WORM_OTORUN.ZYN

 Analysis by: Nice Yutuc

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:

  • Threat Type: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This worm arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It drops an AUTORUN.INF file to automatically execute the copies it drops when a user accesses the drives of an affected system.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

1,415,146 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

17 Nov 2011

Arrival Details

This worm arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

Installation

This worm drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Windows%\J_Y.exe
  • %Windows%\J_Y.WoRm.Jpg

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows or C:\WINNT.)

It drops the following component file(s):

  • %System%\dllcache\brofnet.cm
  • %System%\dllcache\cweener.xr
  • %System%\dllcache\date.avi
  • %System%\dllcache\mrahamX.pro
  • %System%\dllcache\NET14.COM
  • %System%\dllcache\nvsvc32.com
  • %System%\dllcache\PLURPP.COM
  • %System%\dllcache\reotspnwy16.dll
  • %System%\dllcache\secux32.exe
  • %System%\dllcache\SuStur32.exe
  • %System%\dllcache\varnal16.ber
  • %System%\dllcache\xorebro.pif

It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Windows%\J_Y.exe
  • %Windows%\J_Y.WoRm.Jpg

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows or C:\WINNT.)

Autostart Technique

This worm adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
J_Y = "%Windows%\J_Y.exe"

Other System Modifications

This worm adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.cha

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ChatFile

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\irc\Shell\
open\ddeexec

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
.cha

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
ChatFile

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SRVStarter_sys32

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Shell = "Explorer.exe J_Y.exe"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is Explorer.exe.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
mIRC
UninstallString = ""%System%\dllcache\nvsvc32.com" -uninstall"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is %Program Files%\mIRC\uninstall.exe _?=%Program Files%\mIRC.)

Propagation

This worm drops the following copies of itself in all physical and removable drives:

  • J_Y.exe
  • J_Y.WoRm.Jpg

It drops an AUTORUN.INF file to automatically execute the copies it drops when a user accesses the drives of an affected system.

The said .INF file contains the following strings:

[AutoRun]
shellexecute=WScript //d //b //H:WScript /e:vbscript J_Y.jpg

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

8.580.04

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

17 Nov 2011

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

8.581.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

18 Nov 2011

Step 1

For Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 users, before doing any scans, please make sure you disable System Restore to allow full scanning of your computer.

Step 2

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as WORM_OTORUN.ZYN

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

Restore this modified registry value

[ Learn More ]

Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

 
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
    • From: Shell = "Explorer.exe J_Y.exe"
      To: Shell = "Explorer.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\mIRC
    • From: UninstallString = ""%System%\dllcache\nvsvc32.com" -uninstall"
      To: UninstallString = "%Program Files%\mIRC\uninstall.exe _?=%Program Files%\mIRC"

Step 5

Delete this registry key

[ Learn More ]

Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
    • .cha
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
    • ChatFile
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\irc\Shell\open
    • ddeexec
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes
    • .cha
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes
    • ChatFile
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
    • SRVStarter_sys32
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • J_Y

Step 6

Search and delete this file

[ Learn More ]
There may be some component files that are hidden. Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden files and folders in the search result.
  • %System%\dllcache\brofnet.cm
  • %System%\dllcache\cweener.xr
  • %System%\dllcache\date.avi
  • %System%\dllcache\mrahamX.pro
  • %System%\dllcache\NET14.COM
  • %System%\dllcache\nvsvc32.com
  • %System%\dllcache\PLURPP.COM
  • %System%\dllcache\reotspnwy16.dll
  • %System%\dllcache\secux32.exe
  • %System%\dllcache\SuStur32.exe
  • %System%\dllcache\varnal16.ber
  • %System%\dllcache\xorebro.pif

Step 7

Search and delete AUTORUN.INF files created by WORM_OTORUN.ZYN that contain these strings

[ Learn More ]
[AutoRun]
shellexecute=WScript //d //b //H:WScript /e:vbscript J_Y.jpg

Step 8

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as WORM_OTORUN.ZYN. If the detected files have already been cleaned, deleted, or quarantined by your Trend Micro product, no further step is required. You may opt to simply delete the quarantined files. Please check this Knowledge Base page for more information.


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