W32.Protoride.B

1. Adds the value:
   
   "Windows Taskbar Manager" = "[path to worm executable]"
   
   to the following registry key:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
   
   so that the worm runs every time Windows starts.
   
   
2. Attempts to access the $IPC share of any available network drive that it can connect to using the privileges of the logged-in user.
   
   
3. Copies itself as one of the following files:
   
   
   • internat.exe
   • comands.exe
     
     to any of the following directories on all the local and shared drives:
     
     
   • \\Documents and Settings\All Users\Kuynnistu-valikko\Ohjelmat\Kuynnistys
   • \\Documents and Settings\All Users\Menu Avvio\Programmi\Esecuzione automatica
   • \\Documents and Settings\All Users\Menu Dumarrer\Programmes\Dumarrage
   • \\Documents and Settings\All Users\Menu Iniciar\Programas\Iniciar
   • \\Documents and Settings\All Users\Menu Inicio\Programas\Inicio
   • \\Documents and Settings\All Users\Menu Start\Programma's\Opstarten
   • \\Documents and Settings\All Users\Menu Start\Programy\Autostart
   • \\Documents and Settings\All Users\Menuen Start\Programmer\Start
   • \\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programlar\BASLANGI
   • \\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp
   • \\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start-meny\Programmer\Oppstart
   • \\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start-menyn\Program\Autostart
   • \\Dokumente und Einstellungen\All Users\Startmenu\Programme\Autostart
   • \\WIN95\Kuynnistu-valikko\Ohjelmat\Kuynnistys
   • \\WIN95\Menu Avvio\Programmi\Esecuzione automatica
   • \\WIN95\Menu Dumarrer\Programmes\Dumarrage
   • \\WIN95\Menu Iniciar\Programas\Iniciar
   • \\WIN95\Menu Inicio\Programas\Inicio
   • \\WIN95\Menu Start\Programma's\Opstarten
   • \\WIN95\Menu Start\Programy\Autostart
   • \\WIN95\Menuen Start\Programmer\Start
   • \\WIN95\Start Menu\Programlar\BASLANGI
   • \\WIN95\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp
   • \\WIN95\Start-meny\Programmer\Oppstart
   • \\WIN95\Start-menyn\Program\Autostart
   • \\WIN95\Startmenu\Programme\Autostart
   • \\WIN98\Kuynnistu-valikko\Ohjelmat\Kuynnistys
   • \\WIN98\Menu Avvio\Programmi\Esecuzione automatica
   • \\WIN98\Menu Dumarrer\Programmes\Dumarrage
   • \\WIN98\Menu Iniciar\Programas\Iniciar
   • \\WIN98\Menu Inicio\Programas\Inicio
   • \\WIN98\Menu Start\Programma's\Opstarten
   • \\WIN98\Menu Start\Programy\Autostart
   • \\WIN98\Menuen Start\Programmer\Start
   • \\WIN98\Start Menu\Programlar\BASLANGI
   • \\WIN98\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp
   • \\WIN98\Start-meny\Programmer\Oppstart
   • \\WIN98\Start-menyn\Program\Autostart
   • \\WIN98\Startmenu\Programme\Autostart
   • \\WINDOWS.000\Menu Iniciar\Programas\Iniciar
   • \\WINDOWS.000\Menu Inicio\Programas\Inicio
   • \\WINDOWS.000\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp
   • \\WINDOWS.000\Startmenu\Programme\Autostart
   • \\WINDOWS\Kuynnistu-valikko\Ohjelmat\Kuynnistys
   • \\WINDOWS\Menu Avvio\Programmi\Esecuzione automatica
   • \\WINDOWS\Menu Dumarrer\Programmes\Dumarrage
   • \\WINDOWS\Menu Iniciar\Programas\Iniciar
   • \\WINDOWS\Menu Inicio\Programas\Inicio
   • \\WINDOWS\Menu Start\Programma's\Opstarten
   • \\WINDOWS\Menu Start\Programy\Autostart
   • \\WINDOWS\Menuen Start\Programmer\Start
   • \\WINDOWS\Start Menu\Programlar\BASLANGI
   • \\WINDOWS\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp
   • \\WINDOWS\Start-meny\Programmer\Oppstart
   • \\WINDOWS\Start-menyn\Program\Autostart
   • \\WINDOWS\Startmenu\Programme\Autostart
   • \\WINME\Kuynnistu-valikko\Ohjelmat\Kuynnistys
   • \\WINME\Menu Avvio\Programmi\Esecuzione automatica
   • \\WINME\Menu Dumarrer\Programmes\Dumarrage
   • \\WINME\Menu Iniciar\Programas\Iniciar
   • \\WINME\Menu Inicio\Programas\Inicio
   • \\WINME\Menu Start\Programma's\Opstarten
   • \\WINME\Menu Start\Programy\Autostart
   • \\WINME\Menuen Start\Programmer\Start
   • \\WINME\Start Menu\Programlar\BASLANGI
   • \\WINME\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp
   • \\WINME\Start-meny\Programmer\Oppstart
   • \\WINME\Start-menyn\Program\Autostart
   • \\WINME\Startmenu\Programme\Autostart
     
     
4. The worm opens an IRC backdoor on TCP port 6667 by connecting to the following hosts:
   
   
   • quilmes.sytes.net
   • quilmes1.sytes.net
   • quilmes3.sytes.net
     
     
5. Users with appropriate access can perform the following commands on the compromised computer:
   
   
   • Change IRC nickname
   • Create a SOCKS4 server
   • Download, execute, and upload files
   • Hide and unhide program windows
   • Hide its own processes
   • List all active windows
   • List and kill processes
   • List currently running processes and TCP connections
   • Perform Denial of Service and UDP flood attacks
   • Provide system information
   • Register and unregister the worm as a service process
   • Retrieve the victim's IP address
   • Start, stop, pause, and resume a port scan
   • Steal passwords
   • Remotely Update or stop the worm

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.