WORM_AUTORUN.SLSK

 Modified by: Byron Jon Gelera

 ALIASES:

Worm.Win32.AutoRun.dtbv (Kaspersky); GenPack:Win32.Worm.AutoIt.AC (Bitdefender)

 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 on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It disables Task Manager, Registry Editor, and Folder Options.

It drops an AUTORUN.INF file to automatically execute the copies it drops when a user accesses the drives of an affected system.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

617,984 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

17 Aug 2017

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%\regsvr.exe
  • %Windows%\regsvr.exe
  • %System%\svchost .exe

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

It creates the following folders:

  • %System%\28463

(Note: %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
Msn Messsenger = "%System%\regsvr.exe"

It modifies the following registry entries to ensure it automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Shell = "Explorer.exe regsvr.exe"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is Explorer.exe.)

Other System Modifications

This Worm adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\Schedule
AtTaskMaxHours = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
WorkgroupCrawler\Shares
shared = "\New Folder .exe"

It creates the following registry entry(ies) to disable Task Manager, Registry Tools and Folder Options:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer
NofolderOptions = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
DisableTaskMgr = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
DisableRegistryTools = "1"

Propagation

This Worm searches for folders in all physical and removable drives then drops copies of itself inside the folder as {folder name}.EXE.

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

  • {Removable Drive Letter}:\regsvr .exe
  • {Removable Drive Letter}:\New Folder .exe

It drops an AUTORUN.INF file to automatically execute the copies it drops when a user accesses the drives of an affected system.

Dropping Routine

This Worm drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\aut2.tmp
  • %System%\setting.ini
  • %System%\setup.ini

(Note: %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp 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.. %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)

Other Details

This Worm connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}o.com/setting.doc
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}o.com/setting.doc

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

13.600.04

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

17 Aug 2017

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

13.601.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

18 Aug 2017

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_AUTORUN.SLSK using either the Startup Disk or Recovery Console

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

Enable Registry Editor, Task Manager, and Folder options

[ Learn More ]
By doing this step, you also enable other applications/programs disabled by this malware/grayware/spyware.

Step 5

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
    • Msn Messsenger = %System%\regsvr.exe
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Schedule
    • AtTaskMaxHours = 0
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\WorkgroupCrawler\Shares
    • shared = \New Folder .exe

Step 6

Restore these modified registry values

[ Learn More ]

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
    • From: Shell = Explorer.exe regsvr.exe
      To: Shell = Explorer.exe

Step 7

Search and delete this folder

[ 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%\28463

Step 8

Search and delete these components

[ Learn More ]
There may be some components 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 Temp%\aut2.tmp
  • %System%\setting.ini
  • %System%\setup.ini
  • {Removable Drive Letter}:\autorun.inf

Step 9

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