WM.Wazzu.H

SUMMARY

WM.Wazzu.H is a macro virus first discovered in the United States. It infects documents by adding an encrypted macro, called AutoOpen, to them.

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 Trigger: Opening infected Word document.
• Payload: Randomly displays Message box with a dialog.

Distribution

• Distribution Level: Low
• Target of Infection: Microsoft Word documents.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

WM.Wazzu.H randomly picks one out of six code routine to perform while infecting:

1. The first routine displays a message box titled:

Microsloth - Who do you want to own today?

The message inside the box reads:

Thanks for using Microsloth Warp for Windblowz!

2. The second routine does not do anything but execute some inactive code.

3. The third routine opens twenty new word documents.

4. The fourth routine opens a current document.

5. The fifth routine makes the scroll go up and down.

6. If the virus randomly picks the sixth subroutine, all the files under the root directory C: drive are deleted.

Only one of these routines is executed per infection.

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.