W32.Spybot.Worm = HALO2_demo_unreleased.exe ??? [Archive] - HP Deals, Computer Coupons And Bargains

Joshua

10-19-2003, 08:14 AM

http://www.sarc.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.spybot.worm.html

W32.Spybot.Worm
Discovered on: April 16, 2003
Last Updated on: October 08, 2003 01:46:53 PM

W32.Spybot.Worm is a detection for a family of worms that spreads using KaZaA file-sharing and mIRC. This worm can also spread to computers infected with common Backdoor Trojan Horses.

W32.Spybot.Worm can perform different backdoor-type functions by connecting to a configurable IRC server and joining a specific channel to listen for instructions.

Note: The October 8, 2003 virus definitions contain a modified W32.Spybot.Worm detection which accounts for a minor variation discovered on October 7, 2003.

Also Known As: Worm.P2P.SpyBot.gen [KAV], W32/Spybot-Fam [Sophos], W32/Spybot.worm.gen [McAfee], WORM_SPYBOT.GEN [Trend], Win32.Spybot.gen [CA]

Type: Worm
Infection Length: various

Systems Affected: Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Me
Systems Not Affected: Macintosh, OS/2, UNIX, Linux

Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) *
April 16, 2003

Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™) **
April 16, 2003

*
Intelligent Updater definitions are released daily, but require manual download and installation.
Click here to download manually.

**
LiveUpdate virus definitions are usually released every Wednesday.
Click here for instructions on using LiveUpdate.

Wild:

Number of infections: More than 1000
Number of sites: More than 10
Geographical distribution: High
Threat containment: Easy
Removal: Moderate
Threat Metrics

Wild:
Medium
Damage:
Medium
Distribution:
Medium

Damage

Payload:
Releases confidential info: Sends personal data to an IRC channel.
Compromises security settings: Allows unauthorized commands to be executed on an infected machine.
Distribution

Shared drives: Spreads using the KaZaA file-sharing network, as well as spreading through mIRC.

When W32.Spybot.Worm is executed, it does the following:

Copies itself to the %System% folder.

NOTE: %System% is a variable. The worm locates the System folder and copies itself to that location. By default, this is C:\Windows\System (Windows 95/98/Me), C:\Winnt\System32 (Windows NT/2000), or C:\Windows\System32 (Windows XP).

Creates and shares a folder on the KaZaA file-sharing network, by adding the following registry value:

"dir0"="012345:<configurable path>"

to the registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\KAZAA\LocalContent

Copies itself to the configured path as filenames designed to trick other users into downloading and executing the worm.

Can be configured to perform a Denial of Service (DoS) on specified servers.

Can be configured to terminate security product processes

Connects to specified IRC servers and joins a channel to receive commands. One such command is to copy itself to many hard-coded Windows Startup Folders, such as:

Documents and Settings\All Users\Menu Start\Programma's\Opstarten
WINDOWS\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp
WINNT\Profiles\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
WINDOWS\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
Documenti e Impostazioni\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
Dokumente und Einstellungen\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

NOTE: Symantec Security response has received reports of variants of this worm creating zero-byte files in the Startup folder. These files may have filenames such as "TFTP780" or "TFTP###", where # can be any number.

Adds a variable registry value to one or both of the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce

May log keystrokes to a file in the System folder.

May send personal information, such as the Operating System, IP Address, User Name, and so on, to the IRC server.

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.
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.

The following instructions pertain to all current and recent Symantec antivirus products, including the Symantec AntiVirus and Norton AntiVirus product lines.

Disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP).
Update the virus definitions.
Restart the computer in Safe mode.
Run a full system scan and delete all the files detected as W32.Spybot.Worm.
Delete the value that was added to the registry.
Delete any zero-byte files in the startup folder.

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"

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. Restarting the computer in Safe mode
Restart the computer in Safe mode. All the Windows 32-bit operating systems, except for Windows NT, can be restarted in Safe mode.

NOTE: The following instructions are basic and can vary slightly depending on the operating system.

If the computer is running, shut down Windows and then turn off the power.
Wait 30 seconds, and then turn on the computer.
Start tapping the F8 key.
When the Startup Menu appears, ensure that the Safe mode option is selected. In most cases, it is the first item in the list and is selected by default. (If it is not selected, use the arrow keys to select it.)
Press Enter. The computer will start in Safe mode. This can take a few minutes.
When you are finished with all the troubleshooting, close all the programs and restart the computer as you normally would.

4. Scanning for and deleting the infected files
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."
Run a full system scan.
If any files are detected as infected with W32.Spybot.Worm.
Write down the filenames, and then click Delete.

5. Deleting the value from the registry

CAUTION: 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.

Click Start, and then click Run. (The Run dialog box appears.)
Type regedit

then click OK. (The Registry Editor opens.)

Navigate to the key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

In the right pane, delete any values that refer to the filename that was detected as infected with W32.Spybot.Worm.

Navigate to the key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce

In the right pane, delete any values that reference the filename in step d.

Exit the Registry Editor.

6. Delete the zero-byte files from the Startup Folder
Follow the instructions for your operating system:

NOTE: There may be legitimate files on your system that start with "tftp." Make sure to only delete the zero-byte files from the Startup folder.

Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000
Click Start, point to Find or Search, and then click Files or Folders.
Make sure that "Look in" is set to (C:) and that "Include subfolders" is checked.
In the "Named" or "Search for..." box, type, or copy and paste, the file name, tftp*.*
Click Find Now or Search Now.
Delete the files that are zero-bytes and contained within any folder that ends with "Startup."

Windows XP
Click Start, and then click Search.
Click All files and folders.
In the "All or part of the file name" box, type, or copy and paste, the file names tftp*.*
Verify that "Look in" is set to "Local Hard Drives" or to (C:).
Click "More advanced options."
Check "Search system folders."
Check "Search subfolders."
Click Search.
Delete the files that are zero-bytes and contained within any folder that ends with "Startup."

Revision History:

October 8, 2003: Added information regarding updated detection released in virus definitions on this day.
August 13, 2003: Updated removal instructions for Safe Mode.
August 7, 2003:
Upgraded from Category 1 to Category 2 due to increased prevalence.
Added information pertaining to the existence of 0-byte files in the StartUp folder.

Write-up by: Douglas Knowles