Analysis by: Karl Dominguez
ALIASES:

Virus.MSOffice.Across (Kaspersky), W97M/Generic (McAfee), O97M.Across.A (Symantec), W97M/Across.A (Avira), OF97/Across-A (Sophos),

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: File infector

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Infects files

This is a Macro virus infecting Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel document files. It also infects the Microsoft Word global template Normal.dot so that created documents will also be infected. This macro virus will also execute when closing documents and workbooks.

It displays message boxes.

This file infector infects certain file types by inserting code in the said files.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: Varies
File Type: DOC
Memory Resident: No
Payload: Displays message/message boxes

Other System Modifications

This file infector modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Office\9.0\Word\
Security
Level = "1"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 3.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Office\8.0\Excel\
Microsoft Excel
Options6 = "0"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 8.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Office\9.0\Excel\
Security
Level = "1"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 3.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Office\8.0\Word\
Options
EnableMacroVirusProtection = "0"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

File Infection

This file infector infects files with the following file extensions by inserting code in the said files:

  • *.XLS
  • *.DOC

Other Details

This file infector displays the following message boxes:

Why I lost my angel? Can't live without you!
Cross.Angel by jackie-/Lz0NT/MVT

NOTES:
This is a Macro virus infecting Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel document files. It also infects the Microsoft Word global template Normal.dot so that created documents will also be infected. This macro virus will also execute when closing documents and workbooks.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 8.900

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

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Word\Security
    • Level = "1"
    • Level = "3"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Excel\Microsoft Excel
    • Options6 = "0"
    • Options6 = "8"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Excel\Security
    • Level = "1"
    • Level = "3"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\Options
    • EnableMacroVirusProtection = "0"
    • EnableMacroVirusProtection = "1"
 

Step 3

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to clean files detected as W97M_ACROSS.A. 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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