ALIASES:

Worm:Win32/Sober.Z@mm!CME681 (Microsoft); W32/Sober@MM!M681 (McAfee); W32.Sober.X@mm (Symantec); Email-Worm.Win32.Sober.y (Kaspersky); Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt); Email-Worm:W32/Sober.Y (FSecure)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:

  • Threat Type: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This worm arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 55,390 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 11 Apr 2012

Arrival Details

This worm 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 creates the following folders:

  • %Windows%\WinSecurity

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows or C:\WINNT.)

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
Windows = "%Windows%\WinSecurity\services.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
_Windows = "%Windows%\WinSecurity\services.exe"

Other System Modifications

This worm deletes the following files:

  • %Windows%\WinSecurity\mssock1.dli
  • %Windows%\WinSecurity\nexttroj.tro

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows or C:\WINNT.)

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.200

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Windows = "%Windows%\WinSecurity\services.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • _Windows = "%Windows%\WinSecurity\services.exe"

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.
  • %Windows%\WinSecurity

Step 5

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as WORM_SOBER.AG. 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.

Step 6

Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.

  • %Windows%\WinSecurity\mssock1.dli
  • %Windows%\WinSecurity\nexttroj.tro


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