Subject of email: Fwd:Peace BeTweeN AmeriCa and IsLaM!
Name of attachment: WTC.exe
Size of attachment: 55808 Bytes
Symantec Security Response
http://securityresponse.symantec.com
W32.Vote.A@mm
Discovered on: September 24,
2001
Last Updated on: September 24, 2001 at
09:56:27 AM PDT
W32.Vote.A@mm is a mass-mailing worm that is written in
Visual Basic. When executed, it will email itself out to all email
addresses in the Microsoft Outlook address book. The worm will insert two
.vbs files on the system, and it will also attempt to delete files from
several antivirus products.
Type: Worm
Infection Length: 55,808 Bytes
Virus Definitions: September 24, 2001
Threat Assessment:
Wild:
Low Damage:
High Distribution:
High
Wild:
Number of infections: 0 - 49
Number of sites: 3 - 9
Geographical
distribution: Medium
Threat containment: Moderate
Removal: Moderate
Damage:
Payload:
Large scale e-mailing:
Emails everyone in the Microsoft Outlook addressbook
Deletes files: After reboot, the worm attempts to delete all files
in the Windows folder
Modifies files: All files
with the extension "htm" or "html" will be overwritten.
Compromises security settings: If the Backdoor.Trojan was
successfully downloaded and installed, anyone could gain full access to
the computer.
Distribution:
Subject of email: Fwd:Peace BeTweeN AmeriCa and IsLaM!
Name of attachment: WTC.exe
Size of attachment: 55808 Bytes
Technical description:
W32.Vote.A@mm is a mass-mailing worm written in the Visual
Basic language. It requires the file Msvbvm50.dll to execute.
When executed, the worm will attempt to email itself to
all contacts in the Microsoft Outlook address book. The email will appear
as follows.
Subject: Fwd:Peace BeTweeN AmeriCa and IsLaM!
Message:
Hi
iS iT A waR Against AmeriCa Or IsLaM !?
Let's Vote To Live in Peace!
Attachment: WTC.EXE
Next, the worm will insert two .vbs files on the
system:
\<Windows folder>\ZaCker.vbs
\<Windows\System folder>\MixDaLaL.vbs
In addition, the worm will attempt to download and execute
a file. This file is detected as Backdoor.Trojan by Norton
Antivirus.
Finally, the worm will attempt to delete all files from
several folders. These folders appear to be the default installation
folders for several antivirus products. For Norton AntiVirus, this worm
will only attempt to delete the files if Norton Antivirus is located in
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus.
What the dropped files do
MixDaLaL.vbs
MixDaLaL.vbs is a
Visual Basic Script file that is inserted in the \Windows\System folder.
This file is executed by the worm. As the file is executed, it will look
through all folders on all fixed drives and network drives for files with
the extensions .htm or .html. If such a files are found, they are
overwritten with the message:
AmeRiCa ...Few Days WiLL Show You What We Can Do !!! It's
Our Turn >>> ZaCkEr is So Sorry For You
ZaCker.VBS
This file is inserted
in the \Windows\System folder. It is not executed by the worm. Instead,
the value
Norton.Thar \Windows\System\ZaCker.vbs
is added to the registry key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
so that the file is executed when you start
Windows.
When executed at the next restart, this file will attempt
to delete all files in the \Windows folder. Next, the worm will create or
overwrite the file C:\Autoexec.bat. Inside the file there will be a
command that formats the C drive. The Autoexec.bat file is executed on
Windows 95/98/Me and DOS systems when you start the computer.
Finally, the worm will displays the message
The worm does attempt to shut down Windows after the
message has been displayed. However, because the files required for this
event to occur have been deleted from the \Windows folder, the computer
probably will not shut down.
Removal instructions:
1. Run LiveUpdate to make sure that you have the most
recent virus definitions.
2. Start Norton
AntiVirus (NAV), and make sure that NAV is configured to scan all files.
For instructions on how to do this, read the document How to configure
Norton AntiVirus to scan all files.
3. Run a full system scan.
4.
Delete all files that are detected as W32.Vote.A@mm. If the worm has run
and Norton AntiVirus is installed in C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus,
you should reinstall Norton Antivirus.
5. If the computer has been rebooted after the infection,
or if the computer seems very unstable, it is recommended that you
reinstall the operating system.
Additional information:
If the Backdoor.Trojan was successfully installed on the
computer, it is possible that your system has been accessed remotely by an
unauthorized user. For this reason it is impossible to guarantee the
integrity of a system that has had such an infection. The remote user
could have made changes to your system, including but not limited to the
following:
Stealing or changing passwords or password files
Installing remote-connectivity host software, also known
as backdoors
Installing keystroke logging
software
Configuring of firewall rules
Stealing of credit card numbers, banking information,
personal data, and so on
Deletion or modification
of files
Sending of inappropriate or even
incriminating material from a customer's email account
Modifying access rights on user accounts or files
Deleting information from log files to hide such activities
If you need to be certain that your organization is
secure, you must reinstall the operating system, and restore files from a
backup that was made before the infection took place, and change all
passwords that may have been on the infected computers or that were
accessible from it. This is the only way to ensure that your systems are
safe. For more information regarding security in your organization,
contact your system administrator.
Write-up by: Neal Hindocha
Ray Zorz
Information Technology
Manager
Scottsdale Area Chamber - The Business
Alliance
480-429-2241
http:\\www.scottsdalechamber.com
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.sunbelt-software.com/ntsysadmin_list_charter.htm
http://www.sunbelt-software.com/ntsysadmin_list_charter.htm