WORM_RBOT.AXZ

Malware type: Worm

Aliases: Packed.Win32.Klone.j (Kaspersky), W32/Sdbot.worm (McAfee), W32.Spybot.Worm (Symantec), TR/PCK.Klone.J.463 (Avira), W32/RBot-FOY (Sophos),

In the wild: Yes

Destructive: No

Language: English

Platform: Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP

Overall risk rating:

Reported infections:

Damage potential:

 High

Distribution potential:

 High

Description: 

This worm drops a copy of itself as FILESS.EXE in the Windows system folder with attributes set to hidden, system, and read only. It may also drop the file SHOX.TXT which is a log file of the worms keylogging routine.

It modifies the registry so that it will start automatically every time Windows starts.

It propagates through network shares. It attempts to access network shares by using a predefined list of user names and passwords.

It exploits the following Windows vulnerabilities:

  • IIS/WebDAV vulnerability
  • Remote Procedure Call (RPC)/ Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) vulnerability
  • Windows LSASS vulnerability
More information can be found on the following pages:

This worm has backdoor capabilitis. It starts an Internet Relay Chat (IRC) bot that gives a remote malicious user control over the infected machine.

It uses a network sniffer to get user names and passwords over the network. It also performs denial of service (DoS) attacks.

It also steals the Microsoft Windows product ID and CD keys of several popular games.

For additional information about this threat, see:

Description created: Mar. 27, 2005 5:51:17 PM GMT -0800

TECHNICAL DETAILS


File type: PE

Memory resident:  Yes

Size of malware: 90,624 Bytes

Ports used: Varies

Initial samples received on: Mar 27, 2005

Compression type: Morphine

Vulnerability used:  (MS04-011) Security Update for Microsoft Windows (835732), (MS03-007) Unchecked Buffer In Windows Component Could Cause Server Compromise (815021), (MS03-026) Buffer Overrun In RPC Interface Could Allow Code Execution

Payload 1: Compromises network security

Trigger condition 1: Upon execution

Payload 2: Steals information

Trigger condition 1: Upon execution

Details:

Arrival, Installation, and Autostart Techniques

Upon execution, this worm drops a copy of itself as FILESS.EXE into the Windows system folder with its attributes set to hidden, system, and read only. It also drops the file SHOX.TXT which is a log file of the worm's keylogging feature.

It creates the following registry entries to ensure its automatic execution at every Windows startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
NTFSS MICROSOFT SYSTEM = "filess.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
NTFSS MICROSOFT SYSTEM = "filess.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
NTFSS MICROSOFT SYSTEM = "filess.exe"

It also modifies the following registry entries by changing:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
OleEnableDCOM = "Y"

to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
OleEnableDCOM = "N"

And:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Control\Lsa
Restrictanonymous = dword:00000000

to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Control\Lsa
Restrictanonymous = dword:00000001

Network Propagation and Exploits

This worm propagates by dropping copies of itself into accessible network shares. It searches for the following network shares and attempts to drop copies of itself into these shares:

  • C$WINDOWS\system32
  • C$WINNT\system32
  • ADMIN$\system32
  • IPC$

It uses the following user names and passwords to gain access to the said shares:

  • 12345
  • 123456
  • 1234567
  • 12345678
  • 123456789
  • 1234567890
  • access
  • accounting
  • accounts
  • administrador
  • administrat
  • administrateur
  • administrator
  • admins
  • backup
  • bitch
  • blank
  • brian
  • changeme
  • chris
  • cisco
  • compaq
  • computer
  • control
  • database
  • databasepass
  • databasepassword
  • db1234
  • dbpass
  • dbpassword
  • default
  • domain
  • domainpass
  • domainpassword
  • exchange
  • george
  • guest
  • hello
  • homeuser
  • internet
  • intranet
  • katie
  • linux
  • login
  • loginpass
  • nokia
  • oeminstall
  • oemuser
  • office
  • oracle
  • orainstall
  • outlook
  • owner
  • pass1234
  • passwd
  • password
  • password1
  • peter
  • qwerty
  • server
  • siemens
  • sqlpassoainstall
  • staff
  • student
  • susan
  • system
  • teacher
  • technical
  • win2000
  • win2k
  • win98
  • windows
  • winnt
  • winpass
  • winxp
  • wwwadmin

This worm also propagates by taking advantage of the following Windows vulnerabilities:

  • IIS/WebDAV vulnerability
  • Remote Procedure Call (RPC)/ Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) vulnerability
  • Windows LSASS vulnerability
More information can be found on the following pages:

Backdoor Capabilities

This worm acts as an Internet Relay Chat (IRC) bot that connects to an IRC server. When it is connected, it listens for commands coming from a remote malicious user. It then executes these commands locally. This provides a remote user virtual control over the affected machine.

The bot allows a remote user to do the following:

  • Download or transfer files via file transfer protocol (FTP)
  • Gather email addresses and system information
  • Log keystrokes made by a user
  • Open or download Web pages
  • Perform denial of service (DoS) attacks
  • Remotely execute programs
  • Sniff packets sent and received by infected users
  • Terminate processes

Denial of Service

This worm performs the following denial of service (DoS) attacks:

  • ICMP flood
  • PING flood
  • SYN flood
  • UDP flood

Information Theft

This worm uses a network sniffer called Carnivore that checks for the following strings on the packets sent and received by the infected machine:

  • : auth
  • : login
  • :!auth
  • :!hashin
  • :!login
  • :!secure
  • :!syn
  • :$auth
  • :$hashin
  • :$login
  • :$syn
  • :%auth
  • :%hashin
  • :%login
  • :%syn
  • :&auth
  • :&login
  • :*auth
  • :*login
  • :,auth
  • :,login
  • :.auth
  • :.hashin
  • :.login
  • :.secure
  • :.syn
  • :/auth
  • :/login
  • :?auth
  • :?login
  • :@auth
  • :@login
  • :\auth
  • :\login
  • :~auth
  • :~login
  • :%20auth
  • :%20login
  • :=auth
  • :=login
  • :'auth
  • :-auth
  • :'login
  • :-login
  • login
  • login
  • PASS
  • paypal
  • PAYPAL
  • paypal.com
  • USER

It also steals the Microsoft Windows product ID and CD keys of the following games:

  • Battlefield 1942
  • Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons Of WWII
  • Battlefield 1942: The Road To Rome
  • Battlefield 1942: Vietnam
  • Black and White
  • Command and Conquer: Generals:
  • Command and Conquer: Generals: Zero Hour
  • Command and Conquer: Red Alert2
  • Command and Conquer: Tiberian Sun
  • Counter-Strike
  • FIFA 2002
  • FIFA 2003
  • Freedom Force
  • Global Operations
  • Gunman Chronicles
  • Half-Life
  • Hidden and Dangerous 2
  • IGI2: Covert Strike
  • Industry Giant 2
  • James Bond 007: Nightfire
  • Medal of Honor: Allied Assault:
  • Medal of Honor: Allied Assault: Breakthrough
  • Medal of Honor: Allied Assault: Spearhead
  • Nascar Racing 2002
  • Nascar Racing 2003
  • Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 2
  • Need For Speed: Underground
  • Neverwinter Nights
  • NHL 2002
  • NHL 2003
  • Ravenshield
  • Shogun: Total War: Warlord Edition
  • Soldier Of Fortune 2
  • Soldiers Of Anarchy
  • The Gladiators
  • Unreal Tournament 2003
  • Unreal Tournament 2004

Other Details

This worm arrives compressed using Morphine. It runs on Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, and XP.

Analysis By: Ace Portuguez

SOLUTION


Minimum scan engine version needed: 6.810

Pattern file needed: 3.877.00

Pattern release date: Oct 24, 2006


Important note: The "Minimum scan engine" refers to the earliest Trend Micro scan engine version guaranteed to detect this threat. However, Trend Micro strongly recommends that you update to the latest version in order to get comprehensive protection. Download the latest scan engine here.

Solution:

Enabling Show All Files

This procedure allows you to access hidden malware files using Windows Explorer.

� On Windows 95, 98, and NT

  1. Open Windows Explorer. Right-click Start then click Explore.
  2. On the View menu, click Options or Folders Options.
  3. Click the View tab.
  4. Select Show all files, then click OK.

� On Windows ME, 2000, and XP

  1. Open Windows Explorer. Right-click Start then click Explore.
  2. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
  3. Click the View tab.
  4. Select Show hidden files and folders, then click OK.

Identifying the Malware Program

To remove this malware, first identify the malware program.

  1. Scan your system with your Trend Micro antivirus product.
  2. NOTE all files detected as WORM_RBOT.AXZ.

Trend Micro customers need to download the latest pattern file before scanning their system. Other users can use Housecall, Trend Micro's online virus scanner.

Terminating the Malware Program

This procedure terminates the running malware process.

  1. Open Windows Task Manager.
    � On Windows 95, 98, and ME, press
    CTRL%20ALT%20DELETE
    � On Windows NT, 2000, and XP, press
    CTRL%20SHIFT%20ESC, then click the Processes tab.
  2. In the list of running programs*, locate the process(es) detected earlier.
  3. Select the malware process, then press either the End Task or the End Process button, depending on the version of Windows on your system.
  4. To check if the malware process has been terminated, close Task Manager, and then open it again.
  5. Close Task Manager.
*NOTE: On systems running Windows 95, 98, and ME, Windows Task Manager may not show certain processes. You can use a third party process viewer such as Process Explorer to terminate the malware process. Otherwise, continue with the next procedure, noting additional instructions.

Removing Autostart Entries from the Registry

Removing autostart entries from the registry prevents the malware from executing at startup.

  1. Open Registry Editor. Click Start>Run, type REGEDIT, then press Enter.
  2. In the left panel, double-click the following:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>Software>Microsoft>
    Windows>CurrentVersion>Run
  3. In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
    NTFSS MICROSOFT SYSTEM = "filess.exe"
  4. In the left panel, double-click the following:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>
    Windows>CurrentVersion>Run
  5. In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
    NTFSS MICROSOFT SYSTEM = "filess.exe�
  6. In the left panel, double-click the following:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>Software>Microsoft>
    Windows>CurrentVersion>RunServices
  7. In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
    NTFSS MICROSOFT SYSTEM = "filess.exe"

Removing Other Entries from the Registry

  1. Still the Registry Editor, in the left panel, change the entry:
    EnableDCOM = "N"
    to
    EnableDCOM = "Y".
  2. Close Registry Editor.

Restoring EnableDCOM and RestrictAnonymous Registry Entries

This worm modifies EnableDCOM and RestrictAnonymous registry entries to a certain value. To know more about restoring these registries to their original values, please refer to these articles:

  1. COM security frequently asked questions
  2. How to disable DCOM support in Windows
  3. How to Use the RestrictAnonymous Registry Value in Windows 2000
  4. The "RestrictAnonymous" Registry Value May Break the Trust to a Windows 2000 Domain

Additional Windows ME/XP Cleaning Instructions

Users running Windows ME and XP must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of infected systems.

Users running other Windows versions can proceed with the succeeding procedure set(s).

Running Trend Micro Antivirus

Scan your system with Trend Micro antivirus and delete files detected as WORM_RBOT.AXZ. To do this, Trend Micro customers must download the latest pattern file and scan their system. Other Internet users can use HouseCall, Trend Micro's online virus scanner.

Applying Patches

This malware exploits known Windows vulnerabilities. Download and install the following patches supplied by Microsoft:

Refrain from using this product until the appropriate patch has been installed. Trend Micro advises users to download critical patches upon release by vendors.




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