W32.Yourde

SUMMARY

W32.Yourde infects files that are opened and saved in the full version of Adobe Acrobat v5.0.5 only. This virus does not work in Acrobat Reader and does not perform any other actions.

A patch is available from Adobe Systems, Inc. which addresses this vulnerability:

http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=2121

Behavior

Symptoms

Transmission

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) April 30, 2003
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) April 30, 2003

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

Distribution

• Distribution Level: Low

TECHNICAL DETAILS

W32.Yourde works by exploiting a vulnerability in the JavaScript parser, which exists in Adobe Acrobat v5.0.5. This vulnerability allows JavaScript code to place files in your Plug-ins folder.

When an infected PDF file is opened, some JavaScript code in the file will execute and place the file, Death.api, into the Acrobat plug-ins folder (usually C:Program FilesAdobeAcrobat 5.0AcrobatPlug_ins) and place the file, Evil.fdf, into the root of the C drive.

The Death.api file contains the virus replication code and the Evil.fdf file contains the JavaScript code, which launches the virus from the infected files.

When Acrobat is restarted, the plug-in will be loaded and the virus will be activated. When the virus activates, it will add the Death.api and Evil.fdf files to any existing PDF file, which is opened and then saved. The virus does not affect the files that are not saved and does not affect the newly created files.

In addition, when you edit an infected file, the virus will re-infect the file when the file is saved.

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. Update the virus definitions.
2. Run a full system scan and delete all the files detected as W32.Yourde.

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

1. 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.

2. 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.Yourde, click Delete. Restore the deleted files from a clean backup, if required.