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
Class: Virus
Viruses replicate on the resources of the local machine. Unlike worms, viruses do not use network services to propagate or penetrate other computers. A copy of a virus will reach remote computers only if the infected object is, for some reason unrelated to the virus function, activated on another computer. For example: when infecting accessible disks, a virus penetrates a file located on a network resource a virus copies itself to a removable storage device or infects a file on a removable device a user sends an email with an infected attachment.Read more
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
Etap is a very complex parasitic {high-polymorphic:Poly} Win32 virus that uses the entry-point obscuring technique. The virus infects Windows executable files (Win32 PE EXE). When run the virus searches for these files and infects them.
Replication
The virus searches for Win32 PE executable files in the current directory and in the directories located in the three levels above the current directory. It also searches for executable files on available network drives and on removable media. If a directory's name begins with "W" it infects the exe files contained within. The virus doesn't infect files if their names begin with the following:
F- PA SC DR NO
'Etap' also spares files with names containing the letter 'V' and depending on random counter values.
While infecting files the virus rebuilds and encrypts its body and writes it to one of the host file's sections. Then, it searches for and replaces one of the 'alls' to the "ExitProcess" function in the host's code section with the 'call' to the viral code.
Payload
Depending on the system date and whether the infected host file imports the Windows library User32.dll file the virus may display messages, such as:
On May, 14th:The latter message's letters may be randomly selected.
"Free Palestine!"or
On March, June, September, December, 17h:
"Metaphor V1 by the Mental Driller/29a", or
"Metaphor 1b by the Mental Driller/29a"
Read more
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