Analysis by: Michael Cabel
 PLATFORM:

Windows 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Propagates via removable drives

This worm drops copies of itself in all removable drives. It drops an AUTORUN.INF file to automatically execute the copies it drops when a user accesses the drives of an affected system.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 460,296 bytes
File Type: PE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 02 Aug 2010
Payload: Drops files

Installation

This worm drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %System%\HPWuSchd8.exe

(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.)

It drops the following component file(s):

  • %Application Data%\SystemProc\lsass.exe - detected as WORM_PROLACO.D
  • %Program Files%\Mozilla Firefox\extensions\{9CE11043-9A15-4207-A565-0C94C42D590D}\chrome\content\timer.xul - JS_DURSG.H

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.)

It drops the following non-malicious files:

  • %Program Files%\Mozilla Firefox\extensions\{9CE11043-9A15-4207-A565-0C94C42D590D}\install.rdf
  • %Program Files%\Mozilla Firefox\extensions\{9CE11043-9A15-4207-A565-0C94C42D590D}\chrome.manifest

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.)

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
HP Software Updater8 = %System%\HPWuSchd8.exe

Other System Modifications

This worm adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
havlett8 = 12

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
fucktard8 = 22

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
system
EnableLUA = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\ERSvc
DeleteFlag = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\wscsvc
DeleteFlag = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\ERSvc
FailureActions = {HEX Values}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\wscsvc
FailureActions = {HEX Values}

It modifies the following registry key(s)/entry(ies) as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\ERSvc
Start = 4

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 2.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\wscsvc
Start = 4

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 2.)

It adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\HP8
=

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\HP8
=

It creates the following registry entry(ies) to bypass Windows Firewall:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\
List
%System%\\HPWuSchd8.exe = %System%\HPWuSchd8.exe:*:Enabled:Explorer

Propagation

This worm drops copies of itself in all removable drives.

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:

[autorun]
open=RECYCLER\S-1-6-21-2434476521-1645641927-702000330-1542\redmond.exe
icon=%System Root%\system32\SHELL32.dll,4
action=Open folder to view files
shell\open=Open
shell\open\command=RECYCLER\S-1-6-21-2434476521-1645641927-702000330-1542\redmond.exe
shell\open\default=1

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

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 8.900
VSAPI PATTERN File: 7.358.01
VSAPI PATTERN Date: 02 Aug 2010
VSAPI PATTERN Date: 8/2/2010 12:00:00 AM

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

Remove malware files dropped/downloaded by WORM_PROLACO.AZ

    WORM_PROLACO.D
    JS_DURSG.H

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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\Explorer
    • havlett8 = 12
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
    • fucktard8 = 22
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • HP Software Updater8 = %System%\HPWuSchd8.exe
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
    • EnableLUA = 0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ERSvc
    • DeleteFlag = 1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List
    • %System%\HPWuSchd8.exe = %System%\HPWuSchd8.exe:*:Enabled:Explorer
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wscsvc
    • DeleteFlag = 1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ERSvc
    • FailureActions = {HEX Values}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wscsvc
    • FailureActions = {HEX Values}

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\CurrentControlSet\Services\ERSvc
    • From: Start = 4
      To: 2
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wscsvc
    • From: Start = 4
      To: 2

Step 6

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
    • HP8
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • HP8

Step 7

Search and delete these files

[ 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. %Program Files%\Mozilla Firefox\extensions\{9CE11043-9A15-4207-A565-0C94C42D590D}\install.rdf
%Program Files%\Mozilla Firefox\extensions\{9CE11043-9A15-4207-A565-0C94C42D590D}\chrome.manifest

Step 8

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as WORM_PROLACO.AZ. 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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