Worm.Win32.AUTORUN.IOS

August 17, 2023
 Analysis by: John Rainier Navato
 ALIASES:

Worm.Win32.AutoRun.emc (KASPERSKY)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

39,936 bytes

File Type:

PIF

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

10 Aug 2023

Installation

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

  • %System%\ssmicrco.scr
  • %System%\notepod.exe

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)

It drops the following files:

  • %System%\dx6vcl.dll

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)

It adds the following processes:

  • %System%\rundll32.exe "%System%\WININET.dll", DispatchAPICall 1

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)

Other System Modifications

This Worm adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components
{{32 Random Alphanumeric Value}} =

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Applications\notepod.exe
shell =

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Applications
notepod.exe =

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Applications\notepod.exe\shell
open =

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Applications\notepod.exe\shell\
open
command =

HKEY_USERS\S-{38 Random Numeric Value}_CLASSES\Applications
notepod.exe =

HKEY_USERS\S-{38 Random Numeric Value}_CLASSES\Applications\
notepod.exe
shell =

HKEY_USERS\S-{38 Random Numeric Value}_CLASSES\Applications\
notepod.exe\shell
open =

HKEY_USERS\S-{38 Random Numeric Value}_CLASSES\Applications\
notepod.exe\shell\open
command =

It also creates the following registry entry(ies) as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{{32 Random Numeric Value}}
(Default) = sys info

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{{32 Random Numeric Value}}
stubpath = %System%\ssmicrco.scr

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Applications\notepod.exe\shell\
open\command
(Default) = "%System%\notepod.exe" "%1"

HKEY_USERS\S-{38 Random Numeric Value}_CLASSES\Applications\
notepod.exe\shell\open\
command
(Default) = "%System%\notepod.exe" "%1"

HKEY_USERS\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
FileExts\.txt
Application = notepod.exe

Other Details

This Worm connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://www.{BLOCKED}b.com/down/www.rar

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

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.800

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

18.638.05

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

16 Aug 2023

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

18.639.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

17 Aug 2023

Step 1

Before doing any scans, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 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

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\{{32 Random Numeric Value}}
    • (Default) = sys info
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{{32 Random Numeric Value}}
    • stubpath = %System%\ssmicrco.scr
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Applications\notepod.exe\shell\open\command
    • (Default) = %System%\notepod.exe %1
  • In HKEY_USERS\S-{38 Random Numeric Value}_CLASSES\Applications\notepod.exe\shell\open\command
    • (Default) = %System%\notepod.exe %1
  • In HKEY_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.txt
    • Application = notepod.exe

Step 4

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. Before you could do this, you must restart in Safe Mode. For instructions on how to do this, you may refer to this page If the preceding step requires you to restart in safe mode, you may proceed to edit the system registry.

 
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components
    • {{32 Random Alphanumeric Value}}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Applications\notepod.exe\shell\open
    • command
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Applications\notepod.exe\shell
    • open
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Applications\notepod.exe
    • shell
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Applications
    • notepod.exe
  • In HKEY_USERS\S-{38 Random Numeric Value}_CLASSES\Applications\notepod.exe\shell\open
    • command
  • In HKEY_USERS\S-{38 Random Numeric Value}_CLASSES\Applications\notepod.exe\shell
    • open
  • In HKEY_USERS\S-{38 Random Numeric Value}_CLASSES\Applications\notepod.exe
    • shell
  • In HKEY_USERS\S-{38 Random Numeric Value}_CLASSES\Applications
    • notepod.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%\ssmicrco.scr
  • %System%\notepod.exe
  • %System%\dx6vcl.dll

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Worm.Win32.AUTORUN.IOS. 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 the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:


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