Analysis by: Michael Cabel

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • 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 modifies registry entries to hide files with System and Read-only attributes.

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: 10,878 bytes
File Type: VBS
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 30 Dec 2009

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 non-malicious files:

  • %System%\vbs.reg
  • %System%\doc.reg

(Note: %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 drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %System%\USBDRIVE.dll

(Note: %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
USBDRIVE.dll = "%System%\USBDRIVE.dll"

Other System Modifications

This worm adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\dllfile\ScriptEngine
(Default) = "VBScript"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\dllfile\ScriptHostEncode
(Default) = "{85131631-480C-11D2-B1F9-00C04F86C324}"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\dllfile\Shell\
Open\Command
(Default) = "%System%\Wscript.exe "%1" %*"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\dllfile\ShellEx\
PropertySheetHandlers\WSHProps
(Default) = "{60254CA5-953B-11CF-8C96-00AA00B8708C}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows Scripting Host\Settings
Timeout = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer
NoDriveTypeAutoRun = "0"

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

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

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

It modifies the following registry entries to hide files with System and Read-only attributes:

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.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
ShowSuperHidden = "0"

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

Propagation

This worm drops the following copies of itself in all physical and removable drives:

  • autorun.vbs

It 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=

shell\open=´ò¿ª(&O)
shell\open\Command=WScript.exe .\autorun.vbs
shell\open\Default=1

NOTES:

The following are the default NoDriveTypeAutoRun values per OS:

Microsoft Windows Server 2003 = 0x95
Microsoft Windows XP = 0x91
Microsoft Windows 2000 = 0x95

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 8.900
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 6.730.11
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 30 Dec 2009

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

Terminate a process file/s detected as VBS_AUTORUN.ABA

[ Learn More ]

*Note: If the detected file/s is/are not displayed in theWindows Task Manager, continue doing the next steps.

Step 3

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_CLASSES_ROOT\dllfile\ScriptEngine
    • (Default) = "VBScript"
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\dllfile\ScriptHostEncode
    • (Default) = "{85131631-480C-11D2-B1F9-00C04F86C324}"
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\dllfile\Shell\Open\Command
    • (Default) = "%System%\Wscript.exe %1 %*"
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\dllfile\ShellEx\PropertySheetHandlers\WSHProps
    • (Default) = "{60254CA5-953B-11CF-8C96-00AA00B8708C}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Scripting Host\Settings
    • Timeout = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer
    • NoDriveTypeAutoRun = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • USBDRIVE.dll = "%System%\USBDRIVE.dll"

Step 4

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_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"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    • From: ShowSuperHidden = "0"
      To: ShowSuperHidden = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
    • From: NoDriveTypeAutoRun = "0"
      To: NoDriveTypeAutoRun = "{Refer Below}"

Step 5

Search and delete AUTORUN.INF files created by VBS_AUTORUN.ABA that contain these strings

[ Learn More ]
[AutoRun]
open= 

shell\open=´ò¿ª(&O) 
shell\open\Command=WScript.exe .\autorun.vbs
shell\open\Default=1

Step 6

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.
  • %System%\vbs.reg
  • %System%\doc.reg

Step 7

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as VBS_AUTORUN.ABA. 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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