W97M/Ephen

This page shows details and results of our analysis on the malware W97M/Ephen

Download Current DAT: 6712

Threat Detail

Malware Type: Virus

Malware Sub-type: Macro

Discovery Date: 1999-06-30

Next Steps:

Overview
Characteristics
Symptoms
Method of Infection
Removal

Overview

This is a virus detection. Viruses are programs that self-replicate recursively, meaning that infected systems spread the virus to other systems, which then propagate the virus further. While many viruses contain a destructive payload, it's quite common for viruses to do nothing more than spread from one system to another.

Minimum DAT

4032 (1999-06-30)

Updated DAT

4032 (1999-06-30)

Minimum Engine

5.1.00

File Length

Description Added

1999-10-06

Description Modified

2002-09-18

Malware Proliferation

Characteristics

This is a virus for Word 97 documents and templates.It willdisablethe macro warning feature of Word 97. This virus consists of a module called "BAGABS". This short macro virus will infect Word's normal.dot using an "autoopen" routine, or when opening infected documents.

The following described message boxesrequires Microsoft Assistantto be installed. If the date isJuly 5th, a message is displayed using theMS Assistant within Word97 when opening infected documents:

________________________________
ephen
Praise the Lord ! Now and forever . . .
Thank's for Your blessing in all my life . . .
________________________________

________________________________
bagabs manguni
Minahasa:
Si Tou Timou Tumou Tou...
bukang
Si Tou Timou Tumongko' Tou...
_______________________________________

When closing infected documents on July 5th, these message boxes are displayed using the MS Assistant:

________________________________
ephen
Thank's 4 your attention . . .
. . . In My Day!
________________________________

________________________________
bagabs manguni
Anti Potas
piara bae-bae tu anjing . . .
_______________________________________

Symptoms

Macro warning if opening infecteddocument, increase in size toglobal template, confirmation of changes to NORMAL.DOT. Message as described above when opening documents.

Method of Infection

Opening infected documents will infect global template normal.dot.

Removal

All Users :
Script,Batch,Macro and non memory-resident:
Use current engine and DAT files for detection and removal.

PE,Trojan,Internet Worm and memory resident :
Use specified engine and DAT files for detection. To remove, boot to MS-DOS mode or use a boot diskette and use the command line scanner:

SCANPM /ADL /CLEAN /ALL

Additional Windows ME/XP removal considerations

Users should not trust file icons, particularly when receiving files from others via P2P clients, IRC, email or other mediums where users can share files.

AVERT Recommended Updates :

* Office2000 Updates

* Malformed Word Document Could Enable Macro to Run Automatically (Information/Patch )

* scriptlet.typelib/Eyedog vulnerability patch

* Outlook as an email attachment security update

* Exchange 5.5 post SP3 Information Store Patch 5.5.2652.42 - this patch corrects detection issues with GroupShield

For a list of attachments blocked by the Outlook patch and a general FAQ, visit this link .
Additionally, Network Administrators can configure this update using an available tool - visit this link for more information .

It is very common for macro viruses to disable options within Office applications for example in Word, the macro protection warning commonly is disabled. After cleaning macro viruses, ensure that your previously set options are again enabled.