VBS_AUTORUN.SMJ
Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003
Threat Type: Trojan
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted:
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This Trojan arrives by connecting affected removable drives to a system. It may be dropped by other malware. It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.
It drops an AUTORUN.INF file to automatically execute the copies it drops when a user accesses the drives of an affected system.
However, due to errors in its code, it fails to perform its intended routine.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Arrival Details
This Trojan arrives by connecting affected removable drives to a system.
It may be dropped by other malware.
It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.
Installation
This Trojan drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %System%\winjpg.jpg
(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 adds the following processes:
- WSCRIPT.EXE
Autostart Technique
This Trojan adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
CTFMON = %System%\wscript.exe /E:vbs %System%\winjpg.jpg
Propagation
This Trojan drops the following copy(ies) of itself in all removable drives:
- winfile.jpg
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]
shellexecute=wscript.exe /e: vbs winfile.jpg
Other Details
However, due to errors in its code, it fails to perform its intended routine.
SOLUTION
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 malware/grayware process
*Note: If the detected process is not displayed in theWindows Task Manager, continue doing the next steps.
- WSCRIPT.EXE
Step 3
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
- CTFMON=%System%\wscript.exe /E:vbs%System%\winjpg.jpg
- CTFMON=%System%\wscript.exe /E:vbs%System%\winjpg.jpg
Step 4
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as VBS_AUTORUN.SMJ. 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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