WM/ANGEL.A

This page shows details and results of our analysis on the malware WM/ANGEL.A

Download Current DAT: 6712

Threat Detail

Malware Type: Virus

Malware Sub-type: Macro

Discovery Date: 1997-07-01

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

4002 (1998-12-02)

Updated DAT

4002 (1998-12-02)

Minimum Engine

5.1.00

File Length

Not Applicable

Description Added

1997-07-15

Description Modified

1997-07-15

Malware Proliferation

Characteristics

This virus propagates by infecting Word Documents in Microsoft WORD Versions 6.x / 7.x on Windows and Macintosh platforms. The virus consists of these macros:

AUTOOPEN, FILEOPEN, FILESAVEAS, FILESAVE, FILEPRINT, WILLIAMTO, HALIM, FORMATSTYLE, VIEWTOOLBARS, VIEWTOOLBARS, FILETEMPLATES, TOOLSCUSTOMIZE, TOOLSMACRO, FILECLOSE, HELPABOUT, FILENEW, JUSTIFYPARA

in an infected document. The virus becomes active by using Auto- and SystemMacros. All macros are encrypted using the standard Word execute-only feature. Meaning that the user is unable to edit or view the macro code.

Symptoms

On an infected system the virus hides the FILE|TEMPLATES, TOOLS|MACRO, FORMAT|STYLE, VIEW|TOOLBARS, TOOLS|CUSTOMIZE functionality. Warning: It is important not to use these commands, as you will execute the viral code. When opening a document a 'WordBasic Err=118' MessageBox is always displayed. When the HELP|ABOUT MICROSOFT WORD command is used a MessageBox like

About Microsoft Word

Williamto WordBasic Virus Programmed by Williamto Halim Virus Research Laboratory Dedicated to Angelia Hadeli

is displayed. When the FILE|PRINT command is used, the virus clears all text and inserts text beginning with 'Welcome to Williamto Word Macro Virus'. The virus does not save the Document after this, so use 'FILE|CLOSE' and DO NOT save the changes to the document.

If the FILE|SAVE AS command is used and the hour is 12, the password will be set to 'Angelia'. The virus shows many other MessageBoxes when various commands are used that match their Auto or System Macro equivalents.

Method of Infection

General Macro Virus Information

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.