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.

Characteristics

Dodo 2456 is a memory resident, file infecting virus. It infects .COM files, including COMMAND.COM.

Upon infection, the Dodo virus infects the copy of COMMAND.COM located in the C: drive root directory. The Dodo 2456 virus becomes memory resident as a low system memory Terminate-and-Stay Resident (TSR) of 2.4K, but in the process of it becoming memory resident, it actually ends up keeping slightly over 100K of memory. Interrupt 21 is hooked by Dodo 2456 in memory.

Once the Dodo 2456 virus is memory resident, it infects .COM files as they are executed.

It is not known what Dodo 2456 does besides replicate.

Additional Comments:
The Dodo-2456 virus was isolated in The Netherlands in June, 1993. It is a memory resident infector of .COM programs, including COMMAND.COM. It is not released to the DoDo or Birdie virus. When the first Dodo 2456 infected program is executed, the Dodo virus will check the copy of COMMAND.COM located in the C: drive root directory. If this copy of COMMAND.COM has not been previously infected by the virus, the virus will infect it at this time. If COMMAND.COM is already infected, the virus will become memory resident. The Dodo 2456 virus installs itself memory resident as a low system memory TSR of 2.4K, but in the process of it becoming memory resident, it will actually end up keeping slightly over 100K of memory. Interrupt 21 will be hooked by Dodo2456 in memory. Once the Dodo 2456 virus is memory resident, it will infect .COM programs when they are executed. Infected programs will have a file length increase of 2,456 bytes with the virus being located at the end of the file. The program's date and time in the DOS disk directory listing will not be altered. The following text strings are visible within the viral code in all Dodo 2456 infected programs: "DODO" "c:\command.com" "Today we commemorate the DODO." "The bird who has become the victim of human civilization !!!!!" "A:\ EST POC" "command com" Besides being contained within the viral code, the text string "DODO" can be found starting in the fourth byte of all infected programs. It is unknown what Dodo 2456 does besides replicate.

Symptoms

The following text strings are visible within the viral code in all Dodo 2456 infected files:

"DODO"
"c:\command.com"
"Today we commemorate the DODO."
"The bird who has become the victim of human civilization !!!!!"
"A:\ EST POC"
"command com"

Besides being contained within the viral code, the text string "DODO" is found starting in the fourth byte of all infected files.

Infected files have a file length increase of 2,456 bytes. The virus is located at the end of the file. The file's date and time in the DOS disk directory listing are not altered.

Method of Infection

The only way to infect a computer with a file infecting virus is to execute an infected file on the computer. The infected file may come from a multitude of sources including: floppy diskettes, downloads through an online service, network, etc. Once the infected file is executed, the virus may activate.

Removal

All Users :
Script,Batch,Macro and non memory-resident:
Use current engine and DAT files for detection and removal.

PE,Trojan,Internet Worm and memory resident :
Use specified engine and DAT files for detection. To remove, boot to MS-DOS mode or use a boot diskette and use the command line scanner:

Additional Windows ME/XP removal considerations

Users should not trust file icons, particularly when receiving files from others via P2P clients, IRC, email or other mediums where users can share files.

AVERT Recommended Updates :

* Office2000 Updates

* Malformed Word Document Could Enable Macro to Run Automatically (Information/Patch )

* scriptlet.typelib/Eyedog vulnerability patch

* Outlook as an email attachment security update

* Exchange 5.5 post SP3 Information Store Patch 5.5.2652.42 - this patch corrects detection issues with GroupShield

For a list of attachments blocked by the Outlook patch and a general FAQ, visit this link .
Additionally, Network Administrators can configure this update using an available tool - visit this link for more information .

It is very common for macro viruses to disable options within Office applications for example in Word, the macro protection warning commonly is disabled. After cleaning macro viruses, ensure that your previously set options are again enabled.

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.

Characteristics

Characteristics -

Dodo 2456 is a memory resident, file infecting virus. It infects .COM files, including COMMAND.COM.

Upon infection, the Dodo virus infects the copy of COMMAND.COM located in the C: drive root directory. The Dodo 2456 virus becomes memory resident as a low system memory Terminate-and-Stay Resident (TSR) of 2.4K, but in the process of it becoming memory resident, it actually ends up keeping slightly over 100K of memory. Interrupt 21 is hooked by Dodo 2456 in memory.

Once the Dodo 2456 virus is memory resident, it infects .COM files as they are executed.

It is not known what Dodo 2456 does besides replicate.

Additional Comments:
The Dodo-2456 virus was isolated in The Netherlands in June, 1993. It is a memory resident infector of .COM programs, including COMMAND.COM. It is not released to the DoDo or Birdie virus. When the first Dodo 2456 infected program is executed, the Dodo virus will check the copy of COMMAND.COM located in the C: drive root directory. If this copy of COMMAND.COM has not been previously infected by the virus, the virus will infect it at this time. If COMMAND.COM is already infected, the virus will become memory resident. The Dodo 2456 virus installs itself memory resident as a low system memory TSR of 2.4K, but in the process of it becoming memory resident, it will actually end up keeping slightly over 100K of memory. Interrupt 21 will be hooked by Dodo2456 in memory. Once the Dodo 2456 virus is memory resident, it will infect .COM programs when they are executed. Infected programs will have a file length increase of 2,456 bytes with the virus being located at the end of the file. The program's date and time in the DOS disk directory listing will not be altered. The following text strings are visible within the viral code in all Dodo 2456 infected programs: "DODO" "c:\command.com" "Today we commemorate the DODO." "The bird who has become the victim of human civilization !!!!!" "A:\ EST POC" "command com" Besides being contained within the viral code, the text string "DODO" can be found starting in the fourth byte of all infected programs. It is unknown what Dodo 2456 does besides replicate.

Symptoms

Symptoms -

The following text strings are visible within the viral code in all Dodo 2456 infected files:

"DODO"
"c:\command.com"
"Today we commemorate the DODO."
"The bird who has become the victim of human civilization !!!!!"
"A:\ EST POC"
"command com"

Besides being contained within the viral code, the text string "DODO" is found starting in the fourth byte of all infected files.

Infected files have a file length increase of 2,456 bytes. The virus is located at the end of the file. The file's date and time in the DOS disk directory listing are not altered.

Method of Infection

Method of Infection -

The only way to infect a computer with a file infecting virus is to execute an infected file on the computer. The infected file may come from a multitude of sources including: floppy diskettes, downloads through an online service, network, etc. Once the infected file is executed, the virus may activate.

Removal -

Removal -

All Users :
Script,Batch,Macro and non memory-resident:
Use current engine and DAT files for detection and removal.

PE,Trojan,Internet Worm and memory resident :
Use specified engine and DAT files for detection. To remove, boot to MS-DOS mode or use a boot diskette and use the command line scanner:

Additional Windows ME/XP removal considerations

Users should not trust file icons, particularly when receiving files from others via P2P clients, IRC, email or other mediums where users can share files.

AVERT Recommended Updates :

* Office2000 Updates

* Malformed Word Document Could Enable Macro to Run Automatically (Information/Patch )

* scriptlet.typelib/Eyedog vulnerability patch

* Outlook as an email attachment security update

* Exchange 5.5 post SP3 Information Store Patch 5.5.2652.42 - this patch corrects detection issues with GroupShield

For a list of attachments blocked by the Outlook patch and a general FAQ, visit this link .
Additionally, Network Administrators can configure this update using an available tool - visit this link for more information .

It is very common for macro viruses to disable options within Office applications for example in Word, the macro protection warning commonly is disabled. After cleaning macro viruses, ensure that your previously set options are again enabled.

Variants

Variants -

N/A