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WORM_HAMWEQ.CG

April 08, 2013
 ALIASES:

Worm:Win32/Hamweq.gen!B (Microsoft); W32/Hamweq.worm.f (McAfee); Trojan Horse (Symantec); Trojan-Downloader.Win32.Injecter.cfw (Kaspersky); Worm.Win32.Hamweq (Sunbelt); May be infected by unknown virus Win32/DH{Jx4TFHlPFRs} (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:

12,288 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

08 Apr 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%\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-1482476501-1644491937-682003330-1015\svchost.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
  • %System Root%\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-1482476501-1644491937-682003330-1015

(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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAX5-00401C608512}
StubPath = "%System Root%\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-1482476501-1644491937-682003330-1015\svchost.exe"

Other System Modifications

This worm deletes the following files:

  • %System Root%\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-1482476501-1644491937-682003330-1015\svchost.exe

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

It adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAX5-00401C608512}

It deletes the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAX5-00401C608512}

Dropping Routine

This worm drops the following files:

  • %System Root%\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-1482476501-1644491937-682003330-1015\Desktop.ini

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

Other Details

This worm connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}.92.103/list.php

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 key

[ 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_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components
    • {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAX5-00401C608512}

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAX5-00401C608512}
    • StubPath = "%System Root%\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-1482476501-1644491937-682003330-1015\svchost.exe"

Step 5

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.
  • %System Root%\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-1482476501-1644491937-682003330-1015\Desktop.ini

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%\RECYCLER
  • %System Root%\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-1482476501-1644491937-682003330-1015

Step 7

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

  • %System Root%\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-1482476501-1644491937-682003330-1015\svchost.exe

Step 9

Restore these deleted registry keys/values from backup

*Note: Only Microsoft-related keys/values will be restored. If the malware/grayware also deleted registry keys/values related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on your computer.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components
    • {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAX5-00401C608512}


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