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.
It drops an AUTORUN.INF file to automatically execute the copies it drops when a user accesses the drives of an affected system.
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 drops the following files:
- %System Root%\RECYCLER\R-1-5-21-1482476501-1644491937-682003330-1013\Desktop.ini
(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)
It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %System Root%\RECYCLER\R-1-5-21-1482476501-1644491937-682003330-1013\acleaner.exe
(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)
It creates the following folders:
- %System Root%\RECYCLER\R-1-5-21-1482476501-1644491937-682003330-1013
(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)
Autostart Technique
This worm adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Taskman = "%System Root%\RECYCLER\R-1-5-21-1482476501-1644491937-682003330-1013\acleaner.exe"
Propagation
This worm creates the following folders in all removable drives:
It drops the following copy(ies) of itself in all removable drives:
- {Removable Drive}:\RECYCLER\R-1-5-21-1482476501-1644491937-682003330-1013\acleaner.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 characters}
[autorun]
open=RECYCLER\R-1-5-21-1482476501-1644491937-682003330-1013\acleaner.exe
{garbage characters}
icon=%SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll,4
action=Open folder to view files
shell\open=Open
shell\open\command=RECYCLER\R-1-5-21-1482476501-1644491937-682003330-1013\acleaner.exe
{garbage characters}
shell\open\default=1
{garbage characters}
Other Details
This worm connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
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
Identify and delete files detected as WORM_HAMWEQ.EF using either the Startup Disk or Recovery Console
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To identify and delete the malware/grayware file:
- Insert your Windows Installation CD in your CD-rom.
- Press the restart button of your computer.
- When prompted, press any key to boot from the CD.
- When prompted on the Main Menu, type r to enter the recovery console.
(Note: On Windows 2000, after pressing r, type c to choose the Recovery Console in the repair options screen.) - When prompted, type your administrator password to log on.
- Once logged in, type the drive that contains Windows in the command prompt that appears, then press Enter.
- Type the drive that contains Windows, then press Enter.
- Type the following, then press Enter:
del {malware/grayware path and file name} - Repeat the above procedure for all files detected earlier.
- Type exit to restart the system normally.
Step 3
Delete this registry value
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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
- Taskman = "%System Root%\RECYCLER\R-1-5-21-1482476501-1644491937-682003330-1013\acleaner.exe"
To delete the registry value this malware created:
- Open Registry Editor. To do this, click Start>Run, type regedit in the text box provided, then press Enter.
- In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Microsoft>Windows NT>CurrentVersion>Winlogon - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
Taskman = "%System Root%\RECYCLER\R-1-5-21-1482476501-1644491937-682003330-1013\acleaner.exe" - Close Registry Editor.
Step 4
Search and delete these folders
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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.
- %System Root%\RECYCLER\R-1-5-21-1482476501-1644491937-682003330-1013
- {Removable Drive}:\RECYCLER
To delete malware/grayware folders:
- Right-click Start then click Search... or Find..., depending on the version of Windows you are running.
- In the Named input box, type:
- %System Root%\RECYCLER\R-1-5-21-1482476501-1644491937-682003330-1013
- {Removable Drive}:\RECYCLER
- In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer, then press Enter.
- Once located, select the folder then press SHIFT+DELETE to permanently delete the folder.
- Repeat the said steps for all folders listed.
Step 5
Search and delete AUTORUN.INF files created by WORM_HAMWEQ.EF that contain these strings
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{garbage characters}
[autorun]
open=RECYCLER\R-1-5-21-1482476501-1644491937-682003330-1013\acleaner.exe
{garbage characters}
icon=%SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll,4
action=Open folder to view files
shell\open=Open
shell\open\command=RECYCLER\R-1-5-21-1482476501-1644491937-682003330-1013\acleaner.exe
{garbage characters}
shell\open\default=1
{garbage characters}To identify and delete AUTORUN.INF files created:
- Right-click the Start button then choose Search... or Find..., depending on the version of Windows you are running.
- In the Named input box, type:
AUTORUN.INF - In the Look in: drop-down list, select a drive, then press Enter.
- Select the file, then open using Notepad.
- Check if the following lines are present in the file:
{garbage characters}
[autorun]
open=RECYCLER\R-1-5-21-1482476501-1644491937-682003330-1013\acleaner.exe
{garbage characters}
icon=%SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll,4
action=Open folder to view files
shell\open=Open
shell\open\command=RECYCLER\R-1-5-21-1482476501-1644491937-682003330-1013\acleaner.exe
{garbage characters}
shell\open\default=1
{garbage characters} - If the lines are present, delete the file.
- Repeat steps 3 to 6 for the remaining AUTORUN.INF files in other remaining removable drives.
- Close Search Results.
Step 6
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as WORM_HAMWEQ.EF. 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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