WORM_OTOTI.QNLV

 Analysis by: Jaime Benigno Reyes

 ALIASES:

Worm:AutoIt/Autorun.AP (Microsoft); [.au3]:W32/Autorun.worm.aaqz (McAfee)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

 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 enables its automatic execution at every system startup by dropping copies of itself into the Windows Common Startup folder.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

532,239 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

19 Nov 2014

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 files:

  • %User Profile%\Windwos.exe.ini
  • {removable drive}\My Pictures.lnk
  • {removable drive}\Windwos.exe.lnk

(Note: %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.)

It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %User Profile%\Windwos.exe

(Note: %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.)

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
Windwos.exe = ""%User Profile%\Windwos.exe""

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Windwos.exe = ""%User Profile%\Windwos.exe""

It enables its automatic execution at every system startup by dropping the following copies of itself into the Windows Common Startup folder:

  • %User Startup%\Windwos.exe

(Note: %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.)

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
%User Profile%\Windwos.exe = "%User Profile%\Windwos.exe:*:Enabled:Windwos.exe"

Propagation

This worm creates the following folders in all removable drives:

  • {removable drive}\My Pictures

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

  • {removable drive}\Windwos.exe

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.700

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

11.284.07

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

19 Nov 2014

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

11.285.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

19 Nov 2014

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
    • Windwos.exe = ""%User Profile%\Windwos.exe""
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Windwos.exe = ""%User Profile%\Windwos.exe""
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List
    • %User Profile%\Windwos.exe = "%User Profile%\Windwos.exe:*:Enabled:Windwos.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}\My Pictures

Step 6

Search and delete these files

[ 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.
  • %User Profile%\Windwos.exe.ini
  • {removable drive}\My Pictures.lnk
  • {removable drive}\Windwos.exe.lnk

Step 7

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