WORM_PALEVO.SMFB
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
![](/vinfo/imgFiles/legend.jpg)
Threat Type: Worm
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: No
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This worm arrives by connecting affected removable drives to a system. 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.
However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Arrival Details
This worm arrives by connecting affected removable drives to a system.
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:
- %System Root%\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-5140433703-3840910355-318716797-2242\nissan.exe
(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)
It drops the following component file(s):
- %System Root%\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-5140433703-3840910355-318716797-2242\Desktop.ini
(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)
It creates the following folders:
- %System Root%\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-5140433703-3840910355-318716797-2242
(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)
It injects threads into the following normal process(es):
- EXPLORER.EXE
Autostart Technique
This worm adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Taskman = "%System Root%\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-5140433703-3840910355-318716797-2242\nissan.exe"
Propagation
This worm creates the following folders in all removable drives:
- SVETEJEBLO
It drops the following copy(ies) of itself in all removable drives:
- SVETEJEBLO\zeljko.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
;{garbage}
open=SVETEJEBLO///zeljko.exe
;{garbage}
icon=%SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll,4
;{garbage}
action=Open folder to view files using Windows Explorer
;{garbage}
Shell\open\\command=SVETEJEBLO///zeljko.exe
;{garbage}
shell\explore\command=SVETEJEBLO///zeljko.exe
;{garbage}
USEAUTOPLAY=1
:AH WHAT CAN I SAY
Other Details
This worm connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- {BLOCKED}t.brand-clothes.net
- {BLOCKED}a.banjalucke-ljepotice.ru
- {BLOCKED}a.prichaonica.com
However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
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
Identify and delete files detected as WORM_PALEVO.SMFB using the Recovery Console
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 NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
- Taskman = ”%System Root%\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-5140433703-3840910355-318716797-2242\nissan.exe
- Taskman = ”%System Root%\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-5140433703-3840910355-318716797-2242\nissan.exe
Step 4
Search and delete these folders
- %System Root%\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-5140433703-3840910355-318716797-2242
- {drive letter}\SVETEJEBLO
Step 5
Search and delete AUTORUN.INF files created by WORM_PALEVO.SMFB that contain these strings
[AutoRun
;{garbage}
open=SVETEJEBLO///zeljko.exe
;{garbage}
icon=%SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll,4
;{garbage}
action=Open folder to view files using Windows Explorer
;{garbage}
Shell\open\command=SVETEJEBLO///zeljko.exe
;{garbage}
shell\explore\command=SVETEJEBLO///zeljko.exe
;{garbage}
USEAUTOPLAY=1
:AH WHAT CAN I SAY
Step 6
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as WORM_PALEVO.SMFB. 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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