Content

W32/Netsky.f@MM

Type
Virus
SubType
E-mail worm
Discovery Date
03/03/2004
Length
18,432 (PE Pack)
Minimum DAT
4328 (02/25/2004)
Updated DAT
4994 (03/28/2007)
Minimum Engine
5.1.00
Description Added
03/03/2004
Description Modified
03/04/2004 9:06 AM (PT)
Risk Assessment
Corporate User
Low
Home User
Low

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Characteristics

A new variant of W32/Netsky@MM has been received which is detected and repaired as W32/Netsky.c@MM with the 4328 DATs and higher (with scanning of compressed files enabled).

This virus spreads via email. It sends itself to addresses found on the victim's machine.  The virus also attempts to deactivate the folloing viruses:

  • W32/Mydoom.a@MM
  • W32/Mydoom.b@MM
  • W32/Bagle.c@MM
  • W32/Bagle.e@MM
  • W32/Bagle.f@MM
  • W32/Bagle.g@MM
  • W32/Bagle.h@MM
  • W32/Bagle.i@MM

Mail propagation
The virus may be received in an email message as follows:

From: (forged address taken from infected system)

Subject: 

  • Re: Your website
  • Re: Your product
  • Re: Your letter
  • Re: Your archive
  • Re: Your text
  • Re: Your bill
  • Re: Your details
  • Re: My details
  • Re: Word file
  • Re: Excel file
  • Re: Details
  • Re: Approved
  • Re: Your software
  • Re: Your music
  • Re: Here
  • Re: Re: Re: Your document
  • Re: Hello
  • Re: Hi
  • Re: Re: Message
  • Re: Your picture
  • Re: Here is the document
  • Re: Your document
  • Re: Thanks!
  • Re: Re: Thanks!
  • Re: Re: Document
  • Re: Document

Body:

  • Your file is attached
  • Please read the attached file
  • Please have a look at the attached
  • See the attached file for details
  • Here is the file
  • Your document is attached.

Attachment:

  • your_website.pif
  • your_product.pif
  • your_letter.pif
  • your_archive.pif
  • your_text.pif
  • your_bill.pif
  • your_details.pif
  • document_word.pif
  • document_excel.pif
  • my_details.pif
  • all_document.pif
  • application.pif
  • mp3music.pif
  • yours.pif
  • document_4351.pif
  • your_file.pif
  • message_details.pif
  • your_picture.pif
  • document_full.pif
  • message_part2.pif
  • document.pif
  • your_document.pif

Note: initial investigation indicates that the worm may email itself either as a binary or as a binary within a ZIP file. This will be updated when analysis is complete.

The mailing component harvests address from the local system.  Files with the following extensions are targeted:

  • .adb
  • html
  • .asp
  • .cgi
  • .dbx
  • .dhtm
  • .doc
  • .eml
  • .htm
  • .oft
  • .php
  • .pl
  • .rtf
  • .sht
  • .shtm
  • .msg
  • .tbb
  • .txt
  • .uin
  • .vbs
  • .wab

  • It does not send itself to addresses that contain one of the following strings:

    • abuse
    • fbi
    • orton
    • f-pro
    • aspersky
    • cafee
    • orman
    • itdefender
    • f-secur
    • avp
    • skynet
    • spam
    • messagelabs
    • ymantec
    • antivi
    • icrosoft
    • iruslis
    • antivir
    • sophos
    • freeav
    • andasoftwa

    The virus sends itself via SMTP - constructing messages using its own SMTP engine. It queries the DNS server for the MX record and connects directly to the MTA of the targeted domain and sends the message.

    System changes
    The worm copies itself into %WinDir% (eg. C:\WINDOWS) folder using the filename SVCHOST.EXE.

    • C:\WINNT\Svchost.exe (18,432 bytes)

    Note: A valid file exists in the %Sysdir% directory.

    A Registry key is created to load the worm at system start.

    •  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run
      "Zone Labs Client Ex" = %WinDir%\Svchost.exe - antivirus service

    Virus removal
    The virus removes various Registry values.  Some of these are associated with other viruses, trojans, and applications.

    The following registry key values are deleted:

    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "au.exe"
    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "d3dupdate.exe"
    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "Explorer"
    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "KasperskyAv"
    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "OLE"
    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "Taskmon"
    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "rate.exe"
    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "sysmon.exe"
    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "gouday.exe"
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "DELETE ME"
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "Explorer"
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "KasperskyAv"
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "msgsvr32"
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "Sentry"
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "service"
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "system."
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "Taskmon"
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\RunServices "system."
    • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{E6FB5E20-DE35-11CF-9C87-00AA005127ED}\InProcServer32

    • Symptoms

  • Existence of files and registry keys as mentioned above
  • Unexpected network traffic
  • Outgoing DNS queries to one of the following hard-coded IP addresses:
    • 145.253.2.171
    • 151.189.13.35
    • 193.141.40.42
    • 193.193.144.12
    • 193.193.158.10
    • 194.25.2.129
    • 194.25.2.130
    • 194.25.2.131
    • 194.25.2.132
    • 194.25.2.133
    • 194.25.2.134
    • 195.185.185.195
    • 195.20.224.234
    • 212.185.252.136
    • 212.185.252.73
    • 212.185.253.70
    • 212.44.160.8
    • 212.7.128.162
    • 212.7.128.165
    • 213.191.74.19
    • 217.5.97.137
    • 62.155.255.16

    • Method of Infection

    This worm spreads by email, constructing messages using its own SMTP engine

    Removal

    All Users:
    Use current engine and DAT files for detection and removal.

    Modifications made to the system Registry and/or INI files for the purposes of hooking system startup, will be successfully removed if cleaning with the recommended engine and DAT combination (or higher).

    Additional Windows ME/XP removal considerations

    Variants

    Variants

      N/A

    All Information

    Overview -

    This is a virus detection. Viruses are programs that self-replicate recursively, meaning that infected systems spread the virus to other systems, which then propagate the virus further. While many viruses contain a destructive payload, it's quite common for viruses to do nothing more than spread from one system to another.

    Aliases

    • NetSky.f (F-Secure)
    • W32.Netsky.f@MM (NAV)

    Characteristics

    Characteristics -

    A new variant of W32/Netsky@MM has been received which is detected and repaired as W32/Netsky.c@MM with the 4328 DATs and higher (with scanning of compressed files enabled).

    This virus spreads via email. It sends itself to addresses found on the victim's machine.  The virus also attempts to deactivate the folloing viruses:

    • W32/Mydoom.a@MM
    • W32/Mydoom.b@MM
    • W32/Bagle.c@MM
    • W32/Bagle.e@MM
    • W32/Bagle.f@MM
    • W32/Bagle.g@MM
    • W32/Bagle.h@MM
    • W32/Bagle.i@MM

    Mail propagation
    The virus may be received in an email message as follows:

    From: (forged address taken from infected system)

    Subject: 

    • Re: Your website
    • Re: Your product
    • Re: Your letter
    • Re: Your archive
    • Re: Your text
    • Re: Your bill
    • Re: Your details
    • Re: My details
    • Re: Word file
    • Re: Excel file
    • Re: Details
    • Re: Approved
    • Re: Your software
    • Re: Your music
    • Re: Here
    • Re: Re: Re: Your document
    • Re: Hello
    • Re: Hi
    • Re: Re: Message
    • Re: Your picture
    • Re: Here is the document
    • Re: Your document
    • Re: Thanks!
    • Re: Re: Thanks!
    • Re: Re: Document
    • Re: Document

    Body:

    • Your file is attached
    • Please read the attached file
    • Please have a look at the attached
    • See the attached file for details
    • Here is the file
    • Your document is attached.

    Attachment:

    • your_website.pif
    • your_product.pif
    • your_letter.pif
    • your_archive.pif
    • your_text.pif
    • your_bill.pif
    • your_details.pif
    • document_word.pif
    • document_excel.pif
    • my_details.pif
    • all_document.pif
    • application.pif
    • mp3music.pif
    • yours.pif
    • document_4351.pif
    • your_file.pif
    • message_details.pif
    • your_picture.pif
    • document_full.pif
    • message_part2.pif
    • document.pif
    • your_document.pif

    Note: initial investigation indicates that the worm may email itself either as a binary or as a binary within a ZIP file. This will be updated when analysis is complete.

    The mailing component harvests address from the local system.  Files with the following extensions are targeted:

    • .adb
    • html
    • .asp
    • .cgi
    • .dbx
    • .dhtm
    • .doc
    • .eml
    • .htm
    • .oft
    • .php
    • .pl
    • .rtf
    • .sht
    • .shtm
    • .msg
    • .tbb
    • .txt
    • .uin
    • .vbs
    • .wab

  • It does not send itself to addresses that contain one of the following strings:

    • abuse
    • fbi
    • orton
    • f-pro
    • aspersky
    • cafee
    • orman
    • itdefender
    • f-secur
    • avp
    • skynet
    • spam
    • messagelabs
    • ymantec
    • antivi
    • icrosoft
    • iruslis
    • antivir
    • sophos
    • freeav
    • andasoftwa

    The virus sends itself via SMTP - constructing messages using its own SMTP engine. It queries the DNS server for the MX record and connects directly to the MTA of the targeted domain and sends the message.

    System changes
    The worm copies itself into %WinDir% (eg. C:\WINDOWS) folder using the filename SVCHOST.EXE.

    • C:\WINNT\Svchost.exe (18,432 bytes)

    Note: A valid file exists in the %Sysdir% directory.

    A Registry key is created to load the worm at system start.

    •  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run
      "Zone Labs Client Ex" = %WinDir%\Svchost.exe - antivirus service

    Virus removal
    The virus removes various Registry values.  Some of these are associated with other viruses, trojans, and applications.

    The following registry key values are deleted:

    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "au.exe"
    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "d3dupdate.exe"
    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "Explorer"
    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "KasperskyAv"
    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "OLE"
    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "Taskmon"
    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "rate.exe"
    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "sysmon.exe"
    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "gouday.exe"
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "DELETE ME"
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "Explorer"
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "KasperskyAv"
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "msgsvr32"
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "Sentry"
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "service"
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "system."
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\Run "Taskmon"
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\RunServices "system."
    • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{E6FB5E20-DE35-11CF-9C87-00AA005127ED}\InProcServer32

    • Symptoms

    Symptoms -

  • Existence of files and registry keys as mentioned above
  • Unexpected network traffic
  • Outgoing DNS queries to one of the following hard-coded IP addresses:
    • 145.253.2.171
    • 151.189.13.35
    • 193.141.40.42
    • 193.193.144.12
    • 193.193.158.10
    • 194.25.2.129
    • 194.25.2.130
    • 194.25.2.131
    • 194.25.2.132
    • 194.25.2.133
    • 194.25.2.134
    • 195.185.185.195
    • 195.20.224.234
    • 212.185.252.136
    • 212.185.252.73
    • 212.185.253.70
    • 212.44.160.8
    • 212.7.128.162
    • 212.7.128.165
    • 213.191.74.19
    • 217.5.97.137
    • 62.155.255.16

    • Method of Infection

    Method of Infection -

    This worm spreads by email, constructing messages using its own SMTP engine

    Removal -

    Removal -

    All Users:
    Use current engine and DAT files for detection and removal.

    Modifications made to the system Registry and/or INI files for the purposes of hooking system startup, will be successfully removed if cleaning with the recommended engine and DAT combination (or higher).

    Additional Windows ME/XP removal considerations

    Variants

    Variants -

      N/A