W97M.Ortant@mm

SUMMARY

W97M.Ortant@mm is a macro virus that has worm and Trojan properties. It attempts to delete system files and antivirus program files.

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) February 23, 2004
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) February 23, 2004

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 Trigger: Some items are randomly triggered.
• Large Scale E-mailing: Attempts to mail to all the entries in the Outlook address book.
• Deletes Files: Deletes antivirus files, deletes system files.
• Degrades Performance: Randomly deletes critical system files.
• Causes System Instability: Randomly deletes critical system files.
• Compromises Security Settings: Deletes antivirus files.

Distribution

• Distribution Level: Low
• Subject of Email: May include "Galaxy Angel" or "broccoli.co.jp" in the subject.
• Name of Attachment: Infected document name.
• Size of Attachment: Varies

TECHNICAL DETAILS

W97M.Ortant@mm does not infect documents created with versions of Microsoft Word® earlier than Word 97. The macro virus component attempts to infect files upon AutoOpen and AutoClose, and when Tools > Macro, File >Templates, or Tools > Customize is selected.

When W97M.Ortant@mm is run, it performs the following actions:

1. Attempts to email the infected document to all the entries in your Microsoft Outlook® Address Book. The subject may include "www.broccoli.co" or "Galaxy Angel." The message itself is in Japanese.
   
   
2. Deletes the C:Autoexec.bat file.
   
   
3. Deletes the following system files if they are found in these locations:
   • C:WindowsSystem32hal.dll
   • C:WindowsSystem32*.*
   • C:WindowsExplorer.exe
   • C:WindowsTaskman.exe
   • C:WindowsSystem32Access.cpl
     
     
4. Deletes the files from the following folders if they are found in these locations:
   • C:Program FilesSymantec
   • C:Program FilesCommon FilesSymantec Shared
   • C:Program FilesNorton Internet Security ProfessionalNorton AntiVirus
   • C:eSafeProtect
   • C:Program FilesCommand SoftwareF-PROT95
   • C:PC-Cillin 95
   • C:PC-Cillin 97
   • C:Program FilesQuick Heal
   • C:Program FilesFWIN32
   • C:Program FilesFindVirus
   • C:ToolkitFindVirus
   • C:f-macro
   • C:Program FilesMcAfeeVirusScan95
   • C:Program FilesNorton AntiVirus
   • C:TBAVW95
   • C:VS95
   • C:Program FilesNorton Internet Security Professional
   • C:*.*
   • C:Program FilesTrend MicroOfficeScan Client
     
     
5. If mIRC is installed on an infected computer, it creates the file, GalaxyAngelEternalLovers.doc, and then attempts to modify mIRC scripts to send the file over mIRC channels.
   
   
6. On a random basis, the worm attempts to:
   • Assign a random password to an infected file.
   • Delete any or all of the following files:
     • C:WindowsSystem*.dl
     • C:WindowsSystem32*.dll
     • C:WindowsSystem32*.*
     • C:WindowsSystem*.*
     • C:*.*
       
       
   • Exit Windows
   • Ping selected Web sites in a Denial of Service (DoS) attack

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.

---

Note: If the worm portion of the threat was successful in deleting files, you may need re-install Windows or Norton AntiVirus, or both, before you can continue.

---

1. Disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP).
2. Update the virus definitions.
3. Run a full system scan and repair all the files detected as W97M.Ortant@mm.

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"

---

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.

---

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 repairing the infected files

1. Start your Symantec antivirus software 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 W97M.Ortant@mm, click Repair.