WORM_TONICK.AE
TrojanDownloader:Win32/Tonick.gen (Microsoft); P2P-Worm.Win32.VB.ja (Kaspersky)
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
Threat Type: Worm
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: Yes
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This worm drops an AUTORUN.INF file to automatically execute the copies it drops when a user accesses the drives of an affected system.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Installation
This worm drops the following non-malicious files:
- %System%\vbzip11.dll
- %User Temp%\xxxc.bat
- %User Temp%\instal\readm.txt
- %User Temp%\instal\key.txt
- %User Temp%\vbzip11.dll
- %User Temp%\zip.zip
- %User Temp%\micka.exe
(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.. %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)
It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %User Temp%\wocualts.exe
- %User Temp%\instal\Install.exe
(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)
It creates the following folders:
- %User Temp%\instal
(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)
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
win = "%User Temp%\wocualts.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
win = "%User Temp%\wocualts.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
win = "%User Temp%\wocualts.exe"
Other System Modifications
This worm adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\
tob
Propagation
This worm drops the following copy(ies) of itself in all removable drives:
- system.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]
open=system.exe
icon=%System Root%\system32\SHELL32.dll,7
UseAutoPlay=1
action=@system.exe
shell\open=Abrir
shell\open\command=system.exe
shell\open\Default=1
(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)
Other Details
This worm does the following:
- Displays a fake Apache HTTP Server installation error to hide its malicious routines from the user upon execution.
- Connects to the following warez hosting sites to look for top searches:
- http://{BLOCKED}tz.cd
- http://{BLOCKED}ie.org
- http://www.{BLOCKED}sions.org
- http://www.{BLOCKED}dl.com
- http://{BLOCKED}cks.net
- Propagating via peer-to-peer (p2p) shares
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 terminate files detected as WORM_TONICK.AE
- If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
- If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.
Step 3
Delete this registry key
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\VB and VBA Program Settings
- tob
- tob
Step 4
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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- win = %User Temp%\wocualts.exe
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- win = %User Temp%\wocualts.exe
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
- win = %User Temp%\wocualts.exe
Step 5
Search and delete these folders
- %User Temp%\instal
Step 6
Search and delete this file
- %System%\vbzip11.dll
- %User Temp%\xxxc.bat
- %User Temp%\vbzip11.dll
- %User Temp%\zip.zip
- %User Temp%\micka.exe
Step 7
Search and delete AUTORUN.INF files created by WORM_TONICK.AE that contain these strings
[Autorun]
open=system.exe
icon=%System Root%\system32\SHELL32.dll,7
UseAutoPlay=1
action=@system.exe
shell\open=Abrir
shell\open\command=system.exe
shell\open\Default=1
Step 8
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as WORM_TONICK.AE. 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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