W32.Reatle.I@mm

SUMMARY

W32.Reatle.I@mm is a mass-mailing worm that downloads remote files and lowers security settings. The worm spreads by exploiting vulnerabilities, and may attempt to download and execute a copy of W32.Spybot.Worm.

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) August 31, 2005
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) August 25, 2005

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
• Payload: Downloads and executes remote files.
• Compromises Security Settings: Blocks access to security-related Web sites.

Distribution

• Distribution Level: Medium
• Subject of Email: Varies
• Name of Attachment: Varies
• Ports: TCP ports 9955, 445, and 9958

TECHNICAL DETAILS

When W32.Reatle.I@mm is executed, it performs the following actions:

1. Copies itself as the following:
   
   
   • %System%winhost.exe
   • %System%winhost.tmp
     
     Note: %System% is a variable that refers to the System folder. By default this is C:WindowsSystem (Windows 95/98/Me), C:WinntSystem32 (Windows NT/2000), or C:WindowsSystem32 (Windows XP).
     
     
2. Adds the value:
   
   "winhost" = "%System%winhost.exe"
   
   to the registry subkey:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
   
   so that it runs every time Windows starts.
   
   
3. Drops a copy of W32.Beagle.BY@mm as the following:
   
   
   • %System%eagle.exe
   • %Windir%agle.exe
     
     Note: %Windir% is a variable that refers to the Windows installation folder. By default, this is C:Windows or C:Winnt.
     
     
4. Drops a copy of W32.Bratle.C as the following:
   
   
   • %System%mcafee.exe
   • %Windir%scan.exe
     
     
5. Drops the following clean text file:
   

%Windir%sgm32.dll

1. Downloads a copy of W32.Spybot.Worm from [http://]j0r.biz/[REMOVED]/proto.com.
   
   
2. Saves the downloaded file as %System%proto.com and executes it.
   
   
3. Copies itself to folders containing the string "shar", using the following file names:
   
   
   • XXX hardcore images.exe
   • Windows Sourcecode update.doc[SPACES].exe
   • Windown Longhorn Beta Leak.exe
   • WinAmp 6 New!.exe
   • Serials.txt[SPACES].exe
   • Porno, sex, oral, anal cool, awesome!!.exe
   • Porno pics arhive, xxx.exe
   • Porno Screensaver.scr
   • New patch.exe
   • New document.doc[SPACES].exe
   • Microsoft Windows XP, WinXP Crack, working Keygen.exe
   • Microsoft Office XP working Crack, Keygen.exe
   • Microsoft Office 2003 Crack, Working!.exe
   • Kaspersky Antivirus 5.0.exe
   • Ahead Nero 7.exe
     
     
4. Adds the following text to the hosts file to block access to certain security-related Web sites:
   
   127.0.0.1 www.trendmicro.com
   127.0.0.1 www.symantec.com
   127.0.0.1 us.mcafee.com
   127.0.0.1 liveupdate.symantec.com
   127.0.0.1 f-secure.com
   127.0.0.1 trendmicro.com
   127.0.0.1 www.sarc.com
   127.0.0.1 www.pandasoftware.com
   127.0.0.1 symantec.com
   127.0.0.1 www.mcafee.com
   127.0.0.1 sophos.com
   127.0.0.1 mcafee.com
   127.0.0.1 www.sophos.com
   127.0.0.1 www.kaspersky.com
   127.0.0.1 ca.com
   127.0.0.1 www.my-etrust.com
   127.0.0.1 download.mcafee.com
   127.0.0.1 www.f-secure.com
   127.0.0.1 kaspersky.com
   127.0.0.1 www.nai.com
   127.0.0.1 pandasoftware.com
   127.0.0.1 www.ca.com
   
   
5. Gathers email addresses from files with the following extensions and stores them in the file %Windir%sgm32.dll:
   
   
   • .xml
   • .jsp
   • .dbx
   • .adb
   • .cgi
   • .sht
   • .wab
   • .asp
   • .php
   • .txt
   • .eml
   • .html
   • .htm
     
     The worm will not send itself to email addresses that contain any of the following strings:
     
     
   • @avp.
   • @foo
   • @iana
   • @messagelab
   • @microsoft
   • @msn
   • abuse
   • admin
   • anyone@
   • bsd
   • bugs@
   • cafee
   • certific
   • contract@
   • f-secur
   • feste
   • free-av
   • gold-certs@
   • google
   • help@
   • icrosoft
   • info@
   • kasp
   • linux
   • listserv
   • local
   • news
   • nobody@
   • noone@
   • noreply
   • norton
   • ntivi
   • panda
   • pgp
   • postmaster@
   • rating@
   • root@
   • samples
   • sopho
   • spam
   • support
   • unix
   • update
   • virus
   • winrar
   • winzip
     
     
6. Uses its own SMTP engine to send itself to the email addresses that it finds. The email has the following characteristics:
   
   From:
   One of the following:
   
   
   • admin
   • root
   • support
   • webmaster
     
     appended with one of the following domains:
     
     
   • @aol.com
   • @ca.com
   • @f-secure.com
   • @kaspersky.com
   • @mcafee.com
   • @microsoft.com
   • @msn.com
   • @sarc.com
   • @security.com
   • @securityfocus.com
   • @sophos.com
   • @symantec.com
   • @trendmicro.com
   • @yahoo.com
     
     Subject:
     One of the following:
     
     
   • Changes..
   • Encrypted document
   • Fax Message
   • Forum notify
   • Incoming message
   • Notification
   • Protected message
   • Re:
   • Re: Document
   • Re: Hello
   • Re: Hi
   • Re: Incoming Message
   • Re: Incoming Msg
   • Re: Message Notify
   • Re: Msg reply
   • Re: Protected message
   • Re: Text message
   • Re: Thank you!
   • Re: Thanks :)
   • Re: Yahoo!
   • Site changes
   • Update
   • Hello
     
     Message:
     One of the following lines:
     
     
   • Attach tells everything.
   • Attached file tells everything.
   • Check attached file for details.
   • Check attached file.
   • Here is the file.
   • Message is in attach
   • More info is in attach
   • Pay attention at the attach.
   • Please, have a look at the attached file.
   • Please, read the document.
   • Read the attach.
   • See attach.
   • See the attached file for details.
   • Try this.
   • Your document is attached.
   • Your file is attached.
     
     
     Attachment:
     One of the following:
     
     
   • text_document.doc [SPACE] .exe
   • Updates.doc [SPACE] .exe
   • Readme.doc [SPACE] .exe
   • MoreInfo.doc [SPACE] .exe
   • Message.doc [SPACE] .exe
   • Information.doc [SPACE] .exe
   • Info.doc [SPACE] .exe
   • Document.doc [SPACE] .exe
   • Details.doc [SPACE] .exe
     
     
7. Starts an FTP server on TCP ports 9955 and 9958.
   
   
8. Attempts to connect to random IP addresses on TCP port 445 by exploiting the following vulnerabilities:
   
   
   • The Microsoft Windows Plug and Play Buffer Overflow Vulnerability (as described in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS05-039)
   • The Microsoft Windows Local Security Authority Service Remote Buffer Overflow (as described in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-011)
     
     If a successful connection is made, the worm will be downloaded onto the newly compromised computer.

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

Removal using the W32.Reatle@mm Removal Tool
Symantec Security Response has developed a removal tool to clean the infections of W32.Reatle.I@mm. Use this removal tool first, as it is the easiest way to remove this threat.

Manual 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. Remove all the entries that the risk added to the hosts file.
3. Update the virus definitions.
4. Run a full system scan and delete all the files detected.
5. Delete any values added to the registry.
   

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

1. To disable 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

Note: When you are completely finished with the removal procedure and are satisfied that the threat has been removed, reenable System Restore by following the instructions in the aforementioned documents.

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. To remove all the entries that the risk added to the hosts file

1. Navigate to the following location:
   
   
   • Windows 95/98/Me:
     %Windir%
   • Windows NT/2000/XP:
     %Windir%System32driversetc
     
     Notes:
   • The location of the hosts file may vary and some computers may not have this file. There may also be multiple copies of this file in different locations. If the file is not located in these folders, search your disk drives for the hosts file, and then complete the following steps for each instance found.
   • %Windir% is a variable that refers to the Windows installation folder. By default, this is C:Windows (Windows 95/98/Me/XP) or C:Winnt (Windows NT/2000).
     
     
2. Double-click the hosts file.
3. If necessary, deselect the "Always use this program to open this program" check box.
4. Scroll through the list of programs and double-click Notepad.
5. When the file opens, delete all the entries added by the risk. (See the Technical Details section for a complete list of entries.)
6. Close Notepad and save your changes when prompted.

3. To update 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 Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate).
• Downloading the definitions using the Intelligent Updater: The Intelligent Updater virus definitions are posted daily. 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 Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater).
  
  The latest Intelligent Updater virus definitions can be obtained here: Intelligent Updater virus definitions. For detailed instructions read the document: How to update virus definition files using the Intelligent Updater.

4. To scan for and delete 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, click Delete.

Important: If you are unable to start your Symantec antivirus product or the product reports that it cannot delete a detected file, you may need to stop the risk from running in order to remove it. To do this, run the scan in Safe mode. For instructions, read the document, How to start the computer in Safe Mode. Once you have restarted in Safe mode, run the scan again.

After the files are deleted, restart the computer in Normal mode and proceed with the next section.

Warning messages may be displayed when the computer is restarted, since the threat may not be fully removed at this point. You can ignore these messages and click OK. These messages will not appear when the computer is restarted after the removal instructions have been fully completed. The messages displayed may be similar to the following:

Title: [FILE PATH]
Message body: Windows cannot find [FILE NAME]. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the Start button, and then click Search.


5. To delete the value from the registry
Important: 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 subkeys only. For instructions refer to the document: How to make a backup of the Windows registry.

1. Click Start > Run.
2. Type regedit
3. Click OK.
   
   Note: If the registry editor fails to open the threat may have modified the registry to prevent access to the registry editor. Security Response has developed a tool to resolve this problem. Download and run this tool, and then continue with the removal.
   
   
4. Navigate to the subkey:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
   
   
5. In the right pane, delete the value:
   
   "winhost" = "%System%winhost.exe"
   
   
6. Exit the Registry Editor.