WORM_HELLPWN.SMD


 ALIASES:

Trojan:Win32/Malex.gen!E (Microsoft); W32/Autorun.worm.h (McAfee); W32.SillyFDC (Symantec); Worm.Win32.Agent.vw (Kaspersky); BehavesLike.Win32.Malware.tsc (mx-v) (Sunbelt); Worm.Generic.332334 (FSecure)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • 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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

167,936 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

17 Nov 2011

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:

  • %Windows%\g34607\winlogon.exe
  • %System%\2F855XR\smss.exe
  • %Windows%\g34607spawn.cmd
  • %System%\dhJ3C7543.exe
  • %System%\zF855XRa.exe
  • %Windows%\g34607\service.exe
  • %System%\2F855XR\lsass.exe

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows or C:\WINNT.. %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Windows%\g34607
  • %System%\2F855XR

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows or C:\WINNT.. %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.)

Autostart Technique

This worm adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
8g34607zi = "%Windows%\g34607spawn.cmd"

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, %System%\zF855XRa.exe"

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

Other System Modifications

This worm adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
SYSTEM\LGHT

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
SYSTEM\LGHT
RND1 = "g34607"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
SYSTEM\LGHT
RND2 = "F855XR"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
SYSTEM\LGHT
RND3 = "hJ3C75"

Dropping Routine

This worm drops the following files:

  • %User Profile%\My Documents\about.html
  • %User Startup%\msdos.cmd
  • %Windows%\g34607\winlogon.exe
  • %System%\2F855XR\smss.exe
  • %Windows%\g34607spawn.cmd
  • %System%\dhJ3C7543.exe
  • %System%\zF855XRa.exe
  • %Windows%\g34607\service.exe
  • %System%\2F855XR\lsass.exe

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name} on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name} on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.. %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.. %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows or C:\WINNT.. %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.)

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

Step 1

For Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 users, before doing any scans, please make sure you disable System Restore to allow full scanning of your computer.

Step 2

Identify and delete files detected as WORM_HELLPWN.SMD using either the Startup Disk or Recovery Console

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

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.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\SYSTEM
    • LGHT

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • 8g34607zi="%Windows%\g34607spawn.cmd"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SYSTEM\LGHT
    • RND1="g34607"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SYSTEM\LGHT
    • RND2="F855XR"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SYSTEM\LGHT
    • RND3="hJ3C75"

Step 5

Restore this modified 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\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
    • From: Shell="explorer.exe, %System%\zF855XRa.exe"
      To: Shell=Explorer.exe

Step 6

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.
  • %Windows%\g34607
  • %System%\2F855XR

Step 7

Search and delete these files

[ Learn More ]
There may be some component 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%\My Documents\about.html
  • %User Startup%\msdos.cmd
  • %Windows%\g34607\winlogon.exe
  • %System%\2F855XR\smss.exe
  • %Windows%\g34607spawn.cmd
  • %System%\dhJ3C7543.exe
  • %System%\zF855XRa.exe
  • %Windows%\g34607\service.exe
  • %System%\2F855XR\lsass.exe

Step 8

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as WORM_HELLPWN.SMD. 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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