W32.HLLW.Kazkaz

When W32.HLLW.Kazkaz runs, it does the following:

It copies itself as

• C:\Kakaaa.exe
• C:\%windir%\All users\Start menu\Programs\Startup\Kazaa.exe
  
  NOTE: Because the Kazaa.exe file has been copied to the \Startup folder, it will run each time that you start Windows 95/98/Me.
  
• C:\%windir%\Sendto\Kazaa.exe

NOTE: %windir% is a variable. The worm locates the main Windows installation folder (by default this is C:\Windows or C:\Winnt) and copies itself to two subfolders in that location.

The worm searches for the KaZaA shared folder in the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Kazaa\CloudLoad. If it does not find a folder listed in the key, it quits. Otherwise, it makes a copy of itself and appends some randomly chosen bytes to its copy in the KaZaA shared folder using one of the following file names:

• KazaKazaa NewsonKazaa.pif
• Norton KazaaKazaa_full_Setup.exe
• New_Kazaa_For_You!.exe
• All_about_Kazaa.exe
• Kazaa_Spanishexe.exe
• Kazaa_ENGSTP.exe
• Very_Warez_KazaaKazaa!!.exe
• Kaza.exe
• New_Kazaa_eng.exe
• NewKazaa.exe

It then displays this message:



If you right-click any file, point to SendTo, and then click Kazaa.exe, the worm overwrites that file with itself.

• If the original file is less than 40,960 bytes in length, the length of the overwritten file will be 40,960 bytes.
• If the original file is greater than 40,960 bytes in length, the length of the overwritten file will be the same as the original file. To do this, the worm appends randomly chosen bytes to then overwritten copy so that it is the same length as the original.

The worm also copies the overwritten file to the KaZaA shared folder.

The worm then adds to the following registry key a value that refers to the overwritten file:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

For example, if you right-click the file C:\Test\Suback.bin, point to SendTo, and then click Kazaa.exe, the worm will overwrite Suback.bin with itself, copy the overwritten file to the KaZaA folder as Suback.bin, and add the value

Suback C:\Test\Suback.bin

to the registry key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Recommendations

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

• Use a firewall to block all incoming connections from the Internet to services that should not be publicly available. By default, you should deny all incoming connections and only allow services you explicitly want to offer to the outside world.
• 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.
• Ensure that programs and users of the computer use the lowest level of privileges necessary to complete a task. When prompted for a root or UAC password, ensure that the program asking for administration-level access is a legitimate application.
• Disable AutoPlay to prevent the automatic launching of executable files on network and removable drives, and disconnect the drives when not required. If write access is not required, enable read-only mode if the option is available.
• Turn off file sharing if not needed. If file sharing is required, use ACLs and password protection to limit access. Disable anonymous access to shared folders. Grant access only to user accounts with strong passwords to folders that must be shared.
• Turn off and remove unnecessary services. By default, many operating systems install auxiliary services that are not critical. These services are avenues of attack. If they are removed, threats have less avenues of attack.
• If a 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.
• Configure your email server to block or remove email that contains file attachments that are commonly used to spread threats, such as .vbs, .bat, .exe, .pif and .scr files.
• Isolate compromised computers quickly to prevent threats from spreading further. 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.
• If Bluetooth is not required for mobile devices, it should be turned off. If you require its use, ensure that the device's visibility is set to "Hidden" so that it cannot be scanned by other Bluetooth devices. If device pairing must be used, ensure that all devices are set to "Unauthorized", requiring authorization for each connection request. Do not accept applications that are unsigned or sent from unknown sources.
• For further information on the terms used in this document, please refer to the Security Response glossary.

Summary