Class
Email-Worm
Platform
Win32

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: Win32

Win32 is an API on Windows NT-based operating systems (Windows XP, Windows 7, etc.) that supports execution of 32-bit applications. One of the most widespread programming platforms in the world.

Description

Technical Details

Burnox is a worm virus spreading via the Internet as an attachment in infected emails as well as spreading through the Kazaa file sharing network. The worm also downloads from a Web site and installs a backdoor trojan to the system.

The worm itself is a Windows PE EXE file about 4KB in size(when compressed by FSG, the decompressed size is about 20KB) and written in VisualBasic.

Installing

While installing the worm copies itself to the Windows system directory with the "MicrosoftUpdate.com" name and registers this file in the system registry auto-run key:

   HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun     Windows Update = %SystemDir%MicrosoftUpdate.com

where %SystemDir% is the Windows System directory path.

The worm also creates a system registry key where it keeps its counter:

   HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion     Startup = %counter%

the %counter% is set to '1', and is increased with each each worm start. Depending on this counter the worm activates its spreading routines.

Spreading: EMail
To send infected messages the worm uses MS Outlook and sends messages to all the addresses found in the Outlook address book. Ifected messages have following field text:
 Subject:   Important: Microsoft Windows Patch For Xp,2k,ME,98,95.

 Body:      

   Microsoft just release this patch for all versions of Microsoft Windows.
   This update patches many of the recent vulnerabilities!
   It is recommended that you patch your operating system now. Though it is not required.

   *Please Note* This is not the actual Microsoft patch. The attached program is Microsoft Update

 Attach:    MicrosoftUpdate.com

The worm activates from infected emails only in case a user clicks on the attached file. The worm then installs itself to the system and runs spreading routines.

Spreading: KaZaa

The worm creates a subdirectory with the "system16" name in the Windows system directory and copies itself to there with the names:

   kmd.exe            Game Trainer.exe    Hacker.exe                         
   icq2003a.exe       Game.exe            Hacks.exe                          
   icq2003b.exe       App.exe             xbox Hacker.exe                    
   icq2003Final.exe   App Crack.exe       Ps2 Bios Emulation.exe             
   icq2002a.exe       Cracker.exe         xbox Bios Hack.exe                 
   icq2003a.exe       Games.exe           Burn ps2 Games To A Single CD-R.exe
   icq crack.exe      Games trainer.exe   Burn ps2.exe                       
   aim crack.exe      Trainer.exe         burn xbox.exe                      
   icq lite.exe       Cheat.exe           burn dreamcast.exe                 
   imeshv2.exe        Game Hack.exe   

The "system16" directory is then registered as Kazaa file sharing resource.

Installing the Backdoor Trojan
The worm downloads the "Backdoor.Slackbot" from the http://www.wawater.com Web site, stores it to the "c:unxrt.exe" file and executes it.

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

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