WM.Johnny

SUMMARY

WM.Johnny is a simple macro virus. The name is taken from a comment in the macro code:

Our devise - A copy of "Go Johnny Go"
on every computer !
M.H., E.R.

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
• Payload: Inserting the text NAIPESVOH REHM on some occasions when saving a file into a new name (File-SaveAs).

Distribution

• Distribution Level: Low
• Target of Infection: Microsoft Word 6/95 document

TECHNICAL DETAILS

WM.Johnny has six macros in document and template. In document, the macros are named

• AUTOOPEN
• FILESAVE
• PRESENTV
• PRESENTW
• PRESENTZ
• VGOJOHNNY

In global template (NORMAL.DOT), the macros are named

• FILESAVE
• PRESENTV
• PRESENTW
• PRESENTZ
• VGOJOHNNY
• FILESAVEAS

This macro virus infects global template upon opening an infected document. It infects other documents when the document is being Saved or Saved-As into a different name.

This macro virus is one of the devolving macro virus. A devolving macro virus loses some of its macro but is still able to replicate with the smaller set of macros. Devolving is usually caused by buggy replication code. The smaller set of macros of WM.Johnny are:

• AUTOOPEN
• PRESENTV
• PRESENTW
• PRESENTZ
• VGOJOHNNY

WM.Johnny also removes any macro named

• PAYLOAD
• DRWEBSCAN
• FILEOPEN

from the global template.

Variant Notes

Most variants of WM.Johnny have corrupted or empty macros. For example, the FileSave command may give an error, but the virus still spreads through the FileSaveAs command.

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

Norton AntiVirus users can protect themselves from this virus by downloading the current virus definitions either through LiveUpdate or from the Download Virus Definition Updates page.