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.
However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
It terminates itself if it detects it is being run in a virtual environment.
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:
- %User Profile%\8586588698487385\winsvc.exe
(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, 7, and 8.)
It creates the following folders:
- %User Profile%\8586588698487385
(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, 7, and 8.)
It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:
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 Update = "%User Profile%\8586588698487385\winsvc.exe"
Other System Modifications
This Worm adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\
List\%User Profile%\8586588698487385
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\
List\%User Profile%\8586588698487385
winsvc.exe = "%User Profile%\8586588698487385\winsvc.exe:*:Enabled:Microsoft Windows Update"
Propagation
This Worm drops the following copy(ies) of itself in all removable drives:
- {drive letter}\843921.exe
It creates shortcut files (.LNK) disguised as folders or files located on the affected drives pointing to the malware copy.
Backdoor Routine
This Worm connects to any of the following IRC server(s):
- w4h{BLOCKED}3488h.net
- 39f{BLOCKED}ewhd.net
- 489{BLOCKED}deem.net
- a{BLOCKED}m.in
However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
It accesses a remote Internet Relay Chat (IRC) server where it receives the following commands from a remote malicious user:
- Uninstall malware
- Download and execute file
- Join another IRC server
- Send email with attachment
Other Details
This Worm terminates itself if it detects it is being run in a virtual environment.
It does the following:
- It terminates itself if it runs under a virtual machine or sandbox by checking the following strings against Plug and Play devices:
- It terminates itself if the following modules are loaded:
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
Identify and terminate files detected as Worm.Win32.PHORPIEX.AB
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- 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.
- 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.
- If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.
To terminate the malware/grayware/spyware process:
- Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and take note of the name of the malware/grayware/spyware detected.
- Open Windows Task Manager. To do this, press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC.
- View the list of all running programs. To do this:
• For Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista, 7 and Server 2008 users, click the Processes tab.
• For Windows 8, 8.1 and Server 2012 users, click the Details tab. - In the list of running programs, locate a malware/grayware/spyware file detected earlier.
- Select the detected files, then press either the End Task or the End Process button, depending on the version of Windows you are using.
- Do the same for the remaining detected malware/grayware/spyware files in the list of running programs.
- To check if the malware/grayware/spyware process has been terminated, close Task Manager, and then open it again.
- Close Task Manager.
Step 4
Delete this registry key
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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\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List\%User Profile%
To delete registry keys this malware/grayware created:
- Open Registry Editor. To do this:
» For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 users, click Start>Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter.
» For Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 users, click the Start button, type regedit in the Search input field then press Enter.
» For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, click Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter. - In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SYSTEM>CurrentControlSet>services>SharedAccess>Parameters>FirewallPolicy>StandardProfile>AuthorizedApplications>List>%User Profile% - Still in the left panel, locate and delete the key:
8586588698487385 - Close Registry Editor.
Step 5
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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- Microsoft Windows Update = "%User Profile%\8586588698487385\winsvc.exe"
To delete the registry value this malware created:
- Open Registry Editor. To do this:
» For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 users, click Start>Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter.
» For Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 users, click the Start button, type regedit in the Search input field then press Enter.
» For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, click Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter. - In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Run - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
Microsoft Windows Update = "%User Profile%\8586588698487385\winsvc.exe" - Close Registry Editor.
Step 6
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.
- %User Profile%\8586588698487385
To delete malware/grayware/spyware folders:
For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:
- Right-click Start then click Search... or Find..., depending on the version of Windows you are running.
- In the File name* input box, type:
- %User Profile%\8586588698487385
- 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 steps 2 to 4 for the remaining folders:
- %User Profile%\8586588698487385
*Note: The file name input box title varies depending on the Windows version (e.g. Search for files or folders named or All or part of the file name.).
For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012:
- Open a Windows Explorer window.
- For Windows Vista, 7, and Server 2008 users, click Start>Computer.
- For Windows 8, 8.1, and Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, then click File Explorer.
- In the Search Computer/This PC input box, type:
- %User Profile%\8586588698487385
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to permanently delete the folder.
- Repeat steps 2-3 for the remaining folders:
- %User Profile%\8586588698487385
*Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7.
Step 7
Search and delete this file
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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.
- {removable drive}\{folder name}.lnk
To manually delete a malware/grayware file from an affected system:
• For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:
- Right-click Start then click Search....
- In the File name* input box, type the following:
- {removable drive}\{folder name}.lnk
- In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer then press Enter.
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
*Note: The file name input box title varies depending on the Windows version (e.g. Search for files or folders named or All or part of the file name.).
• For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012:
- Open a Windows Explorer window.
- For Windows Vista, 7, and Server 2008 users, click Start>Computer.
- For Windows 8, 8.1, and Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, then click File Explorer.
- In the Search Computer/This PC input box, type:
- {removable drive}\{folder name}.lnk
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
*Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7.
Step 8
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Worm.Win32.PHORPIEX.AB. 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 the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:
Step 9
- Open a command prompt.
- For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 users, click Start>Run. In the Search box, type CMD then press Enter.
- For Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 users, click Start, type CMD in the Search input field then press Enter.
- For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower-left corner of the screen, click Command Prompt.
- In the CMD console, type the following:
ATTRIB [+R | -R] [+A | -A ] [+S | -S] [+H | -H] [+I | -I] [drive:][path][file name] [/S [/D] [/L]]
Where:
+ Sets an attribute.
- Clears an attribute
R Read-only file attribute
A Archive file attribute
S System file attribute
H Hidden file attribute
I Not content indexed file attribute
[drive:][path][filename]
Specifies a file or files for attrib to process
/S Processes matching files in the current folder and all subfolders.
/D Processes folders
/L Work on the attributes of the Symbolic Link versus the target of the Symbolic Link
Example:
To unhide all files and folders (including subfolders) in drive D:
ATTRIB –H D:\* /S /D
- Repeat Step 3 for folders and files in other drives or folders.
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