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

• Abraxas-1171

• Abraxas.1171

Characteristics

Abraxas.1171 is an overwriting, file infecting virus. It does not become memory resident. It virus infects .COM and .EXE files, although it does not infect COMMAND.COM.

Each time an infected file is executed, this virus infects the copy of DOSSHELL.COM located in the C:\DOS directory (creating the file if it doesn't exist), as well as one .EXE file in the current directory. Due to a bug in the virus, only the first .EXE file in any directory is infected by the Abraxas.1171 virus.

Additional Comments:
The Abraxas 5 virus was submitted in April, 1993. Its origin is unknown. Abraxas 5 is a non-resident, direct action overwriting virus which infects .COM and .EXE programs, but not COMMAND.COM. When a program infected with the Abraxas 5 virus is executed, this virus infect the copy of DOSSHELL.COM located in the C:\DOS directory (creating the file if it doesn't exist), as well as one .EXE program located in the current directory. Due to a bug in the virus, only the first .EXE program in any directory will be infected by the Abraxas 5 virus. Programs infected with the Abraxas 5 virus will become 1,171 bytes in length, and will contain the Abraxas 5 viral code. The file's date and time in the DOS disk directory listing will be set to the system date and time when infection occurred. The following text strings can be found within the viral code in all Abraxas 5 infected programs: "*.exe c:\dos\dosshell.com .. MS-DOS (c)1992" "->>ABRAXAS-5<<--" "...For he is not of this day" "...Nor he of this mind" Execution of programs infected with the Abraxas 5 virus will also result in the display of a graphic "ABRAXAS" on the system display, accompanied by an ascending scale being played on the system speaker. Known variant(s) of Abraxas 5 are:

Symptoms

The file's date and time in the DOS disk directory listing is updated to the date and time of infection. The following text strings are found within the viral code in all Abraxas.1171 infected files:

"*.exe c:\dos\dosshell.com ..MS-DOS (c)1992"
"->>ABRAXAS-5<<--"
"...For he is not of this day"
"...Nor he of this mind"

Execution of files infected with the Abraxas.1171 virus results in the display of a graphic "ABRAXAS" on the system display, accompanied by an ascending scale being played on the system speaker.

Files infected with the Abraxas.1171 virus increase in length by 1,171 bytes.

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.

Aliases

• Abraxas-1171

• Abraxas.1171

Characteristics

Characteristics -

Abraxas.1171 is an overwriting, file infecting virus. It does not become memory resident. It virus infects .COM and .EXE files, although it does not infect COMMAND.COM.

Each time an infected file is executed, this virus infects the copy of DOSSHELL.COM located in the C:\DOS directory (creating the file if it doesn't exist), as well as one .EXE file in the current directory. Due to a bug in the virus, only the first .EXE file in any directory is infected by the Abraxas.1171 virus.

Additional Comments:
The Abraxas 5 virus was submitted in April, 1993. Its origin is unknown. Abraxas 5 is a non-resident, direct action overwriting virus which infects .COM and .EXE programs, but not COMMAND.COM. When a program infected with the Abraxas 5 virus is executed, this virus infect the copy of DOSSHELL.COM located in the C:\DOS directory (creating the file if it doesn't exist), as well as one .EXE program located in the current directory. Due to a bug in the virus, only the first .EXE program in any directory will be infected by the Abraxas 5 virus. Programs infected with the Abraxas 5 virus will become 1,171 bytes in length, and will contain the Abraxas 5 viral code. The file's date and time in the DOS disk directory listing will be set to the system date and time when infection occurred. The following text strings can be found within the viral code in all Abraxas 5 infected programs: "*.exe c:\dos\dosshell.com .. MS-DOS (c)1992" "->>ABRAXAS-5<<--" "...For he is not of this day" "...Nor he of this mind" Execution of programs infected with the Abraxas 5 virus will also result in the display of a graphic "ABRAXAS" on the system display, accompanied by an ascending scale being played on the system speaker. Known variant(s) of Abraxas 5 are:

Symptoms

Symptoms -

The file's date and time in the DOS disk directory listing is updated to the date and time of infection. The following text strings are found within the viral code in all Abraxas.1171 infected files:

"*.exe c:\dos\dosshell.com ..MS-DOS (c)1992"
"->>ABRAXAS-5<<--"
"...For he is not of this day"
"...Nor he of this mind"

Execution of files infected with the Abraxas.1171 virus results in the display of a graphic "ABRAXAS" on the system display, accompanied by an ascending scale being played on the system speaker.

Files infected with the Abraxas.1171 virus increase in length by 1,171 bytes.

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