WORM_LOVEBOT.A


 ALIASES:

Worm:Win32/Autorun.AGC (Microsoft); W32/Autorun.worm.bgf (McAfee); W32.Pilleuz (Symantec); Trojan.Win32.Jorik.IRCbot.xmq (Kaspersky); Trojan horse Generic26.CNWT (AVG)

 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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

42,496 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

21 Aug 2013

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:

  • %System Root%\WINNIT\0x03847\SYS\cService.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%\WINNIT
  • %System Root%\WINNIT\0x03847
  • %System Root%\WINNIT\0x03847\SYS

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)

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
Network Services = "%System Root%\WINNIT\0x03847\SYS\cService.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Network Services = "%System Root%\WINNIT\0x03847\SYS\cService.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Registry Services = "%System Root%\WINNIT\0x03847\SYS\RegistryServiceBackup.vbs"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Registry Services = "%System Root%\WINNIT\0x03847\SYS\RegistryServiceBackup.vbs"

Other System Modifications

This worm deletes the following files:

  • _CHAR(0x1B)_C:\WINNIT\0x03847\SYS\arrayService.txt
  • \NtTerminate.exe

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
ShowSuperHidden = "0"

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced\Folder\SuperHidden
UncheckedValue = "0"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SystemRestore
DisableSR = "1"

Dropping Routine

This worm drops the following files:

  • %System Root%\WINNIT\0x03847\SYS\RegistryServiceBackup.vbs
  • %System Root%\WINNIT\0x03847\SYS\hhhService.txt
  • %System Root%\WINNIT\0x03847\SYS\NetworkService.vbs
  • _CHAR(0x1B)_C:\WINNIT\0x03847\SYS\arrayService.vbs
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\new.txt
  • \I.LOVE.YOU.txt.vbs
  • \NtTerminate.exe

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

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
    • Network Services = "%System Root%\WINNIT\0x03847\SYS\cService.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Network Services = "%System Root%\WINNIT\0x03847\SYS\cService.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Registry Services = "%System Root%\WINNIT\0x03847\SYS\RegistryServiceBackup.vbs"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Registry Services = "%System Root%\WINNIT\0x03847\SYS\RegistryServiceBackup.vbs"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    • ShowSuperHidden = "0"

Step 4

Restore these modified registry values

[ Learn More ]

Important:Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this only if you know how to or you can seek your system administrator's help. You may also check out this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\SuperHidden
    • From: UncheckedValue = "0"
      To: UncheckedValue = ""1""
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SystemRestore
    • DisableSR = "1"

Step 5

Search and delete these components

[ Learn More ]
There may be some components 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 Root%\WINNIT\0x03847\SYS\RegistryServiceBackup.vbs
  • %System Root%\WINNIT\0x03847\SYS\hhhService.txt
  • %System Root%\WINNIT\0x03847\SYS\NetworkService.vbs
  • _CHAR(0x1B)_C:\WINNIT\0x03847\SYS\arrayService.vbs
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\new.txt
  • \I.LOVE.YOU.txt.vbs
  • \NtTerminate.exe

Step 6

Search and delete these folders

[ 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.
  • %System Root%\WINNIT
  • %System Root%\WINNIT\0x03847
  • %System Root%\WINNIT\0x03847\SYS

Step 7

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

Step 8

Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.

  • _CHAR(0x1B)_C:\WINNIT\0x03847\SYS\arrayService.txt
  • \NtTerminate.exe


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