WORM_FAKER.AH
FakeRecycled (McAfee); Worm:Win32/Fakerecy.A (Microsoft); W32.Fakerecy (Symantec), Win32:VB-EAA [Trj] (Avast)
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows 7
Threat Type: Worm
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted:
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 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 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 creates the following folders:
- {drive letter}:\Recycled
- {driver letter}:\Recycled\Recycled
Autostart Technique
This worm drops the following file(s) in the Windows User Startup folder to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
- %User Startup%\ctfmon.exe
(Note: %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 2000 and XP, and C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)
Propagation
This worm drops the following copy of itself in all physical and removable drives:
- {drive letter}:\Recycled\Recycled\ctfmon.exe
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=Recycled\ctfmon.exe
shell\Open(&0)\command=Recycled\ctfmon.exe
shell=Open(&0)
Dropping Routine
This worm drops the following files:
- {drive letter}:\Recycled\INFO2
- {drive letter}:\Recycled\desktop.ini
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
Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.
Step 3
Search and delete AUTORUN.INF files created by WORM_FAKER.AH that contain these strings
- [autorun]
- shellexecute=Recycled\ctfmon.exe
- shell\Open(&0)\command=Recycled\ctfmon.exe
- shell=Open(&0)
Step 4
Search and delete these folders
- {drive letter}:\Recycled
Step 5
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as WORM_FAKER.AH. 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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