McAfee > Theat Center > Virus Detail Page

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

• W32.Netsky.K@mm (Symantec)

• W32/Netsky-J (Sophos)

• W32/Netsky.J.worm (Panda)

• W32/Netsky.J@mm (F-Secure)

• WORM_NETSKY.J (Trend)

Characteristics

-- Update August 16th, 2004 --
The risk assessment of this threat has been lowered to Low-Profiled due to decreased prevalence.
--

-- Update March 8, 2004 1:40pm PDT --
The risk assessment of this threat was raised due to an increase in prevalence.

This is a repackaged version of W32/Netsky.d@MM .

This virus spreads via email. It sends itself to addresses found on the victim's machine.  The virus also attempts to deactivate the W32/Mydoom.a@MM and W32/Mydoom.b@MM viruses.

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

From: (forged address taken from infected system)
Subject: Taken from the following list:

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

Body: Taken from the following list:

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

Attachment: filename taken from strings within worm, with a .PIF extension:

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

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

• .adb
• .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

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 WINLOGON.EXE.

• C:\WINNT\WINLOGON.EXE (22,016 bytes)

Note: A valid file exists in the Windows System directory.

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

•  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
  CurrentVersion\Run
  "ICQ Net" = %WinDir%\WINLOGON.EXE -stealth

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_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

Method of Infection

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

Removal

All Users :
Use specified engine and DAT files (or later) 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

Manual Removal Instructions
To remove this virus "by hand", follow these steps:

1. Reboot the system into Safe Mode (hit the F8 key as soon as the Starting Windows text is displayed, choose Safe Mode.
2. Delete the file WINLOGON.EXE  from your WINDOWS directory (typically c:\windows or c:\winnt)
   NOTE: Do not delete the file WINLOGON.EXE from the WINDOWS SYSTEM directory as that is a valid Windows system file.
3. Edit the registry
   • Delete the "ICQ Net" value from
     • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
       Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
     • HKEY_CURRENT_USERS\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
       Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
4. Reboot the system into Default Mode

Stinger
Stinger has been updated to assist in detecting and repairing this threat.

Sniffer Technologies
Sniffer Filters have been developed to filter DNS traffic sent by Netsky.d.   Sniffer Filters are available for Sniffer Distributed 4.1/4.2/4.3, Sniffer Portable 4.7/4.7.5, and Netasyst network analyzer. The filters for Netsky.c apply for Netsky.j as well.

W32_Netsky.c@mm Sniffer Filters.zip

McAfee Threatscan
Detection of the W32/Netsky.j@MM virus is available in the generic Netsky detection module.

ThreatScan signatures that can detect the W32/Netsky.j@MM virus are available from:

• Threatscan 2.5 - ftp.nai.com/pub/security/tsc25/updates/winnt ftp.nai.com/pub/security/tsc25/updates/winnt
• Threatscan 2.0/2.1 - ftp.nai.com/pub/security/tsc20/updates/winnt

ThreatScan Signature version:  2004-03-01

ThreatScan users can detect the virus by running a ThreatScan task using the following settings:

• Select the "Remote Infection Detection" category and "Windows Virus Checks" template.

-or- 

• Select the "Other" category and "Scan All Vulnerabilities" template.

For additional information:
Run the "ThreatScan Template Report"
Look for module number #4066

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

• W32.Netsky.K@mm (Symantec)

• W32/Netsky-J (Sophos)

• W32/Netsky.J.worm (Panda)

• W32/Netsky.J@mm (F-Secure)

• WORM_NETSKY.J (Trend)

Characteristics

Characteristics -

-- Update August 16th, 2004 --
The risk assessment of this threat has been lowered to Low-Profiled due to decreased prevalence.
--

-- Update March 8, 2004 1:40pm PDT --
The risk assessment of this threat was raised due to an increase in prevalence.

This is a repackaged version of W32/Netsky.d@MM .

This virus spreads via email. It sends itself to addresses found on the victim's machine.  The virus also attempts to deactivate the W32/Mydoom.a@MM and W32/Mydoom.b@MM viruses.

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

From: (forged address taken from infected system)
Subject: Taken from the following list:

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

Body: Taken from the following list:

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

Attachment: filename taken from strings within worm, with a .PIF extension:

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

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

• .adb
• .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

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 WINLOGON.EXE.

• C:\WINNT\WINLOGON.EXE (22,016 bytes)

Note: A valid file exists in the Windows System directory.

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

•  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
  CurrentVersion\Run
  "ICQ Net" = %WinDir%\WINLOGON.EXE -stealth

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_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 -

Method of Infection

Method of Infection -

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

Removal -

Removal -

All Users :
Use specified engine and DAT files (or later) 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

Manual Removal Instructions
To remove this virus "by hand", follow these steps:

1. Reboot the system into Safe Mode (hit the F8 key as soon as the Starting Windows text is displayed, choose Safe Mode.
2. Delete the file WINLOGON.EXE  from your WINDOWS directory (typically c:\windows or c:\winnt)
   NOTE: Do not delete the file WINLOGON.EXE from the WINDOWS SYSTEM directory as that is a valid Windows system file.
3. Edit the registry
   • Delete the "ICQ Net" value from
     • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
       Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
     • HKEY_CURRENT_USERS\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
       Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
4. Reboot the system into Default Mode

Stinger
Stinger has been updated to assist in detecting and repairing this threat.

Sniffer Technologies
Sniffer Filters have been developed to filter DNS traffic sent by Netsky.d.   Sniffer Filters are available for Sniffer Distributed 4.1/4.2/4.3, Sniffer Portable 4.7/4.7.5, and Netasyst network analyzer. The filters for Netsky.c apply for Netsky.j as well.

W32_Netsky.c@mm Sniffer Filters.zip

McAfee Threatscan
Detection of the W32/Netsky.j@MM virus is available in the generic Netsky detection module.

ThreatScan signatures that can detect the W32/Netsky.j@MM virus are available from:

• Threatscan 2.5 - ftp.nai.com/pub/security/tsc25/updates/winnt ftp.nai.com/pub/security/tsc25/updates/winnt
• Threatscan 2.0/2.1 - ftp.nai.com/pub/security/tsc20/updates/winnt

ThreatScan Signature version:  2004-03-01

ThreatScan users can detect the virus by running a ThreatScan task using the following settings:

• Select the "Remote Infection Detection" category and "Windows Virus Checks" template.

-or- 

• Select the "Other" category and "Scan All Vulnerabilities" template.

For additional information:
Run the "ThreatScan Template Report"
Look for module number #4066

Variants

Variants -

N/A