WORM_WERGIMOG.TG

 Analysis by: Michael Jay Villanueva

 ALIASES:

W32/Wergimog-A (Sophos); Worm:Win32/Wergimog.A (Microsoft)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW


This worm arrives by connecting affected removable drives to a system. It 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:

94,208 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

18 Nov 2016

Arrival Details

This worm arrives by connecting affected removable drives to a system.

It 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:

  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\service{random numbers}.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.)

It injects itself into the following processes running in the affected system's memory:

  • explorer.exe

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
Adobe Reader Speed Launcher = "%Application Data%\Microsoft\service{random numbers}.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Adobe Reader Speed Launcher = "%Application Data%\Microsoft\service{random numbers}.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Adobe Reader Speed Launcher = "%Application Data%\Microsoft\service{random numbers}.exe"

Propagation

This worm creates the following folders in all removable drives:

  • {Removable Drive Letter}:\RECYCLER

It drops the following copy(ies) of itself in all removable drives:

  • {Removable Drive Letter}:\RECYCLER\DSCI5829.jpg

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:

;{garbage}
[autorun]
;{garbage}
action=Open folder to view files
;{garbage}
icon=shell32.dll,4
;{garbage}
open=RECYCLER\DSCI5829.jpg
;{garbage}
shell\Explore=Explore
;{garbage}
shell\Explore\command=RECYCLER\DSCI5829.jpg
;{garbage}
shell=Explore
;{garbage}
UseAutoPlay=1
;{garbage}

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

8.900

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

12.912.03

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

21 Nov 2016

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

12.913.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

22 Nov 2016

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

Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

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
    • Adobe Reader Speed Launcher = “%Application Data%\Microsoft\services{random numbers}.exe”
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Adobe Reader Speed Launcher = “%Application Data%\Microsoft\services{random numbers}.exe”
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
    • Adobe Reader Speed Launcher = “%Application Data%\Microsoft\services{random numbers}.exe”

Step 5

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.
  • {Removable Drive Letter}:\RECYCLER

Step 6

Search and delete AUTORUN.INF files created by WORM_WERGIMOG.TG that contain these strings

[ Learn More ]
  • ;{garbage}
  • [autorun]
  • ;{garbage}
  • action=Open folder to view files
  • ;{garbage}
  • icon=shell32.dll,4
  • ;{garbage}
  • open=RECYCLER\DSCI5829.jpg
  • ;{garbage}
  • shell\Explore=Explore
  • ;{garbage}
  • shell\Explore\command=RECYCLER\DSCI5829.jpg
  • ;{garbage}
  • shell=Explore
  • ;{garbage}
  • UseAutoPlay=1
  • ;{garbage}

Step 7

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


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.