WORM_PALEVO.SMAK
VirTool:Win32/Injector.gen!AD (Microsoft) ; Trojan.Lethic (Symantec) ; Trojan.Win32.Menti.big (Kaspersky)
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
Threat Type: Worm
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: Yes
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
Propagates via peer-to-peer networks, Propagates via removable drives
This worm arrives via peer-to-peer (P2P) shares. It arrives via removable drives. It may be downloaded by other malware/grayware/spyware from remote sites. It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.
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
Varies
EXE
Yes
31 May 2011
Compromises system security
Arrival Details
This worm arrives via peer-to-peer (P2P) shares.
It arrives via removable drives.
It may be downloaded by other malware/grayware/spyware from remote sites.
It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.
Installation
This worm drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %System Root%\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-{random numbers}\djwi2kcew.exe
(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)
It creates the following folders:
- %System Root%\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-{random numbers}
(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)
It injects itself into the following processes as part of its memory residency routine:
- 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\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion
Taskman = "%System Root%\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-{random numbers}\djwi2kcew.exe"
Propagation
This worm creates the following folders in all removable drives:
- [drive letter]:\Docs
It drops the following copy(ies) of itself in all removable drives:
- [drive letter]:\Docs\print.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
;{garbage codes}
open=.\Docs\print.exe
;{garbage codes}
icon=%SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll,4
;{garbage codes}
action=Open folder to view files using Windows Explorer
;{garbage codes}
shell\\\\open\\command=Docs////print.exe
;{garbage codes}
shell\\explore\\\\command=.\\Docs/print.exe
;{garbage codes}
useautoplay=1
;{garbage codes}
Backdoor Routine
This worm connects to the following URL(s) to send and receive commands from a remote malicious user:
- {BLOCKED}9w.com
- {BLOCKED}ht.cn
- {BLOCKED}3n.ru
Dropping Routine
This worm sets the attributes of its dropped file(s) to the following:
- Hidden
- Read Only
- System
NOTES:
It can receive commands from its C&C Servers to perform the following:
- Download other malware
- Get saved passwords in Firefox and Internet Explorer
- Propagate through P2P applications
- Run a Socks proxy
- Scan the network for machines using VNC
- Send links via MSN Messenger
- Spread via USB
- TCP flooding
- UDP flooding
- Update itself
- Visit a URL
- Ares
- BearShare
- DC++
- Emule
- iMesh
- Kazaa
- LimeWire
- Shareaza
SOLUTION
8.900
8.194.06
31 May 2011
8.195.00
31 May 2011
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
Identify and delete files detected as WORM_PALEVO.SMAK using either the Startup Disk or Recovery Console
Step 3
Delete this registry value
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
- Taskman = "%System Root%\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-{random numbers}\djwi2kcew.exe"
- Taskman = "%System Root%\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-{random numbers}\djwi2kcew.exe"
Step 4
Search and delete these folders
- %System Root%\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-{random numbers}
- [drive letter]:\Docs
Step 5
Search and delete AUTORUN.INF files created by WORM_PALEVO.SMAK that contain these strings
Step 6
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as WORM_PALEVO.SMAK. 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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