Email-Worm.VBS.Brit

Parent class: VirWare

Viruses and worms are malicious programs that self-replicate on computers or via computer networks without the user being aware; each subsequent copy of such malicious programs is also able to self-replicate. Malicious programs which spread via networks or infect remote machines when commanded to do so by the “owner” (e.g. Backdoors) or programs that create multiple copies that are unable to self-replicate are not part of the Viruses and Worms subclass. The main characteristic used to determine whether or not a program is classified as a separate behaviour within the Viruses and Worms subclass is how the program propagates (i.e. how the malicious program spreads copies of itself via local or network resources.) Most known worms are spread as files sent as email attachments, via a link to a web or FTP resource, via a link sent in an ICQ or IRC message, via P2P file sharing networks etc. Some worms spread as network packets; these directly penetrate the computer memory, and the worm code is then activated. Worms use the following techniques to penetrate remote computers and launch copies of themselves: social engineering (for example, an email message suggesting the user opens an attached file), exploiting network configuration errors (such as copying to a fully accessible disk), and exploiting loopholes in operating system and application security. Viruses can be divided in accordance with the method used to infect a computer:

• file viruses
• boot sector viruses
• macro viruses
• script viruses

Any program within this subclass can have additional Trojan functions. It should also be noted that many worms use more than one method in order to spread copies via networks.

Class: Email-Worm

Email-Worms spread via email. The worm sends a copy of itself as an attachment to an email message or a link to its file on a network resource (e.g. a URL to an infected file on a compromised website or a hacker-owned website). In the first case, the worm code activates when the infected attachment is opened (launched). In the second case, the code is activated when the link to the infected file is opened. In both case, the result is the same: the worm code is activated. Email-Worms use a range of methods to send infected emails. The most common are: using a direct connection to a SMTP server using the email directory built into the worm’s code using MS Outlook services using Windows MAPI functions. Email-Worms use a number of different sources to find email addresses to which infected emails will be sent: the address book in MS Outlook a WAB address database .txt files stored on the hard drive: the worm can identify which strings in text files are email addresses emails in the inbox (some Email-Worms even “reply” to emails found in the inbox) Many Email-Worms use more than one of the sources listed above. There are also other sources of email addresses, such as address books associated with web-based email services.

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Platform: VBS

Visual Basic Scripting Edition (VBScript) is a scripting language interpreted by Windows Script Host. VBScript is widely used to create scripts on Microsoft Windows operating systems.

Description

Technical Details

I-worm.Brit is a simple worm that spreads via e-mail and by IRC channels.

This worm gets into a computer in the form of an e-mail message with the attached file "CHM", which contains the worm. The message has the following characteristics:

Message theme: "RE: Britney Pics"

Message text: Take a look at these pics ...
Regards,
%CurrentUser.Name%

Where %CurrentUser.Name% User Name.

Attached file name: BRITNEY.CHM

For the VBS-script to launch the worm needs ActiveX - therefore it tries to get users to turn ActiveX on by displaying the following message:

"Turn on ActiveX to see a photograph of Britney Spears".

While launching the worm finds the catalog containing the mIRC-client (a client that works with IRC system) and creates in it the file "SCRIPT.INI". In this file the worm scripts the mIRC client commands that send the worm to each computer included in the same channel as the infected computer.

After creating the file "SCRIPT.INI" the worm sends out a copy of itself to the first address in the MS Outlook address book and records a copy of itself in the Windows catalog.

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Brit.g

- also known as Chick.f

Currently, Kasperskys is familiar with five different versions of this program - b,c,d,e,f,g - , distinguished by their subjects and attachment file names.

The author of the most recent version, Brit.g, attempts to draw attention by exploiting today's most popular theme as bait - The World Cup football championship.

Brit.g:
Message Subject - RE: Korea Japan Results
Attachment File Name - KOREAJAPAN Results

However, due to a range of technical errors in the worm's code, the probability of it spreading "in the wild" is virtually zero.

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Find out the statistics of the vulnerabilities spreading in your region on statistics.securelist.com