WORM_UTOTI.WLE
W32.Harakit (Symantec); Worm:Win32/Renocide.gen!C (Microsoft); W32/Autoit-KP (Sophos); Trj/Autoit.gen (Panda)
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
Threat Type: Worm
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: No
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This worm drops copies of itself in all 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.
It deletes itself after execution.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Installation
This worm drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %System%\csrcs.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.)
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\RunServices
csrcs = "%System%\csrcs.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer\Run
csrcs = "%System%\csrcs.exe"
It modifies the following registry entries to ensure it automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Shell = "Explorer.exe csrcs.exe"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is Explorer.exe.)
Other System Modifications
This worm adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
DRM\amty
It modifies the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
Hidden = "2"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)
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.)
Propagation
This worm drops copies of itself in all 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.
The said .INF file contains the following strings:
;{garbage characters}
[AutoRun]
;{garbage characters}
aCTiON=View files
;{garbage characters}
OPEn={random file name}.exE
;{garbage characters}
icoN=%System%\SHELl32.DLL,7
useAUTOPLAY=1
ActiON= @{random file name}.exe
sheLL\oPEN\coMMANd={random file name}.eXe
;{garbage characters}
SHell\OPEN\dEFauLt=1
(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.)
Other Details
This worm deletes itself after execution.
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
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. 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\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DRM
- amty
- amty
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\CurrentVersion\RunServices
- csrcs = %System%\csrcs.exe
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer\Run
- csrcs = %System%\csrcs.exe
Step 4
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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
- From: Shell = Explorer.exe csrcs.exe
To: Shell = Explorer.exe
- From: Shell = Explorer.exe csrcs.exe
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
- From: Hidden = 2
To: Hidden = 1
- From: Hidden = 2
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
- From: SuperHidden = 0
To: SuperHidden = 1
- From: SuperHidden = 0
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
- From: ShowSuperHidden = 0
To: ShowSuperHidden = 1
- From: ShowSuperHidden = 0
Step 5
Search and delete AUTORUN.INF files created by WORM_UTOTI.WLE that contain these strings
;{garbage characters}
[autoRUN]
;{garbage characters}
aCTiON=View files
;{garbage characters}
OPEn={random file name}.exE
;{garbage characters}
icoN=%System%\SHELl32.DLL,7
useAUTOPLAY=1
ActiON= @{random file name}.exe
sheLL\oPEN\coMMANd={random file name}.eXe
;{garbage characters}
SHell\OPEN\dEFauLt=1
Step 6
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as WORM_UTOTI.WLE. 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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