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WORM_HAMWEQ.VI

October 09, 2012
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This worm arrives via removable drives. It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.

It creates folders in all physical and removable drives. 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:

49,152 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

11 Aug 2011

Arrival Details

This worm arrives via removable drives.

It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.

Installation

This worm drops the following files:

  • {drive}\Gazma\Files\Desktop.ini

It is injected into the following processes running in memory:

  • explorer.exe

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{67KLN5J0-4OPM-33WE-AAX5-34KC2A3453431}
StubPath = "%SystemRoot%\Gazma\Files\Gazma.exe"

Propagation

This worm creates the following folders in all physical and removable drives:

  • Gazma

It drops the following copy of itself in all physical and removable drives:

  • Gazma\Files\Gazma.exe

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]
open=Gazma\Files\Gazma.exe
;{garbage}
action=Open folder to view files
shell\open=Open
shell\open\command=Gazma\Files\Gazma.exe
shell\open\default=1

NOTES:
It attempts to access the following:

  • {BLOCKED}t.totalunix.net
  • {BLOCKED}a.a7aneek.net

However, the sites are currently inaccessible.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

8.900

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

Delete this 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\Active Setup\Installed Components\{67KLN5J0-4OPM-33WE-AAX5-34KC2A3453431}
    • StubPath = "%SystemRoot%\Gazma\Files\Gazma.exe"

Step 4

Search and delete this folder

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden folders in the search result.

  • [drive]\Gazma

Step 5

Search and delete AUTORUN.INF files created by WORM_HAMWEQ.VI that contain these strings

[ Learn More ]
[autorun]
open=Gazma\Files\Gazma.exe
;{garbage}
action=Open folder to view files
shell\open=Open
shell\open\command=Gazma\Files\Gazma.exe
shell\open\default=1

Step 6

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as WORM_HAMWEQ.VI. 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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