WORM_VOBFUS.DQ
Worm:Win32/Vobfus.gen!F (Microsoft); VBObfus.g (Mcafee); W32/Vobfus-H (Sophos); Worm.Win32.Vobfus (Ikarus)
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 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.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Installation
This worm drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %User Profile%\{random file name}.exe
(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name} on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name} on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} 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
{random file name} = "%User Profile%\{random file name}.exe"
Other System Modifications
This worm modifies the following registry entries:
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=23294
{garbage characters}
open={random file name}.eXe
{garbage characters}
icoN={random file name}.ico
{garbage characters}
USeAuToplay=1
{garbage characters}
NOTES:
This worm drops .LNK files in removable drives that point to a copy of itself. This is done to automatically execute dropped copies when the said drives are accessed.
The dropped .LNK files use random file names, names of the existing folders, and hardcoded file names. This technique enables the copy of the worm to execute first before opening the real folder. It then changes the attributes of the original folders to Hidden and System to avoid early detection.
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
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as WORM_VOBFUS.DQ
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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- {random file name} = "%User Profile%\{random file name}.exe"
- {random file name} = "%User Profile%\{random file name}.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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
- From: ShowSuperHidden = "0"
To: 1
- From: ShowSuperHidden = "0"
Step 5
Search and delete AUTORUN.INF files created by WORM_VOBFUS.DQ that contain these strings
{garbage characters}
[autorun]
{garbage characters}
ActiON=23294
{garbage characters}
open={random file name}.eXe
{garbage characters}
icoN={random file name}.ico
{garbage characters}
USeAuToplay=1
{garbage characters}
Step 6
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as WORM_VOBFUS.DQ. 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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