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WORM_IRCBOT.WPHN

October 10, 2016
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)

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

  • Threat Type: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware

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:

212,992 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

10 Dec 2013

Payload:

Downloads files, monitors visited websites

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:

  • {Removable Drive}:\winlog.exe
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\winlog.exe

(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

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
winlog.exe = "%Application Data%\Microsoft\winlog.exe"

Propagation

This worm 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={malware path}
icon=%SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll,4
action=Open folder to view files
shell\open=Open
shell\open\command={malware path}
shell\open\default=1

Dropping Routine

This worm drops the following files:

  • {Removable Drive}:\autorun.inf

Information Theft

This worm gathers the following data:

  • Affected machine's visited websites in Firefox.

Other Details

This worm connects to the following URL(s) to get the affected system's IP address:

  • p03.{BLOCKED}p.info

It does the following:

  • Download and Execute Arbitrary Files
  • UDP Flooding
  • Update or Uninstall components
  • Update self

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.700

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

10.464.04

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

10 Dec 2013

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

10.465.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

11 Dec 2013

Step 1

Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • winlog.exe = "%Application Data%\Microsoft\winlog.exe"

Step 4

Search and delete this file

[ Learn More ]
There may be some 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.
  • {Removable Drive}:\autorun.inf

Step 5

Search and delete AUTORUN.INF files created by WORM_IRCBOT.WPHN that contain these strings

[ Learn More ]
DATA_GENERIC
  • If the lines are present, delete the file.
  • Repeat steps 3 to 6 for the remaining AUTORUN.INF files in other remaining removable drives.
  • Close Search Results.
    • *Note: The file name input box title varies depending on the Windows version (e.g. Search for files or folders named or All or part of the file name.).

    For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2003, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012:

    1. Open a Windows Explorer window.
      • For Windows Vista, 7, and Server 2008 users, click Start>Computer.
      • For Windows 8, 8.1, and Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, then click File Explorer.
    2. In the Search Computer/This PC input box, type:
      AUTORUN.INF
    3. Select the file, then open using Notepad.
    4. Check if the following lines are present in the file:
      DATA_GENERIC
    5. If the lines are present, delete the file.
    6. Repeat steps 3 to 5 for the remaining AUTORUN.INF files in other remaining removable drives.
    7. Close Search Results.

    Step 6

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