ALIASES:

Worm:Win32/Mywife.C@mm (Microsoft); W32/MyWife.c@MM (McAfee); W32.Blackmal.C@mm (Symantec); PAK:UPX, Email-Worm.Win32.Nyxem.d, Email-Worm.Win32.Nyxem.d (Kaspersky); Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt); Backdoor.VB.Agent.CJ (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: 72,874 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 17 May 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%\VOLUME

(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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
EXPLORER.EXE = "%Windows%\VOLUME\EXPLORER.EXE"

Other System Modifications

This worm deletes the following files:

  • %System Root%\vcredist_x86.exe

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)

It adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Nico Mak Computing\
WinZip\caution

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Nico Mak Computing\
WinZip\WinIni

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
MediaPlayer\Control\PlayBar

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
MediaPlayer\Control\DisplayPanel

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
MediaPlayer\Control\StatusBar

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Nico Mak Computing\
WinZip\caution
NoBetaMessage = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Nico Mak Computing\
WinZip\WinIni
Name = "BlackWorm"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Nico Mak Computing\
WinZip\WinIni
SN = "2AD00ED6"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup
Security = "%System%\winhelpm.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows Media\WMSDK\General
UniqueID = "{2EA64896-F468-4130-B187-0BEE67E29252}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows Media\WMSDK\General
ComputerName = "BRIAN-7E01BAA8"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows Media\WMSDK\General
VolumeSerialNumber = "fbdff95"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
MediaPlayer\Control\PlayBar
ClrShadow = "888"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
MediaPlayer\Control\PlayBar
ClrHighlight = "ffffff"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
MediaPlayer\Control\PlayBar
ClrForeColor = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
MediaPlayer\Control\PlayBar
ClrBackColor = "c8dd4"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
MediaPlayer\Control\PlayBar
ClrDownload = "ffffff"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
MediaPlayer\Control\PlayBar
ClrViewed = "ffffff"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
MediaPlayer\Control\PlayBar
ClrStatic = "888"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
MediaPlayer\Control\DisplayPanel
ClrBackColor = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
MediaPlayer\Control\DisplayPanel
ClrShadow = "888"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
MediaPlayer\Control\DisplayPanel
ClrHighlight = "ffffff"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
MediaPlayer\Control\DisplayPanel
ClrForeColor = "ffffff"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
MediaPlayer\Control\StatusBar
ClrBackColor = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
MediaPlayer\Control\StatusBar
ClrForeColor = "ffffff"

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\TlntSvr
Start = "2"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 4.)

Dropping Routine

This worm drops the following files:

  • %System%\About_BlackWorm.C.txt

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.)

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 key

[ 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\Nico Mak Computing\WinZip
    • caution
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Nico Mak Computing\WinZip
    • WinIni
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Control
    • PlayBar
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Control
    • DisplayPanel
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Control
    • StatusBar

Step 4

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
    • EXPLORER.EXE = "%Windows%\VOLUME\EXPLORER.EXE"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Nico Mak Computing\WinZip\caution
    • NoBetaMessage = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Nico Mak Computing\WinZip\WinIni
    • Name = "BlackWorm"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Nico Mak Computing\WinZip\WinIni
    • SN = "2AD00ED6"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup
    • Security = "%System%\winhelpm.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Media\WMSDK\General
    • UniqueID = "{2EA64896-F468-4130-B187-0BEE67E29252}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Media\WMSDK\General
    • ComputerName = "BRIAN-7E01BAA8"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Media\WMSDK\General
    • VolumeSerialNumber = "fbdff95"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Control\PlayBar
    • ClrShadow = "888"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Control\PlayBar
    • ClrHighlight = "ffffff"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Control\PlayBar
    • ClrForeColor = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Control\PlayBar
    • ClrBackColor = "c8dd4"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Control\PlayBar
    • ClrDownload = "ffffff"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Control\PlayBar
    • ClrViewed = "ffffff"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Control\PlayBar
    • ClrStatic = "888"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Control\DisplayPanel
    • ClrBackColor = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Control\DisplayPanel
    • ClrShadow = "888"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Control\DisplayPanel
    • ClrHighlight = "ffffff"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Control\DisplayPanel
    • ClrForeColor = "ffffff"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Control\StatusBar
    • ClrBackColor = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Control\StatusBar
    • ClrForeColor = "ffffff"

Step 5

Restore this modified 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\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\TlntSvr
    • From: Start = "2"
      To: Start = ""4""

Step 6

Search and delete this file

[ Learn More ]
There may be some component 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.
  • %System%\About_BlackWorm.C.txt

Step 7

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%\VOLUME

Step 8

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as WORM_NYXEM.AC. 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 9

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.

  • %System Root%\vcredist_x86.exe


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