" %*"  
     
   • Under Windows 2000/XP, the additional quotation marks will not appear. When you click OK, the (Default) value should look exactly like this:
     
     "%1" %*
     
   • Make sure that you completely delete all the value data in the command key before typing the correct data. If you leave a space at the beginning of the entry, any attempt to run the program files will result in the error message, "Windows cannot find .exe." If this occurs, restart the entire process from the beginning of this documentand make sure that you completely remove the current value data.
     
     
8. Exit the Registry Editor.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Restarting the computer in Safe mode or ending the malicious process

Windows 95/98/Me
Shut down the computer and turn off the power. Wait for at least 30 seconds, and then restart the computer in Safe mode. For instructions, read the document, "How to start the computer in Safe Mode."

Windows NT/2000/XP
To end the malicious 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 MsUpdate.exe.
6. If you find the file, click it, and then click End Process.
7. Exit the Task Manager.

5. 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.Protoride.Worm, click Delete.
   

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Note: If you restarted in Safe mode in step 4, restart in Normal mode by following the instruction in the Safe mode document.

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