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WORM_KOLAB.SMQX
Aliases: Trojan.Win32.StartPage.alsj (Kaspersky), Worm:Win32/Pushbot (Microsoft)
Malware type: Worm
Destructive: No
Platform: Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
In the wild: Yes

Overview


Infection Channel: Propagates via flashdrives, Propagates via instant messaging applications

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 drops copies of itself in removable drives. These dropped copies use the names of the folders located on the said drives for their file names.

It connects to Internet Relay Chat (IRC) servers. It executes commands from a remote malicious user, effectively compromising the affected system.

As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

Technical Details


File size: 111,104 bytes
File type: EXE
Memory resident: Yes
Initial samples received date: 19 Dec 2012
Payload: Drops files, Connects to URLs/IPs, Downloads files

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 drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Application Data%\E-73473-3674-74335\msnrsmsn.exe

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Application Data%\E-73473-3674-74335

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming 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 MainUpdates = "%Application Data%\E-73473-3674-74335\msnrsmsn.exe"

Other System Modifications

This worm creates the following registry entry(ies) to bypass Windows Firewall:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\
List
%Application Data%\E-73473-3674-74335\msnrsmsn.exe = "%Application Data%\E-73473-3674-74335\msnrsmsn.exe:*:Enabled:Microsoft MainUpdates"

Propagation

This worm drops copies of itself in removable drives. These dropped copies use the names of the folders located on the said drives for their file names.

It sends the following messages via instant-messaging (IM) applications:

・belas fotos nao de voce (Malicious URL)
・vakre bilder fra deg. (Malicious URL)
・hoi niet mooi fotos (Malicious URL)
・ich sag nur geile fotos. (Malicious URL)
・hey, beautiful facebook photos.. (Malicious URL)
・muy hermosas fotos no?? (Malicious URL)
・uh vos facebook photos? (Malicious URL)
・wow le tue foto bellissime (Malicious URL)
・ahoj, dobry den jste na? ... (Malicious URL)
・uh flotte fotos fra dig (Malicious URL)
・uh szep kepek rolad (Malicious URL)
・uhh, ladne zdjecia z was. (Malicious URL)
・Fotograflarinizi?? (Malicious URL)
・uh valokuva ei ole? (Malicious URL)
・woow, imagini frumoase din voi?? (Malicious URL)
・u velmi pekne fotografie od vas?(Malicious URL)
・pekne fotografie od vas? (Malicious URL)
・vackra bilder fran dig (Malicious URL)
・hoj so vase fotografije? (Malicious URL)
・u lepo slike ne? ... (Malicious URL)
・wow, fbphotos. (Malicious URL)

It sends copies of itself to target recipients using the following instant-messaging (IM) applications:

  • Yahoo! Messenger

Backdoor Routine

This worm connects to any of the following Internet Relay Chat (IRC) servers:

  • {BLOCKED}m.{BLOCKED}ch.ru

It joins any of the following IRC channel(s):

  • #biznew#

It executes the following commands from a remote malicious user:

  • im
  • down
  • sort
  • erase

Download Routine

This worm connects to the following website(s) to download and execute a malicious file:

  • http://{BLOCKED}hare.com/files/1939491401/msg.exe

It saves the files it downloads using the following names:

  • %User Temp%\{random}.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, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista and 7.)

As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

NOTES:
It may also receive a link where the malware may be downloaded.

Solution


Minimum scan engine: 8.900
First VSAPI Pattern File: 8.312.09
First VSAPI Pattern Release Date: 26 Jul 2011

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

Identify and terminate files detected as WORM_KOLAB.SMQX

[ Learn more ]
  1. Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 value

[ Learn more ]

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 MainUpdates = "%Application Data%\E-73473-3674-74335\msnrsmsn.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List
    • %Application Data%\E-73473-3674-74335\msnrsmsn.exe = "%Application Data%\E-73473-3674-74335\msnrsmsn.exe:*:Enabled:Microsoft MainUpdates"

Step 4

Search and delete this folder

[ Learn more ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden folders in the search result.
  • %Application Data%\E-73473-3674-74335

Step 5

Search and delete this file

[ Learn more ]
There may be some files that are hidden. Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the "More advanced options" option to include all hidden files and folders in the search result.
  • %User Temp%\{random}.exe

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as WORM_KOLAB.SMQX. 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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Analysis By: Cris Nowell Pantanilla

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