Email-Worm.Win32.Melting

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

This is a virus-worm that spreads via the Internet. The worm itself is a Win32 PE EXE file about 18Kb in length, and it is written in VisualBasic. It is transferred via the net in e-mail messages with infected attachments with the "MeltingScreen.exe" name.

When an infected message is received and the attached EXE file is executed, the worm gains control and starts its spreading routine. This routine connects to MS Outlook, enters the address book, obtains Internet addresses from there and sends messages by using these addresses.

The messages have a copy of the worm in the attachment with the Subject "Fantastic Screensaver", and the message body appears as follows:

 Hello my friend !
 Attached is my newest and funniest Screensaver, I named it MeltingScreen. 
 Test it and tell me what you think.
 Have a nice day my friend.
 p.s.: Please install the Runtime Library for VB 5.0, before you run the ScreenSaver.

The worm then gains access to the Windows directory and renames all EXE files there with a BIN extension.

The worm has bugs and often hangs a computer when run.

The worm actually has screen-saver ability. After spreading and renaming EXE files to BIN, it "melts" the screen.

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