PE_FLUENZA.ART
Worm:Win32/Zaflen.A@mm (Microsoft); W32/Zaflen.a (McAfee); W32.SillyFDC (Symantec); Worm.Win32.VB.gr, Worm.Win32.VB.gr (Kaspersky); Trojan.Win32.Generic.pak!cobra (Sunbelt); Trojan.Agent.ATIP (FSecure)
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
![](/vinfo/imgFiles/legend.jpg)
Threat Type: File infector
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted:
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This file infector 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.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Arrival Details
This file infector 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 file infector creates the following folders:
- %Windows%\setup
- %User Profile%\MyDocu~1\Rated R Pictures
- %Windows%\gorgle
- %Common Startup% '
(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.. %Common Startup% is the system's shared Startup folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)
Autostart Technique
This file infector adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
WinRun = "%Windows%\AutoRun.ini"
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 %Windows%\services.exe"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is Explorer.exe.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Userinit = "%System%\userinit.exe,%Windows%\gorgle\csrss.exe,"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is %Windows%\system32\userinit.exe,.)
Other System Modifications
This file infector deletes the following files:
- %Common Startup%\desktop.ini
- %User Profile%\MyPict~1\mskernel.exe
- %Windows%\AutoRun.ini
(Note: %Common Startup% is the system's shared Startup folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.. %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.)
It adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer\Run
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\datfile\shell\
open\command
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\artfile\shell\
open\command
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\System\Malicious
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\
About Us\Command
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
HideFileExt
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer
Run = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\System\Malicious
Sams32 = "0806"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer
NoRun = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
HideFileExt
CheckedValue = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows
ScanningSystemDrive = "False"
It creates the following registry entry(ies) to disable Task Manager, Registry Tools and Folder Options:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer
NoFolderOptions = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
DisableRegistryTools = "1"
Dropping Routine
This file infector drops the following files:
- %User Profile%\MyDocu~1\Rated R Pictures.com
- %Desktop%\Microsoft Word Document.scr
- %Start Menu%\Programs\Microsoft Word Document.scr
- %Start Menu%\New Microsoft Word Document.scr
- %User Profile%\NetHood\Hot Picture.com
- %User Profile%\My Documents\My Picture.com
- %User Profile%\PrintHood\Printing Information.com
- %User Profile%\Recent\New Microsoft Word Document.scr
- %User Profile%\SendTo\Image Editor.com
- %Start Menu%\Image Viewer.com
- %System Root%\autorun.inf
- %Windows%\agila.scr
- %Application Data%\Micros~1\CDBurn~1\autorun.inf
This report is generated via an automated analysis system.
SOLUTION
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 PE_FLUENZA.ART using either the Startup Disk or Recovery Console
Step 3
Enable Registry Editor, Task Manager, and Folder options
Step 4
Delete this registry key
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\Policies
- Explorer
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
- Run
- In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\datfile\shell\open
- command
- In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\artfile\shell\open
- command
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\System
- Malicious
- In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\About Us
- Command
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
- HideFileExt
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
- System
Step 5
Delete this registry value
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
- WinRun = "%Windows%\AutoRun.ini"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer
- Run = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\System\Malicious
- Sams32 = "0806"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer
- NoRun = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideFileExt
- CheckedValue = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
- ScanningSystemDrive = "False"
Step 6
Restore these modified registry values
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 %Windows%\services.exe"
To: Shell = ""Explorer.exe""
- From: Shell = "explorer.exe %Windows%\services.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
- From: Userinit = "%System%\userinit.exe,%Windows%\gorgle\csrss.exe,"
To: Userinit = ""%Windows%\system32\userinit.exe,""
- From: Userinit = "%System%\userinit.exe,%Windows%\gorgle\csrss.exe,"
Step 7
Search and delete these components
- %User Profile%\MyDocu~1\Rated R Pictures.com
- %Desktop%\Microsoft Word Document.scr
- %Start Menu%\Programs\Microsoft Word Document.scr
- %Start Menu%\New Microsoft Word Document.scr
- %User Profile%\NetHood\Hot Picture.com
- %User Profile%\My Documents\My Picture.com
- %User Profile%\PrintHood\Printing Information.com
- %User Profile%\Recent\New Microsoft Word Document.scr
- %User Profile%\SendTo\Image Editor.com
- %Start Menu%\Image Viewer.com
- %System Root%\autorun.inf
- %Windows%\agila.scr
- %Application Data%\Micros~1\CDBurn~1\autorun.inf
Step 8
Search and delete these folders
- %Windows%\setup
- %User Profile%\MyDocu~1\Rated R Pictures
- %Windows%\gorgle
- %Common Startup% '
Step 9
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to clean files detected as PE_FLUENZA.ART. 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.
Step 10
Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.
- %Common Startup%\desktop.ini
- %User Profile%\MyPict~1\mskernel.exe
- %Windows%\AutoRun.ini
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