WORM_TRAXG.AC
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
Threat Type: Worm
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: Yes
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This worm arrives as attachment to mass-mailed email messages. It arrives via removable drives.
It uses the default Windows folder icon to trick users into opening the file. Double-clicking the file executes this malware.
However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Arrival Details
This worm arrives as attachment to mass-mailed email messages.
It arrives via removable drives.
It may arrive via network shares.
Installation
This worm drops the following component file(s):
- D:\net.txt
It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %Windows%\Fonts\{random characters}.com
- %Windows%\Help\{random characters}.com
- %Windows%\System\{random characters}.com
- %Windows%\Temp\{random characters}.com
It displays the following fake error messages:
Warning
This Folder Has Been Damage!
It uses the default Windows folder icon to trick users into opening the file. Double-clicking the file executes this malware.
Autostart Technique
This worm adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
TempCom = "%Windows%\{created folder name}\{malware file name}"
Other System Modifications
This worm modifies the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
Hidden = "0"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)
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\
CabinetState
FullPath = "1"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)
Other Details
This worm attempts to access the following websites to download files, which are possibly malicious:
- utenti.{BLOCKED}os.it/vx9/dl.exe
However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
NOTES:
It also drops copies itself into subfolders using the folder name as its file name.
It also drops a copy of itself as WINDOWS.EXE and a copy of a Trojan script named FOLDER.HTT into the Web folder located in the Windows folder. It then creates a file named DESKTOP.INI in the folder where this worm is originally executed. The said .INI file sets the current folder view settings specified in FOLDER.HTT. If Web Content is enabled in the folder where this worm is executed, the .HTT and .INI files are copied into every folder opened using Windows Explorer. In effect, this worm is executed. Trend Micro detects the malicious .HTT file as HTML_TRAXG.A.
Propagation via Email
This worm propagates via email messages using a Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI) in Microsoft Outlook. It sends a copy of itself to all email addresses listed in the address book of the said application.
From: Mywoman@{BLOCKED}3.com
To: {Microsoft Outlook contact address}
Subject: {random characters}
Message body: {random characters}
Attachment: {random characters}.exe
Propagation via Network Shares, Removable Drives, and Shared Drives
This worm also propagates by dropping a copy of itself into network shares, removable drives, and shared drives using the following file names:
- Ghost.bat
- WINDOWS.EXE
Furthermore, it also drops a malicious script file named NETHOOD.HTM, which Trend Micro detects as HTML_TRAXG.A, in all available drives.
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 3
Identify and terminate files detected as WORM_TRAXG.AC
- 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 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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- TempCom = %Windows%\{folder name}\{malware file name} Note: {folder name} can be any of the following:
- Fonts
- Help
- System
- Temp
Step 5
Restore this modified 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\Explorer\Advanced
- From: Hidden = 0
To: Hidden = 1
- From: Hidden = 0
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
- From: HideFileExt = 1
To: HideFileExt = 0
- From: HideFileExt = 1
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CabinetState
- From: FullPath = 1
To: FullPath = 0
- From: FullPath = 1
Step 6
Search and delete this file
Step 7
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as WORM_TRAXG.AC. 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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