Email-Worm.Win32.MsWorld

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 email worm spreading by affecting MS Outlook. The worm itself is Win32 executable file about 130K of length. The worm is written in Visual Basic language.

When the worm file is run (double click on attached EXE file) it displays "miss World" pictures, for example:

and then runs spreading and two trojan routines.

To spread the worm uses a standard way. It connects to MS Outlook, gets up to 50 addresses from address book and sends messages to there. The messages have:

Subject: Miss World
Body: Hi, %��� ����������%
Enjoy the latest pictures of Miss World from various Country

The attached file has the name of original EXE file that was activated. The "original" EXE file name in which the worm was received is MSWORLD.EXE.

Next the worm appends to the end of C:AUTOEXEC.BAT file DOS batch commands that display the message:

This Everything for my Girl Friend........., (CatEyes, KRSSL, SS Hostel)

and then format all local fixed drives.

The worm then tries to delete the system registry files and their backups:

SYSTEM.DAT, SYSTEM.DA0, USER.DAT, USER.DA0

Because .DAT these files are usually locked by system, the worm fails to delete them.

The worm then exits.

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