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.
It drops an AUTORUN.INF file to automatically execute the copies it drops when a user accesses the drives of an affected system.
As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
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:
- %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{username}.exe
(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\ProgramData 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.)
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
System32 = %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{username}.exe
Other System Modifications
This worm modifies the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
Hidden = "0"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
HideFileExt = "1"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)
Propagation
This worm 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:
[AutoRun]
OPEN={username}.exe
EXPLORER={username}.exe
It drops copies of itself in removable drives. These copies use the names of the following items located on the said drives for their file names:
- Movie.exe
- Photo.exe
- {username}.exe
Backdoor Routine
This worm posts the following information to its command and control (C&C) server:
- Date and Time
- IP Address
- Active Window
- Username
- Malware Process ID
Download Routine
This worm connects to the following website(s) to download and execute a malicious file:
- http://www.{BLOCKED}ushionline.net/habeys.exe
As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
NOTES:
This worm sets the attributes of {username}.exe as Hidden to hide itself from the user.
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
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To restart in Safe Mode:
• For Windows 2000 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 when you see the Starting Windows bar at the bottom of the screen.
- Choose the Safe Mode option from the Windows Advanced Options menu then press Enter.
• For Windows XP users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after the Power-On Self Test (POST) routine is done. If the Windows Advanced Options menu does not appear, try restarting then pressing F8 several times when the POST screen appears.
- Choose the Safe Mode option from the Windows Advanced Options menu then press Enter.
• For Windows Server 2003 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after Windows starts up. If the Windows Advanced Options menu does not appear, try restarting again and pressing F8 several times afterward.
- On the Windows Advanced Option menu, use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode then press Enter.
• For Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after the Power-On Self Test (POST) routine is done. If the Advanced Boot Options menu does not appear, try restarting and then pressing F8 several times after the POST screen is displayed.
- On the Advanced Boot Options menu, use the arrow keys to select the Safe Mode option, and then press Enter.
• For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 users
- Access the Charms bar by moving your mouse pointer to the upper right corner of the screen.
- Move your mouse pointer down and click Settings>Change your PC Settings.
- In the left panel, click General.
- In the right panel, scroll down to the bottom to find the Advanced startup section, then click the Restart now button and wait for the system to restart.
- In the Advanced Startup menu, click Troubleshoot>Advanced Options>Startup Settings>Restart and wait for the system to restart.
- In the Startup Settings menu, press 4 to enable safe mode.
Step 4
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
- System32 = %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{username}.exe
To delete the registry value this malware created:
- Open Registry Editor. To do this:
» 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 of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>SOFTWARE>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Run - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
System32 = %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{username}.exe - Close Registry Editor.
Step 5
Restore this modified 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\Explorer\Advanced
- From: Hidden = "0"
To: Hidden = 1
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
- From: HideFileExt = "1"
To: HideFileExt = 0
To restore the registry value this malware/grayware modified:
- 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>Explorer>Advanced - In the right panel, locate the registry value:
Hidden = "0" - Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
Hidden = 1 - Again In the right panel, locate the registry value:
HideFileExt = "1" - Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
HideFileExt = 0 - Close Registry Editor.
Step 6
Search and delete AUTORUN.INF files created by WORM_AUTORUN.BOA that contain these strings
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[AutoRun]
OPEN=winxp.exe
EXPLORER=winxp.exeTo identify and delete AUTORUN.INF files created:
For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:
- Right-click the Start button then choose Search... or Find..., depending on the version of Windows you are running.
- In the File name* input box, type:
AUTORUN.INF - In the Look in: drop-down list, select a drive, then press Enter.
- Select the file, then open using Notepad.
- Check if the following lines are present in the file:
[AutoRun]
OPEN=winxp.exe
EXPLORER=winxp.exe - If the lines are present, delete the file.
- Repeat steps 3 to 6 for the remaining AUTORUN.INF files in other remaining removable drives.
- Close Search Results.
*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 2003, 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:
AUTORUN.INF - Select the file, then open using Notepad.
- Check if the following lines are present in the file:
[AutoRun]
OPEN=winxp.exe
EXPLORER=winxp.exe - If the lines are present, delete the file.
- Repeat steps 3 to 5 for the remaining AUTORUN.INF files in other remaining removable drives.
- Close Search Results.
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as WORM_AUTORUN.BOA. 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.
