Analysis by: Rika Joi Gregorio

ALIASES:

Trojan:Win32/Sulunch(Microsoft), W32/AutoRun.RPV!worm(Fortinet), Win32/AutoRun.VB.AIX worm(Eset)

 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:

  • 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 creates folders in all physical and removable drives. 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: 135,168 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 29 Sep 2011

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 adds the following folders:

  • %System Root%\Program File
  • %System Root%\Program File\Microsoft
  • {malware path}\{malware file name}

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)

It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %System Root%\Program File\Microsoft\MicrosoftSafety.exe
  • %Desktop%\Shared Folder.exe

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.. %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop on Windows Vista and 7.)

Autostart Technique

This worm adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Microsoft = "%System Root%\Program File\Microsoft\MicrosoftSafety.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Microsoft = "%System Root%\Program File\Microsoft\MicrosoftSafety.exe"

Other System Modifications

This worm adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\LanmanServer\Shares
SYS_D$ = "CSCFlags=0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\LanmanServer\Shares
SYS_F$ = "CSCFlags=0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\
SpecialAccounts\UserList
SYS_4321 = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\LanmanServer\Shares
SYS_A$ = "CSCFlags=0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\LanmanServer\Shares
SYS_C$ = "CSCFlags=0"

It modifies the following registry entries:

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
SuperHidden = "0"

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

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

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
system
shutdownwithoutlogon = "0"

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

Propagation

This worm creates the following folders in all physical and removable drives:

  • {Drive Letter}:\COMM
  • {Drive Letter}:\COMM\COMM

It drops the following copy of itself in all physical and removable drives:

  • {Drive Letter}:\COMM\COMM\svchost.exe
  • {Drive Letter}:\{folder name}.exe - if the removable drive contains folder

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="%System Root%\COMM\COMM\svchost.exe"
shell\open\command=%System Root%\COMM\COMM\svchost.exe

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)

NOTES:

This worm drops copy of itself in removable drives. These dropped copies use the names of the folders located on the said drives for their file names.

It then sets the attributes of the original folders to Hidden to trick the user into clicking the dropped copies.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.300
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 9.852.06
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 12 Apr 2013
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 9.853.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 13 Apr 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 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\Run
    • Microsoft = "%System Root%\Program File\Microsoft\MicrosoftSafety.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Microsoft = "%System Root%\Program File\Microsoft\MicrosoftSafety.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\SpecialAccounts\UserList
    • SYS_4321 = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Shares
    • SYS_A$ = "CSCFlags=0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Shares
    • SYS_C$ = "CSCFlags=0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Shares
    • SYS_D$ = "CSCFlags=0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Shares
    • SYS_F$ = "CSCFlags=0"

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: HideFileExt = "1"
      To: HideFileExt = 0
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    • From: SuperHidden = "0"
      To: SuperHidden = 1
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    • From: ShowSuperHidden = "0"
      To: ShowSuperHidden = 1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
    • From: shutdownwithoutlogon = "0"
      To: shutdownwithoutlogon = 1

Step 5

Search and delete these folders

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden folders in the search result.
  • {Drive Letter}:\COMM
  • %System Root%\Program File
  • {malware path}\{malware file name}

Step 6

Search and delete AUTORUN.INF files created by WORM_OTORUN.ELG that contain these strings

[ Learn More ]


[autorun]
open="%System Root%\COMM\COMM\svchost.exe"
shell\open\command=%System Root%\COMM\COMM\svchost.exe

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as WORM_OTORUN.ELG. 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.


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.