W32/Sober.q

This page shows details and results of our analysis on the malware W32/Sober.q

Overview

This is a trojan detection. Unlike viruses, trojans do not self-replicate. They are spread manually, often under the premise that they are beneficial or wanted. The most common installation methods involve system or security exploitation, and unsuspecting users manually executing unknown programs. Distribution channels include email, malicious or hacked web pages, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), peer-to-peer networks, etc.


Minimum DAT

4490 (2005-05-12)

Updated DAT

4633 (2005-11-21)

Minimum Engine

5.1.00

File Length

53,801 Bytes

Description Added

2005-05-12

Description Modified

2005-05-19

Malware Proliferation

Characteristics

This Sober variant uses its own SMTP engine to send spammed messages to email addresses found on the infected system.  It can generate several different email messages randomly, in either English or German depending on the version of Windows.  Some messages may contain several links inside them.

When the worm is executed it creates the following folder:

  • %Windir%\Help\Help

It copies itself to the above folder as:

  • CSRSS.EXE
  • SERVICES.EXE
  • SMSS.EXE

    The following registry run keys are created to load itself at system startup.

    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
      Run "SystemBoot" = %Windir%\Help\Help\Services.exe
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
      Run "SystemBoot" = %Windir%\Help\Help\Services.exe 
  • Symptoms

    File Symptoms
    The following files are created:

    • c:\WINDOWS\Help\Help\fastso.ber
    • c:\WINDOWS\system32\adcmmmmq.hjg
    • c:\WINDOWS\system32\langeinf.lin
    • c:\WINDOWS\system32\nonrunso.ber
    • c:\WINDOWS\system32\seppelmx.smx
    • c:\WINDOWS\system32\xcvfpokd.tqa


    The following files contain email related data:

    • sacri1.ggg
    • sacri2.ggg
    • sacri3.ggg
    • voner1.von
    • voner2.von
    • voner3.von

    Method of Infection

    This threat spams email messages to email addresses that are harvested from files containing the following extensions:

    • pmr
    • phtm
    • stm
    • slk
    • inbox
    • imb
    • csv
    • bak
    • imh
    • xhtml
    • imm
    • imh
    • cms
    • nws
    • vcf
    • ctl
    • dhtm
    • cgi
    • pp
    • ppt
    • msg
    • jsp
    • oft
    • vbs
    • uin
    • ldb
    • abc
    • pst
    • cfg
    • mdw
    • mbx
    • mdx
    • mda
    • adp
    • nab
    • fdb
    • vap
    • dsp
    • ade
    • sln
    • dsw
    • mde
    • frm
    • bas
    • adr
    • cls
    • ini
    • ldif
    • log
    • mdb
    • xml
    • wsh
    • tbb
    • abx
    • abd
    • adb
    • pl
    • rtf
    • mmf
    • doc
    • ods
    • nch
    • xls
    • nsf
    • txt
    • wab
    • eml
    • hlp
    • mht
    • nfo
    • php
    • asp
    • shtml
    • dbx

    While avoiding addresses containing the following strings:

    • @www
    • @from.
    • smtp-
    • @smtp.
    • ftp.
    • .dial.
    • .ppp.
    • anyone
    • @gmetref
    • sql.
    • someone
    • nothing
    • you@
    • user@
    • reciver@
    • somebody
    • secure
    • whatever@
    • whoever@
    • anywhere
    • yourname
    • mustermann@
    • mailer-daemon
    • variabel
    • noreply
    • -dav
    • law2
    • .qmail@
    • freeav
    • @ca.
    • abuse
    • winrar
    • domain.
    • host.
    • viren
    • bitdefender
    • spybot
    • detection
    • ewido.
    • emsisoft
    • linux
    • @foo.
    • winzip
    • @example.
    • bellcore.
    • @arin
    • @iana
    • @avp
    • icrosoft.
    • @sophos
    • @panda
    • @kaspers
    • free-av
    • antivir
    • virus
    • verizon.
    • @ikarus.
    • @nai.
    • @messagelab
    • nlpmail01.
    • clock

    Removal

    All Users:
    Use specified engine and DAT files for detection and removal.

    Additional Windows ME/XP removal considerations

    Variants