VBS_SOLOW.A
Worm.VBS.Solow.b (Kaspersky), VBS/IE-Title (McAfee), VBS.Solow (Symantec), VBS/Solow.B (Avira), VBS/Sasan-Fam (Sophos)
Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)
Threat Type: Worm
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: No
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This worm arrives via removable drives. It arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
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
Arrival Details
This worm arrives via removable drives.
It 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%\{Random}.DLL.VBS
- %System Root%\{Random}.DLL.VBS
(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.. %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)
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
{random name} = "%Windows%\{Random}.dll.vbs"
Other System Modifications
This worm adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer
NoFind = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer
NoRun = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer
NoFolderOptions = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
DisableRegistryTools = "1"
It adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Window Title = "Hacked by Godzilla"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Window Title = "Hacked by MOOzilla"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Window Title = "Hacked by UC"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Window Title = "Hacked by YaHaa, Your Firewall Is FUCK."
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Window Title = "Malaysian Hackers"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Window Title = "Protected by CPCT"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Window Title = "TAGA ETI, MARINDUQUE MABUHAY!!! by: Nicklaus S. Buag"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Window Title = "TAGA LIPA ARE!"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Window Title = "TAGA XPRESS-ON KAMI"
It modifies the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
Hidden = "0"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is user-defined.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion
RegisteredOrganization = "{Random}"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is user-defined.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion
RegisteredOwner = "{Random}"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is user-defined.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion
ProductId = "{Random}"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is user-defined.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\
System\CentralProcessor\0
ProcessorNameString = "{Random}"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is user-defined.)
Propagation
This worm drops the following copy(ies) of itself in all removable drives:
- {drive letter}:\{Random}.DLL.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]
shellexecute=wscript.exe {Random}.dll.vbs
Other Details
This worm requires the existence of the following files to properly run:
- wscript.exe
NOTES:
It creates registry entries that changes the text displayed in the title bar of Internet Explorer.
It adds the registry entry Debugger = "notepad.exe" in the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\cmd.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\install.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\msconfig.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\regedit.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\regedt32.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\RegistryEditor.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\setup.exe
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
Restart in Safe Mode
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
- {random name} = "%Windows%\{Random}.dll.vbs
- {random name} = "%Windows%\{Random}.dll.vbs
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
- Window Title = "Hacked by Godzilla"
- Window Title = "Hacked by Godzilla"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
- Window Title = "Hacked by MOOzilla"
- Window Title = "Hacked by MOOzilla"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
- Window Title = "Hacked by UC"
- Window Title = "Hacked by UC"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
- Window Title = "Hacked by YaHaa, Your Firewall Is FUCK."
- Window Title = "Hacked by YaHaa, Your Firewall Is FUCK."
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
- Window Title = "Hacked by Zay"
- Window Title = "Hacked by Zay"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
- Window Title = "Malaysian Hackers"
- Window Title = "Malaysian Hackers"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
- Window Title = "Protected by CPCT"
- Window Title = "Protected by CPCT"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
- Window Title = "TAGA ETI, MARINDUQUE MABUHAY!!! by: Nicklaus S. Buag"
- Window Title = "TAGA ETI, MARINDUQUE MABUHAY!!! by: Nicklaus S. Buag"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
- Window Title = "TAGA LIPA ARE!"
- Window Title = "TAGA LIPA ARE!"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
- Window Title = "TAGA XPRESS-ON KAMI"
- Window Title = "TAGA XPRESS-ON KAMI"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\cmd.exe
- Debugger = "notepad.exe"
- Debugger = "notepad.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\install.exe
- Debugger = "notepad.exe"
- Debugger = "notepad.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\msconfig.exe
- Debugger = "notepad.exe"
- Debugger = "notepad.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\regedit.exe
- Debugger = "notepad.exe"
- Debugger = "notepad.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\regedt32.exe
- Debugger = "notepad.exe"
- Debugger = "notepad.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\RegistryEditor.exe
- Debugger = "notepad.exe"
- Debugger = "notepad.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\setup.exe
- Debugger = "notepad.exe"
- Debugger = "notepad.exe"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
- NoFind = "1"
- NoFind = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
- NoRun = "1"
- NoRun = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
- NoFolderOptions = "1"
- NoFolderOptions = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
- DisableRegistryTools = "1"
- DisableRegistryTools = "1"
Step 4
Restore this modified 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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
- From: Hidden = "0"
To: Hidden = "{user-defined}"
- From: Hidden = "0"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
- From: RegisteredOrganization = "{Random}"
To: RegisteredOrganization = "{user-defined}"
- From: RegisteredOrganization = "{Random}"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
- From: RegisteredOwner = "{Random}"
To: RegisteredOwner = "{user-defined}"
- From: RegisteredOwner = "{Random}"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
- From: ProductId = "{Random}"
To: ProductId = "{user-defined}"
- From: ProductId = "{Random}"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\0
- From: ProcessorNameString = "{Random}"
To: ProcessorNameString = "{user-defined}"
- From: ProcessorNameString = "{Random}"
Step 5
Search and delete AUTORUN.INF files created by VBS_SOLOW.A that contain these strings
[AutoRun]
shellexecute=wscript.exe {Random}.dll.vbs
Step 6
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as VBS_SOLOW.A. 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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