Email-Worm.Win32.Scooter

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 an Internet worm spreading in infected e-mails and sending its copies to IRC channels. The worm itself is a Windows executable file about 200K in length written in Microsoft Visual C++. It was discovered in the wild in September 2000 in compressed form about 170K in length (compressed by PECompact utility).

The worm is related to the "Scrambler" Internet worm.

When an infected file is executed, the worm creates its copy in the Windows system directory. That file has a random 5-letter name, for example: BJEFG.EXE, FBHGE.EXE. That file will be used later to send worm copies to Internet and IRC channels.

To spread to IRC channels, the worm infects mIRC client by creating (overwriting) a SCRIPT.INI file in standard mIRC directories on all drives from C: through F: the affected file names appear as the following:

mircscript.ini
PROGRA~1mircscript.ini

The worm writes a short script there that sends its copy to each user that enters the infected channel.

To send infected e-mail messages, the worm creates the SCOOTER.VBS VisualBasic script program in the Windows system directory and writes there a script program that connects MS Outlook and sends e-mail messages to first 90 users from the MS Outlook address book. The messages have an infected attachment (worm copy) and the subject is:

Faster.. harder.. your PC will run like a scooter!

The message body is empty. The worm then spawns this script, and spreads to the Internet as a result.

To prevent duplicate sending, the worm creates the SCOOTER.SYS file in the Windows system directory and writes the text there:

Faster.. harder.. scooter!'

If such a file exists (with any data inside), the worm skips sending infected e-mails.

To disguise its activity, the worm extracts from its body the SCOOTER.MP3 music file and opens it.

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