WORM_PHORPIEX.ANZ
Win32/AutoRun.IRCBot.JD worm (NOD32)
Windows
Threat Type: Worm
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted:
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This Worm arrives via removable drives. 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 modifies registry entries to disable the Windows Firewall settings. This action allows this malware to perform its routines without being deteted by the Windows Firewall.
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
198,144 bytes
, EXE
Yes
18 May 2017
Arrival Details
This Worm arrives via removable drives.
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 adds the following folders:
- %User Profile%\M-{random numbers}
- %Windows%\M-{random numbers}
- %User Temp%\{random characters}.tmp
(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.. %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.. %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)
It drops the following files:
- %User Temp%\digitizer.png
- %User Temp%\man.string.subst.map.local.post.xml
- %User Temp%\Midway
- %User Temp%\ParapetApraxiaDriftpin
- %User Temp%\tarsiers.dll
- %User Temp%\test-sync.js
- %User Temp%\tweakDiskCleanup.p5p
- %User Temp%\tweakDiskCleanup_da.p5p
- %User Temp%\{random characters}.tmp\System.dll
(Note: %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)
It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %Windows%\M-{random numbers}\winmgr.exe
- %User Profile%\M-{random numbers}\winmgr.exe
(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)
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
Microsoft Windows Manager = "%Windows%\M-{random numbers}\winmgr.exe" or "%User Profile%\M-{random numbers}\winmgr.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Microsoft Windows Manager = "%Windows%\M-{random numbers}\winmgr.exe" or "%User Profile%\M-{random numbers}\winmgr.exe"
Other System Modifications
This Worm modifies the following registry entries to disable the Windows Firewall settings:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\
List
%Windows%\M-{random numbers}\winmgr.exe or %User Profile%\M-{random numbers}\winmgr.exe = "%Windows%\M-{random numbers}\winmgr.exe:*:Enabled:Microsoft Windows Manager" or "%User Profile%\M-{random numbers}\winmgr.exe:*:Enabled:Microsoft Windows Manager"
Propagation
This Worm drops the following copy(ies) of itself in all removable drives:
- {drive letter}:\505050.exe
- {drive letter}:\windrv.exe
- {drive letter}:\Documents.exe
- {drive letter}:\Movies.exe
- {drive letter}:\Music.exe
- {drive letter}:\Pictures.exe
- {drive letter}:\Private.exe
- {drive letter}:\Secret.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:
{garbage}
[autorun]
{garbage}
icon=%SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll,4
{garbage}
action=Open folder to view files
{garbage}
shellexecute=windrv.exe
{garbage}
UseAutoPlay=1
{garbage}
It creates shortcut files (.LNK) disguised as folders or files located on the affected drives pointing to the malware copy.
Other Details
This Worm connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- {BLOCKED}0.ru
- {BLOCKED}0.ru
- {BLOCKED}0.ru
- {BLOCKED}0.ru
- {BLOCKED}0.ru
However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
SOLUTION
9.850
Step 1
Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.
Step 2
Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.
Step 3
Restart in Safe Mode
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
- Microsoft Windows Manager = "%Windows%\M-{random numbers}\winmgr.exe" or "%User Profile%\M-{random numbers}\winmgr.exe"
- Microsoft Windows Manager = "%Windows%\M-{random numbers}\winmgr.exe" or "%User Profile%\M-{random numbers}\winmgr.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- Microsoft Windows Manager = "%Windows%\M-{random numbers}\winmgr.exe" or "%User Profile%\M-{random numbers}\winmgr.exe"
- Microsoft Windows Manager = "%Windows%\M-{random numbers}\winmgr.exe" or "%User Profile%\M-{random numbers}\winmgr.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List
- %Windows%\M-{random numbers}\winmgr.exe or %User Profile%\M-{random numbers}\winmgr.exe = "%Windows%\M-{random numbers}\winmgr.exe:*:Enabled:Microsoft Windows Manager" or "%User Profile%\M-{random numbers}\winmgr.exe:*:Enabled:Microsoft Windows Manager"
- %Windows%\M-{random numbers}\winmgr.exe or %User Profile%\M-{random numbers}\winmgr.exe = "%Windows%\M-{random numbers}\winmgr.exe:*:Enabled:Microsoft Windows Manager" or "%User Profile%\M-{random numbers}\winmgr.exe:*:Enabled:Microsoft Windows Manager"
Step 5
Search and delete this file
- %User Temp%\digitizer.png
- %User Temp%\man.string.subst.map.local.post.xml
- %User Temp%\Midway
- %User Temp%\ParapetApraxiaDriftpin
- %User Temp%\tarsiers.dll
- %User Temp%\test-sync.js
- %User Temp%\tweakDiskCleanup.p5p
- %User Temp%\tweakDiskCleanup_da.p5p
- %User Temp%\{random characters}.tmp\System.dll
Step 6
Search and delete this folder
- %User Profile%\M-{random numbers}
- %Windows%\M-{random numbers}
- %User Temp%\{random characters}.tmp
Step 7
Search and delete AUTORUN.INF files created by WORM_PHORPIEX.ANZ that contain these strings
- {garbage}
- [autorun]
- {garbage}
- icon=%SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll,4
- {garbage}
- action=Open folder to view files
- {garbage}
- shellexecute=windrv.exe
- {garbage}
- UseAutoPlay=1
- {garbage}
Step 8
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as WORM_PHORPIEX.ANZ. 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.
Did this description help? Tell us how we did.