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

Graveyard-479 is a memory resident, file infecting virus. It infects .COM files, including COMMAND.COM.

Upon infection, the Graveyard-479 virus becomes memory resident at the top of system memory but below the 640K DOS boundary. Interrupt 12's return is moved. This virus directly hooks interrupt 21, though mapping files do not show the virus having hooked this interrupt.

Once the Graveyard-479 virus is memory resident, it infects .COM files as they are executed.

It is not known what Graveyard-479 does besides replicate.

Additional Comments:
The Graveyard-479 virus was received from Norway in July, 1993. It is a memory resident infector of .COM programs, including COMMAND.COM. When the first Graveyard-479 infected program is executed, the Graveyard-479 virus will install itself memory resident at the top of system memory but below the 640K DOS boundary, moving interrupt 12's return. Total system and available free memory, as indicated by the DOS CHKDSK program, will have decreased by 1,024 bytes. This virus directly hooks interrupt 21, though mapping programs will not show the virus having hooked this interrupt. Once the Graveyard-479 virus is memory resident, it will infect .COM programs, including COMMAND.COM, when they are executed. Infected programs will have a file length increase of 479 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 encrypted within the Graveyard-479 viral code: "Graveyard!" "TCP1/X" It is unknown what Graveyard-479 may do besides replicate.

Symptoms

The following text strings are encrypted within the Graveyard-479 viral code:

"Graveyard!"
"TCP1/X"

Total system and available free memory decreases by 1,024 bytes. Infected files have a file length increase of 479 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 -

Graveyard-479 is a memory resident, file infecting virus. It infects .COM files, including COMMAND.COM.

Upon infection, the Graveyard-479 virus becomes memory resident at the top of system memory but below the 640K DOS boundary. Interrupt 12's return is moved. This virus directly hooks interrupt 21, though mapping files do not show the virus having hooked this interrupt.

Once the Graveyard-479 virus is memory resident, it infects .COM files as they are executed.

It is not known what Graveyard-479 does besides replicate.

Additional Comments:
The Graveyard-479 virus was received from Norway in July, 1993. It is a memory resident infector of .COM programs, including COMMAND.COM. When the first Graveyard-479 infected program is executed, the Graveyard-479 virus will install itself memory resident at the top of system memory but below the 640K DOS boundary, moving interrupt 12's return. Total system and available free memory, as indicated by the DOS CHKDSK program, will have decreased by 1,024 bytes. This virus directly hooks interrupt 21, though mapping programs will not show the virus having hooked this interrupt. Once the Graveyard-479 virus is memory resident, it will infect .COM programs, including COMMAND.COM, when they are executed. Infected programs will have a file length increase of 479 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 encrypted within the Graveyard-479 viral code: "Graveyard!" "TCP1/X" It is unknown what Graveyard-479 may do besides replicate.

Symptoms

Symptoms -

The following text strings are encrypted within the Graveyard-479 viral code:

"Graveyard!"
"TCP1/X"

Total system and available free memory decreases by 1,024 bytes. Infected files have a file length increase of 479 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