W32.Row@mm

SUMMARY

W32.Row@mm is a mass-mailing worm that uses Microsoft Outlook to send itself to all the contacts in the Outlook Address Book.

The email has the following characteristics:

Subject: Fw: Security note #526272
Message:
--------------- This is a forwarded message ---------------
> Original message from <support@af-solutions.com.uk>
> Dear custommer.
> Please read the attached data security note #526272/C.
> As a registered user of our data security / antivirus suite,
> we send you the latest security information. It is highly recommended
> that you read the information card and keep it in a safe place.
> Note also that you may freely distribute the card to your friends
> and collegues which is highly recommended too.
> If you do not wish to receive any further information, please read
> the file for instructions.
> At your service:
> Dr. Ivor Davis
> Senior researcher.
> Artificial Solutions Corp.
> Birmingham B42 2PA. UK.
> 12 Winston Road, Olton,
Attachment: security.exe

The worm also attempts to spread itself through the IIS Web server by tricking the users into downloading the worm.

This threat is written in the Microsoft Visual Basic programming language. It may be compressed with PECompact.

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) September 26, 2001
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) September 23, 2001

TECHNICAL DETAILS

When W32.Row@mm runs, it does the following:

1. Displays the message:
   
   
   
   
   
2. Copies itself as the following:
   
   %System%Windll32.vxd
   %System%Winsys32.exe
   
   

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   Note: %System% is a variable. The worm locates the System folder and copies itself to that location. By default, this is C:WindowsSystem (Windows 95/98/Me), C:WinntSystem32 (Windows NT/2000), or C:WindowsSystem32 (Windows XP).

   ---

   
   
3. Creates the file, C:Send-Me-Mail!.wor, which is a text file. It contains the text:
   
   Disclaimer:
   vsample@nai.com
   
   This file is not viral by itself, and therefore Symantec antivirus products do not detect it. You can manually it if found.
   
   
4. Creates two registry keys:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARECLASSES.wor
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARECLASSESwor_worm_file
   
   
5. Uses Microsoft Outlook to send itself to all the contacts in the Outlook Address Book. The email has the following characteristics:
   
   Subject: Fw: Security note #526272
   Message:
   --------------- This is a forwarded message ---------------
   > Original message from <support@af-solutions.com.uk>
   > Dear custommer.
   > Please read the attached data security note #526272/C.
   > As a registered user of our data security / antivirus suite,
   > we send you the latest security information. It is highly recommended
   > that you read the information card and keep it in a safe place.
   > Note also that you may freely distribute the card to your friends
   > and collegues which is highly recommended too.
   > If you do not wish to receive any further information, please read
   > the file for instructions.
   > At your service:
   > Dr. Ivor Davis
   > Senior researcher.
   > Artificial Solutions Corp.
   > Birmingham B42 2PA. UK.
   > 12 Winston Road, Olton,
   Attachment: security.exe
   
   
6. If Inetpubwwwroot folder exists, the worm does the following:
   
   1. Copies itself as Inetpubwwwrootinformation.exe.
      
   2. Copies the following files on Inetpubwwwroot:
      
      index.htm
      index.html
      index.asp
      default.asp
      default.htm
      default.html
      
      as:
      
      index.001
      index.002
      index.003
      index.004
      index.005
      index.006
      
      if the files exist. Then the worm overwrites the original files.
      
      When the overwritten file executes, it launches a browser window that contains the following:
      
      Title:Temporarily closed
      Text:
      We are temporarily closed
      We are sorry but our site is at the moment
      under heavy construction as you can see.
      You may find the original site here. (which contains a link to www.sallyone.com)
      Our latest updated product may be freely downloaded here. (which contains a link to Inetpubwwwrootinformation.exe">
      
      
7. Displays the following message, if the current system date is the 16th of every month:
   
   
   
   
   
   Then the worm launches the browser to www.sallyone.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

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 the files detected as W32.Row@mm. Restore any overwritten files from clean backups if needed.
4. Delete the values that were added to the registry.
   

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"
  

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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.

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.Row@mm, click Delete.
4. If you had a Inetpubwwwroot folder, and the files in it were overwritten, restore them from a clean backup.

4. Deleting the values from the registry

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

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1. Click Start, and then click Run. (The Run dialog box appears.)
2. Type regedit
   
   Then click OK. (The Registry Editor opens.)
   
   
3. Navigate to each of the following keys and delete them:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARECLASSES.wor
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARECLASSESwor_worm_file
   
   
4. Exit the Registry Editor.