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 files:
- %Windows%\wininit.ini
- %System%\Penx.dat
- %System%\Xpen.dat
(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.. %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)
It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %Windows%\dc.exe
- %Windows%\SVIQ.EXE
- %Windows%\Help\Other.exe
- %Windows%\inf\Other.exe
- %Windows%\system\Fun.exe
- %System%\WinSit.exe
- %System%\config\Win.exe
(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.. %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)
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
dc2k5 = "%Windows%\SVIQ.EXE"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Fun = "%System%\Fun.exe"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
dc = "%Windows%\dc.exe"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
run = "%System%\config\Win.exe"
It modifies the following registry entry(ies) to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
load = "%Windows%\inf\Other.exe"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "".)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Shell = "Explorer.exe %System%\WinSit.exe"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "Explorer.exe".)
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
Identify and delete files detected as WORM_VB.GMM using the Recovery Console
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To identify and delete of malware/grayware files:
• On Windows XP and Server 2003 systems:
- Insert your Windows Installation CD in your CD-rom.
- Press the restart button of your computer.
- When prompted, press any key to boot from the CD.
- When prompted on the Main Menu, type r to enter the recovery console.
(Note: On Windows 2000, after pressing r, type c to choose the Recovery Console in the repair options screen.) - When prompted, type your administrator password to log on.
- Once logged in, type the drive that contains Windows in the command prompt that appears, then press Enter.
- Type the drive that contains Windows, then press Enter.
- Type the following, then press Enter:
SET AllowAllPaths = TRUE
del {malware/grayware path and file name} - Repeat the above procedure for all files detected earlier.
- Type exit to restart the system.
• On Windows Vista, 7, and Server 2008 systems:
- Insert your Windows Installation DVD in the DVD drive, then restart your computer.
- When prompted, press any key to boot from the DVD.
- Depending on your Windows Installation DVD, you might be required to select the installation language. Then on the Install Windows window, choose your language, locale, and keyboard layout or input method. Click Next, then click Repair your computer.
- Select Use recovery tools that can help fix problems starting Windows. Select your installation of Windows. Click Next.
- If the Startup Repair window appears, click Cancel, Yes, then Finish.
- In the System Recovery Options window, click Command Prompt.
- In the Command Prompt window, type the following then press Enter:
BootRec.exe /fixmbr
del "{malware/grayware path and file name}" - Repeat the above procedure for all files detected earlier.
- Type exit and press Enter to close the Command Prompt window.
- Click Restart to restart the system normally.
• On Windows 8, 8.1, and Server 2012 systems:
- Insert your Windows Installation DVD in the DVD drive, then restart your computer.
- When prompted, press any key to boot from the DVD.
- Depending on your Windows Installation DVD, you might be required to select the keyboard layout. Then on the Windows Setup window, choose your language, locale, and input method. Click Next, then click Repair your computer.
- Click Troubleshoot>Advanced Options>Command Prompt.
- In the Command Prompt window, type the following then press Enter:
BootRec.exe /fixmbr
del "{malware/grayware path and file name}" - Repeat the above procedure for all files detected earlier.
- Type exit and press Enter to close the Command Prompt window.
- Click Continue to restart the system normally.
Step 3
Delete this registry value
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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
- dc2k5 = "%Windows%\SVIQ.EXE"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- Fun = "%Windows%\system\Fun.exe"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
- run = "%System%\config\Win.exe"
To delete the registry value this malware/grayware created:
- Open Registry Editor.
» For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 users, click Start>Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter.
» For Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 users, click the Start button, type regedit in the Search input field then press Enter.
» For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower-left corner of the screen, click Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter. - In the left panel, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Run - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
dc2k5 = "%Windows%\SVIQ.EXE" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
Fun = "%Windows%\system\Fun.exe" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
dc = "%Windows%\dc.exe" - In the left panel, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Windows NT>CurrentVersion>Windows - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
run = "%System%\config\Win.exe" - Close Registry Editor.
Step 4
Restore these modified registry values
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Important:Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this only if you know how to or you can seek your system administrator's help. You may also check out this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
- From: load = "%Windows%\inf\Other.exe"
To: load = ""
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
- From: Shell = "Explorer.exe %System%\WinSit.exe"
To: Shell = "Explorer.exe"
To restore registry values this malware/grayware modified:
- Open Registry Editor. To do this:
- On Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003:
Click Start>Run, type REGEDIT in the text box provided, and then press Enter. - On Windows Vista, 7, and Server 2008:
Click the Start button, type REGEDIT in the Search input field then press Enter. - On Windows 8, 8.1, and Server 2012:
Right-click on the lower left corner of the screen and click Run, type REGEDIT in the Run input field, and then press Enter.
- In the left panel, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Windows NT>CurrentVersion>Windows - In the right panel, locate the registry value:
load = "%Windows%\inf\Other.exe" - Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
load = "" - In the left panel, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Microsoft>Windows NT>CurrentVersion>Winlogon - In the right panel, locate the registry value:
Shell = "Explorer.exe %System%\WinSit.exe" - Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
Shell = "Explorer.exe" - Close Registry Editor.
Step 5
Search and delete this file
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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.
- %Windows%\wininit.ini
- %System%\Penx.dat
- %System%\Xpen.dat
To manually delete a malware/grayware file from an affected system:
• For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:
- Right-click Start then click Search....
- In the File name* input box, type the following:
- %Windows%\wininit.ini
- %System%\Penx.dat
- %System%\Xpen.dat
- In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer then press Enter.
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
*Note: The file name input box title varies depending on the Windows version (e.g. Search for files or folders named or All or part of the file name.).
• For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012:
- Open a Windows Explorer window.
- For Windows Vista, 7, and Server 2008 users, click Start>Computer.
- For Windows 8, 8.1, and Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, then click File Explorer.
- In the Search Computer/This PC input box, type:
- %Windows%\wininit.ini
- %System%\Penx.dat
- %System%\Xpen.dat
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
*Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7.
Step 6
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as WORM_VB.GMM. 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.
