W32.Secefa.D

Risk Level 1: Very Low

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Discovered: April 3, 2006
Updated: February 13, 2007 12:52:22 PM
Type: Worm
Systems Affected: Windows 2000, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP


When W32.Secefa.D is executed, it performs the following actions:

  1. Copies itself as the following files:

    • %Windir%\msdef3.exe
    • %Windir%\services.exe

      Note: %Windir% is a variable that refers to the Windows installation folder. By default, this is C:\Windows or C:\Winnt.

  2. Drops the following files:

    • %System%\qwe1.bat
    • %System%\qwe2.bat
    • %System%\qwe4.bat
    • %System%\ft54.scr
    • %System%\ftp4.scr
    • %System%\ftp3.scr

      Note: %System% is a variable that refers to the System folder. By default this is C:\Windows\System (Windows 95/98/Me), C:\Winnt\System32 (Windows NT/2000), or C:\Windows\System32 (Windows XP).

  3. Adds the value:

    "RPCser32g3" = "%Windir%\services.exe"

    to the registry subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

    so that it runs every time Windows starts.

  4. Disables the firewall in Windows 2000/XP by setting some of the following registry keys:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\"Start" = "4"
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\"EnableFirewall" = "0"
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\"EnableFirewall" = "0"
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\"EnableFirewall" = "0"
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\"EnableFirewall" = "0"
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\"EnableFirewall" = "0"
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\"EnableFirewall" = "0"
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\DomainProfile\"EnableFirewall" = "0"
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\DomainProfile\"EnableFirewall" = "0"
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\DomainProfile\"EnableFirewall" = "0"
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\"DisableRegistryTools"=0x0
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\"DisableRegistryTools"=0x0
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccessParameters\FirewallPolicy\DomainProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List\"services.exe" = "services.exe:*:Enabled:services.exe"

  5. Blocks access to several security-related Web sites by adding the following entries to the hosts file:

    127.0.0.1 www.symantec.com
    127.0.0.1 securityresponse.symantec.com
    127.0.0.1 symantec.com
    127.0.0.1 www.sophos.com
    127.0.0.1 sophos.com
    127.0.0.1 www.mcafee.com
    127.0.0.1 mcafee.com
    127.0.0.1 liveupdate.symantecliveupdate.com
    127.0.0.1 www.viruslist.com
    127.0.0.1 viruslist.com
    127.0.0.1 viruslist.com
    127.0.0.1 f-secure.com
    127.0.0.1 www.f-secure.com
    127.0.0.1 kaspersky.com
    127.0.0.1 kaspersky-labs.com
    127.0.0.1 www.avp.com
    127.0.0.1 www.kaspersky.com
    127.0.0.1 avp.com
    127.0.0.1 www.networkassociates.com
    127.0.0.1 networkassociates.com
    127.0.0.1 www.ca.com
    127.0.0.1 ca.com
    127.0.0.1 mast.mcafee.com
    127.0.0.1 my-etrust.com
    127.0.0.1 www.my-etrust.com
    127.0.0.1 download.mcafee.com
    127.0.0.1 dispatch.mcafee.com
    127.0.0.1 secure.nai.com
    127.0.0.1 nai.com
    127.0.0.1 www.nai.com
    127.0.0.1 update.symantec.com
    127.0.0.1 updates.symantec.com
    127.0.0.1 us.mcafee.com
    127.0.0.1 liveupdate.symantec.com
    127.0.0.1 customer.symantec.com
    127.0.0.1 rads.mcafee.com
    127.0.0.1 trendmicro.com
    127.0.0.1 pandasoftware.com
    127.0.0.1 www.pandasoftware.com
    127.0.0.1 www.trendmicro.com
    127.0.0.1 www.grisoft.com
    127.0.0.1 www.microsoft.com
    127.0.0.1 microsoft.com
    127.0.0.1 www.virustotal.com
    127.0.0.1 virustotal.com
    127.0.0.1 www.amazon.com
    127.0.0.1 www.amazon.co.uk
    127.0.0.1 www.amazon.ca
    127.0.0.1 www.amazon.fr
    127.0.0.1 www.paypal.com
    127.0.0.1 paypal.com
    127.0.0.1 moneybookers.com
    127.0.0.1 www.moneybookers.com
    127.0.0.1 www.ebay.com
    127.0.0.1 ebay.com

  6. Stops services with the following names:

    • navapsvc
    • NProtectService
    • Norton Antivirus Server
    • VexiraAntivirus
    • dvpinit
    • dvpapi
    • schscnt
    • BackWeb Client - 7681197
    • F-Secure Gatekeeper Handler Starter
    • FSMA
    • AVPCC
    • KAVMonitorService
    • Norman NJeeves
    • NVCScheduler
    • nvcoas
    • Norman ZANDA
    • PASSRV
    • SweepNet
    • SWEEPSRV.SYS
    • NOD32ControlCenter
    • NOD32Service
    • PCCPFW
    • Tmntsrv
    • AvxIni
    • XCOMM
    • ravmon8
    • SmcService
    • BlackICE
    • PersFW
    • McAfee Firewall
    • NWService
    • NISUM
    • NISSERV
    • vsmon

  7. Attempts to end the following processes, some of which may be security-related:

    • Lien Van de Kelderrr.exe
    • winshost.exe
    • msnmsgr.exe
    • wfdmgr.exe
    • IAOIN.EXE
    • RB.EXE
    • b055262c.dll
    • backdoor.rbot.gen.exe
    • backdoor.rbot.gen_(17).exe
    • msssss.exe
    • rasmngr.exe
    • dailin.exe
    • wowpos32.exe
    • wuamgrd.exe
    • taskmanagr.exe
    • wuamga.exe
    • ATUPDATER.EXE
    • AVWUPD32.EXE
    • AVPUPD.EXE
    • LUALL.EXE
    • DRWEBUPW.EXE
    • ICSSUPPNT.EXE
    • ICSUPP95.EXE
    • UPDATE.EXE
    • NUPGRADE.EXE
    • ATUPDATER.EXE
    • AUPDATE.EXE
    • AUTODOWN.EXE
    • AUTOTRACE.EXE
    • AUTOUPDATE.EXE
    • AVXQUAR.EXE
    • CFIAUDIT.EXE
    • MCUPDATE.EXE
    • NUPGRADE.EXE
    • Systra.exe
    • RAVMOND.exe
    • GfxAcc.exe
    • VisualGuard.exe
    • WIN-BUGSFIX.EXE
    • WIN32.EXE
    • WIN32US.EXE
    • WINACTIVE.EXE
    • WINDOW.EXE
    • WINDOWS.EXE
    • WININETD.EXE
    • WININIT.EXE
    • WININITX.EXE
    • WINLOGIN.EXE
    • WINMAIN.EXE
    • WINPPR32.EXE
    • WINRECON.EXE
    • WINSSK32.EXE
    • WINSTART.EXE
    • WINSTART001.EXE
    • WINTSK32.EXE
    • WINUPDATE.EXE
    • WKUFIND.EXE
    • WNAD.EXE
    • WNT.EXE
    • WRADMIN.EXE
    • WRCTRL.EXE
    • WUPDATER.EXE
    • WUPDT.EXE
    • WYVERNWORKSFIREWALL.EXE
    • XPF202EN.EXE
    • ZAPRO.EXE
    • ZAPSETUP3001.EXE
    • ZATUTOR.EXE
    • ZONALM2601.EXE
    • ZONEALARM.EXE
    • _AVP32.EXE
    • _AVPCC.EXE
    • _AVPM.EXE
    • HIJACKTHIS.EXE
    • F-AGOBOT.EXE

  8. Opens a back door on the compromised computer by connecting to a predetermined IRC channel and listening for commands, which allow a remote attacker to perform various actions on the compromised computer.

  9. Downloads a copy of another threat over HTTP from the following server:

    [http://]bulkfileserverqwe.com/up4[REMOVED]

    and saves it as %Windir%\mstempf.exe.

    Note: At the time of writing, the file is corrupted and does not execute.

  10. Attempts to download and execute the following files from ftp.members.lycos.co.uk with a certain account:

    • %System%\ws1lib.exe
    • %System%\ws2lib.exe
    • %System%\ws3lib.exe

  11. Spreads by exploiting the following vulnerabilities:



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.

Writeup By: Kaoru Hayashi
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