Backdoor.Sadmind

SUMMARY

Backdoor.Sadmind is a backdoor worm program that may affect systems that are running unpatched versions of Microsoft IIS or unpatched versions of Solaris.

If files on a desktop computer are detected as Backdoor.Sadmind.Dr, that does not mean that there is an infection. It means that you have visited a Website whose server has been compromised by Backdoor.Sadmind, which replicates only on Solaris systems. You should delete any files detected as Backdoor.Sadmind.Dr.



CERT/CC
CERT has issued an advisory regarding sadmind-IIS:
http://www.cert.org/advisories/CA-2001-11.html

Microsoft Corporation
The following documents regarding this vulnerability are available from Microsoft:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS01-023.asp

Sun Microsystems
Sun has issued the following bulletin for this vulnerability:
http://sunsolve.sun.com/pub-cgi/retrieve.pl?doctype=coll&doc=secbull/191&type=0&nav=sec.sba

NOTE: The patch closes the security hole on Solaris systems that Backdoor.Sadmind uses to infect a system. Left unpatched, other malicious programs could take advantage of the same vulnerability. The best way to close the vulnerable ports is to use the security patch.

Protection

• Initial Rapid Release version May 10, 2001
• Latest Rapid Release version August 20, 2008 revision 017
• Initial Daily Certified version May 10, 2001
• Latest Daily Certified version August 20, 2008 revision 016
• Initial Weekly Certified release date pending

Click here for a more detailed description of Rapid Release and Daily Certified virus definitions.

Threat Assessment

Wild

• Wild Level: Low
• Number of Infections: 0 - 49
• Number of Sites: 0 - 2
• Geographical Distribution: Low
• Threat Containment: Easy
• Removal: Easy

Damage

• Damage Level: Medium

Distribution

• Distribution Level: Medium

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Backdoor.Sadmind attempts to spread on systems that have unpatched versions of Solaris installed by using a buffer overflow exploit on a program named Sadmind. Backdoor.Sadmind uses TCP port 600 on the Solaris computer to listen. Two directories are created:

/dev/cub
/dev/cuc

These directories contain a list of compromised computers and the tools used by Backdoor.Sadmind. Several scripts will also be running on the Solaris computers such as sadmin.sh and uniattack.sh.

Backdoor.Sadmind also victimizes systems that have unpatched versions of Microsoft IIS. It replaces the default Web page file so that the Web server displays the new Web pages instead of the default pages. These pages contain profane remarks against the government, and the text:

PoizonBOx

Recommendations

Symantec Security Response encourages all users and administrators to adhere to the following basic security "best practices":

• Turn off and remove unneeded services. By default, many operating systems install auxiliary services that are not critical, such as an FTP server, telnet, and a Web server. These services are avenues of attack. If they are removed, blended threats have less avenues of attack and you have fewer services to maintain through patch updates.
• If a blended threat exploits one or more network services, disable, or block access to, those services until a patch is applied.
• Always keep your patch levels up-to-date, especially on computers that host public services and are accessible through the firewall, such as HTTP, FTP, mail, and DNS services (for example, all Windows-based computers should have the current Service Pack installed.). Additionally, please apply any security updates that are mentioned in this writeup, in trusted Security Bulletins, or on vendor Web sites.
• Enforce a password policy. Complex passwords make it difficult to crack password files on compromised computers. This helps to prevent or limit damage when a computer is compromised.
• Configure your email server to block or remove email that contains file attachments that are commonly used to spread viruses, such as .vbs, .bat, .exe, .pif and .scr files.
• Isolate infected computers quickly to prevent further compromising your organization. Perform a forensic analysis and restore the computers using trusted media.
• Train employees not to open attachments unless they are expecting them. Also, do not execute software that is downloaded from the Internet unless it has been scanned for viruses. Simply visiting a compromised Web site can cause infection if certain browser vulnerabilities are not patched.

REMOVAL

Delete all files detected by Norton Antivirus as Backdoor.Sadmind or Backdoor.Sadmind.Dr.

A patch is available from Microsoft at
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS00-078.asp

NOTE: This patch is included in Service Pack 2


For IIS Version 4:
http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/nts/downloads/critical/q269862/default.asp


For IIS Version 5:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/critical/q269862/default.asp


Additional advice on securing IIS web servers is available from
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/iis5chk.asp
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/tools.asp


Apply a patch from Sun Microsystems as described in Sun Security Bulletin #00191:
http://sunsolve.sun.com/pub-cgi/retrieve.pl?doctype=coll&doc=secbull/191&type=0&nav=sec.sba