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WORM_SPYBOT.VSV

October 08, 2012
 Analysis by: jasperm
 ALIASES:

Microsoft: Backdoor:Win32/IRCbot; Kaspersky: IM-Worm.Win32.Yahos.ex ; Mcafee : W32/Spybot.worm!dy

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Propagates via instant messaging applications


It sends messages that contain links to sites hosting remote copies of itself via the instant-messaging (IM) application, Yahoo! Messenger.

This worm may be dropped by other malware. It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites. However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

It opens a random port to allow a remote user to connect to the affected system. Once a successful connection is established, the remote user executes commands on the affected system. It connects to a website to send and receive information.

It modifies the user's Internet Explorer home page into a certain website. This action allows the malware to point to a website which may contain malware, putting the affected computer at greater risk of malware infection.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

131,072 bytes

File Type:

PE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

23 Dec 2010

Payload:

Compromises system security, Connects to URLs/Ips

Arrival Details

This worm may be dropped by other malware.

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

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

Installation

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

  • %Windows%\nvsvc32.exe

(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
NVIDIA driver monitor = %Windows%\nvsvc32.exe

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
NVIDIA driver monitor = %Windows%\nvsvc32.exe

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Terminal Server\
Install\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
NVIDIA driver monitor = %Windows%\nvsvc32.exe

Other System Modifications

This worm creates the following registry entry(ies) to bypass Windows Firewall:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\
List
{malware path and file name} = "{malware path and file name}:*:Enabled:NVIDIA driver monitor"

Propagation

This worm sends messages that contain links to sites hosting remote copies of itself using the following instant-messaging (IM) applications:

  • Yahoo! Messenger

Backdoor Routine

This worm opens a random port to allow a remote user to connect to the affected system. Once a successful connection is established, the remote user executes commands on the affected system.

It connects to the following websites to send and receive information:

  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.200.82/index.php

Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification

This worm modifies the user's Internet Explorer home page to the following websites:

  • http://{BLOCKED}cturls.info

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

8.900

VSAPI PATTERN File:

7.720.01

VSAPI PATTERN Date:

23 Dec 2010

VSAPI PATTERN Date:

12/23/2010 12:00:00 AM

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

Identify and terminate files detected as WORM_SPYBOT.VSV

[ Learn More ]
  1. If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
  2. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

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
    • NVIDIA driver monitor = %Windows%\nvsvc32.exe
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • NVIDIA driver monitor = %Windows%\nvsvc32.exe
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Terminal Server\Install\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • NVIDIA driver monitor = %Windows%\nvsvc32.exe
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List
    • {malware path and file name} = {malware path and file name}:*:Enabled:NVIDIA driver monitor

Step 4

Reset the Internet Explorer Home and Search pages

[ Learn More ]

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as WORM_SPYBOT.VSV. 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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