WORM_OTORUN.ASH

This worm poses as a font file and uses the LNK vulnerability to propagate. There has also been an increase in customer infection because of this malware.

To get a one-glance comprehensive view of the behavior of this Worm, refer to the Threat Diagram shown below.

It also creates .LNK component files in shared folders. When users double-click these files, its dropped copy is automatically executed.

Trend Micro detects the said shortcut files either as LNK_OTORUN.SM or EXPL_CPLNK.SM, depending on the malware copy that it points to. If the shortcut file points to a local malware copy, it is detected as LNK_OTORUN.SM. But if it points to a remote malware copy, it is detected as EXPL_CPLNK.SM.

It searches for all shared folders on the affected system. It then drops copies of itself to the found folders using a certain file name.

Trend Micro detects the dropped AUTORUN.INF file as TROJ_OTORUN.SMF.

This worm arrives via removable drives. It may be downloaded by other malware/grayware/spyware from remote sites. It may be dropped by other malware.

It adds key(s)/entry(ies) to allow itself to run on safe mode. This action adds difficulty in the removal of this malware from the affected computer.

It drops copies of itself in all removable drives. It exploits software vulnerabilities to propagate to other computers across a network.

It connects to certain URLs. It may do this to remotely inform a malicious user of its installation. It may also do this to download possibly malicious files onto the computer, which puts the computer at a greater risk of infection by other threats. It executes the downloaded files. As a result, malicious routines of the downloaded files are exhibited on the affected system.

It does not have any information-stealing capability.

It deletes the initially executed copy of itself.

Arrival Details

This worm arrives via removable drives.

It may arrive via network shares.

It may be downloaded by other malware/grayware/spyware from remote sites.

It may be dropped by other malware.

It may be downloaded from the following remote sites:

• http://{BLOCKED}9.88.8/spr.dll

Installation

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

• %User Temp%\srv{random characters}.tmp

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

It drops the following non-malicious file:

• %User Temp%\srv{Random Characters}.ini - configuration file

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

It injects itself into the following processes running in the affected system's memory:

• spoolsv.exe

Autostart Technique

This worm registers itself as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\srv{random characters}
Type = "20"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\srv{random characters}
Start = "2"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\srv{random characters}
ErrorControl = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\srv{random characters}
ImagePath = "%System Root%\system32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\srv{random characters}
DisplayName = "srv{random characters}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\srv{random characters}
ObjectName = "LocalSystem"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\srv{random characters}\parameters
servicedll = "\?\globalroot\Device\HarddiskVolume1\%User Temp%\srv{numbers}.tmp"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\srv{random characters}\Security
Security = "{hex values}"

It adds the following key(s)/entry(ies) to allow itself to run on safe mode:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Control\SafeBoot\Minimal\
srv{Random Characters}

Other System Modifications

This worm modifies the following registry key(s)/entry(ies) as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SvcHost
netsvcs = "{Default Data} srv{Random Characters}"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {Default Data}.)

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\
Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Internet Settings\Zones\3
CurrentLevel = "0"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 11000.)

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\
Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Internet Settings\Zones\3
1601 = "0"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

It creates the following registry entry(ies) to bypass Windows Firewall:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\ SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\GloballyOpenPorts\
List
67:UDP = "67:UDP:*:Enabled:DHCP Server"

Propagation

This worm drops copies of itself in all removable drives.

The said .INF file contains the following strings:

;{garbage characters}
[AutoRun]
AcTIOn=opeN
;{garbage characters}
IcON=%Windows%\SYstEm32\ShelL32.DLl,4
;{garbage characters}
UsEaUtoPlAy=1
;{garbage characters}
oPEN=RUNDLl32.EXe sETup{numbers}.foN,{parameters}
;{garbage characters}
SHElL\eXPLore\ComManD=ruNDLL32.EXe setup{numbers}.fON,{parameters}
;{garbage characters}
SHelL\Open\cOmmaNd=rundLL32.EXE sETUP{numbers}.fON,{parameters}
;{garbage characters}

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows or C:\WINNT.)

It exploits the following software vulnerabilities to propagate to other computers across a network:

• Vulnerability in Server Service Could Allow Remote Code Execution (958644)

Download Routine

This worm connects to the following malicious URLs:

• http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.49.103/sknock.php?affid={parameter}&data=version={parameter}|{infection information}
• http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.112.138/service/listener.php?affid={Parameter}
• http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.123.34/service/scripts/files/aff_50039.dll - inaccessible
• http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.123.33/service/listener.php?affid=50039 - inaccessible

It accesses the following websites to download files:

• http://{BLOCKED}8.{BLOCKED}2.189.105/service/listener.php?affid={numbers} - inaccessible
• http://{BLOCKED}8.{BLOCKED}2.189.105/service/scripts/files/aff_{numbers}.dll - inaccessible
• http://{BLOCKED}9.{BLOCKED}5.49.103/srv - configuration file
• http://{BLOCKED}9.{BLOCKED}5.49.103/dll - inaccessible
• http://{BLOCKED}9.{BLOCKED}5.49.103/exe - inaccessible
• http://{BLOCKED}5.{BLOCKED}4.112.136/dll - inaccessible
• http://{BLOCKED}5.{BLOCKED}4.112.136/srv - Configuration File
• http://{BLOCKED}5.{BLOCKED}4.112.136/exe - Copy of itself
• http://{BLOCKED}5.{BLOCKED}4.112.138/X - Copy of itself
• http://{BLOCKED}5.{BLOCKED}4.112.139/service/scripts/files/aff_{parameter}.dll - BKDR_TDSS.KARU
• http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.210.72/service/listener.php?affid=50045 - inaccessible
• http://{BLOCKES}.{BLOCKED}.210.72//srv - inaccessible
• http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.162.20/service/scripts/files/aff_50045.dll - BKDR_TDSS.ASH
• http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.210.72/X - updated copy of itself
• http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.210.72//dll - inaccessible
• http://{BLOCKED}4.{BLOCKED}0.123.34//srv – inaccessible
• http://{BLOCKED}4.{BLOCKED}0.123.34/service/scripts/files/aff_50045.dll - detected as BKDR_TDSS.ASH
• http://{BLOCKED}4.{BLOCKED}0.123.34//dll – inaccessible
• http://{BLOCKED}9.88.7/X - detected as BKDR_TDSS.ASH
• http://{BLOCKED}9.88.7/srv.dat - encrypted configuration file
• http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.123.34/X - inaccessible
• http://{BLOCKED}8.{BLOCKED}9.89.121/X – detected as TROJ_KRYPTK.SMUH
• http://{BLOCKED}8.{BLOCKED}9.89.121/exe – inaccessible

It saves the files it downloads using the following names:

• %User Temp%\srv{Random Characters}.tmp

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

It then executes the downloaded files. As a result, malicious routines of the downloaded files are exhibited on the affected system.

Information Theft

This worm does not have any information-stealing capability.

Other Details

This worm deletes the initially executed copy of itself

NOTES:

It also creates the following .LNK component files in shared folders. When users double-click these files, its dropped copy is automatically executed:

• autorun.inf
• myporno.avi.lnk
• pornmovs.lnk
• setup{number}.lnk

Trend Micro detects the said shortcut files either as LNK_OTORUN.SM or EXPL_CPLNK.SM, depending on the malware copy that it points to. If the shortcut file points to a local malware copy, it is detected as LNK_OTORUN.SM. But if it points to a remote malware copy, it is detected as EXPL_CPLNK.SM.

It searches for all shared folders on the affected system. It then drops the following copies of itself to the found folders using the following file name:

• setup{numbers}.fon

Trend Micro detects the dropped AUTORUN.INF file as TROJ_OTORUN.SMF.

This malware modifies the DNS settings of the affected machine by configuring it as a DHCP server with the DNS set to {BLOCKED}9.88.7 and {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.88.8.

It may also delete registries related to the system's DNS settings.