Modified by: Alvin Bacani
ALIASES:

Worm:Win32/Neeris (Microsoft); Win32/AutoRun.Agent.Do (NOD32)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)

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

  • Threat Type: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware, Propagates via flashdrives

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 takes advantage of software vulnerabilities to propagate across networks.

It executes commands from a remote malicious user, effectively compromising the affected system.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 6,639,552 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 06 Nov 2013
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Compromises system security

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 and executes them:

  • %System%\VMwareService.exe

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.)

It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:

  • godsendjpngodsendjpn

Autostart Technique

This worm registers as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\VMwareService
ImagePath = "%System%\VMwareService.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\VMwareService
Type = "110"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\VMwareService
Start = "2"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\VMwareService
ErrorControl = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\VMwareService
DisplayName = "VMwareService"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\VMwareService
Description = "VMwareService"

Propagation

This worm takes advantage of the following software vulnerabilities to propagate across networks:

Backdoor Routine

This worm executes the following commands from a remote malicious user:

  • File Update
  • File Download
  • File Execution
  • Terminate Applications
  • Perform System Shutdown

It connects to the following URL(s) to send and receive commands from a remote malicious user:

  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}f.in

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.300
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 10.396.03
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 07 Nov 2013

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

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

Delete this registry key

[ 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. Before you could do this, you must restart in Safe Mode. For instructions on how to do this, you may refer to this page If the preceding step requires you to restart in safe mode, you may proceed to edit the system registry.

 
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
    • VMwareService

Step 4

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as WORM_KOLAB.KD. 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 5

Download and apply these security patches Refrain from using these products until the appropriate patches have been installed. Trend Micro advises users to download critical patches upon release by vendors.

  • http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/security/bulletin/ms08-067


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