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.
Aliases:
- Backdoor.Win32.Rbot.AEU (Ikarus)
- W32.Areses.A@mm (Symantec)
- WORM_ARESES.B (Trend)
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Minimum DAT
4740 (2006-04-13) Updated DAT5325 (2008-06-25) |
Minimum Engine
5400.1158 File Length
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Description Added
2006-04-12 Description Modified2006-04-12 |
Malware Proliferation
Characteristics
W32/Areses.a@MM is a mass mailer that spreads via e-mail by harvesting e-mail addresses from the infected machine.
Upon execution, the worm copies itself by name "csrss.exe" in %WINDIR% folder. If executed within virtual machine it will not replicate and just open the browser to http://www.nahuy.com. If an instance of virus is already installed it will open up an instance of notepad. .
Registry Changes
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\explorer.exe\Debugger: "C:\WINDOWS\csrss.exe"
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Devices\Application: [DATA]
Sends out mails using its own SMTP engine. The attachments are generally in .cab format.
Looks for following files-types for harvesting e-mail addresses.
- .dhtm
- .html
- .shtm
- .dhtml
Avoids sending itself to email addresses having following strings
- @example.
- @hotmail
- @microsoft
- rating@
- f-secur
- update
- .qmail
- anyone@
- bugs@
- contract@
- feste
- gold-certs@
- help@
- info@
- nobody@
- noone@
- Mailer-Daemon@
- @subscribe
- admin
- icrosoft
- support
- ntivi
- linux
- listserv
- certific
- torvalds@
- sopho
- @iana
- free-av
- @messagelab
- winzip
- winrar
- samples
- spm111@
- abuse
- panda
- cafee
- @avp.
- noreply
- local
- root@
- postmaster@
Symptoms
Attempts to connect to
May open IE browser to point to http://www.nahuy.com,
Presence of aformentioned registry value and random opening of TCP ports.
Method of Infection
W32/Areses.a@MM spreads through harversted e-mails.
Removal
All Users:
Please use the following instructions for all supported versions of Windows to remove threats and other potential risks:
2.Update to current engine and DAT files for detection and removal.
3.Run a complete system scan.
Modifications made to the system Registry and/or INI files for the purposes of hooking system startup, will be successfully removed if cleaning with the recommended engine and DAT combination (or higher).
1. Please go to the Microsoft Recovery Console and restore a clean MBR.
On windows XP:
Insert the Windows XP CD into the CD-ROM drive and restart the computer.
When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.
Select the Windows installation that is compromised and provide the administrator password
Issue 'fixmbr' command to restore the Master Boot Record
Follow onscreen instructions
Reset and remove the CD from CD-ROM drive.
On Windows Vista and 7:
Insert the Windows CD into the CD-ROM drive and restart the computer.
Click on "Repair Your Computer"
When the System Recovery Options dialog comes up, choose the Command Prompt.
Issue 'bootrec /fixmbr' command to restore the Master Boot Record
Follow onscreen instructions
Reset and remove the CD from CD-ROM drive.
Variants