W32/Storm.worm

This page shows details and results of our analysis on the malware W32/Storm.worm

Download Current DAT: 6613

Threat Detail

Malware Type: Virus

Malware Sub-type: Internet Worm

Discovery Date: 2001-06-10

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

4144 (2001-06-20)

Updated DAT

4281 (2003-07-30)

Minimum Engine

5.1.00

File Length

Several components; main one is 3342142 bytes.

Description Added

2001-06-11

Description Modified

2001-06-11

Malware Proliferation

Characteristics

This worm arrives as a self-extracting ARJ archive 3342142 bytes long. The archive contains a copy of a Java environment, plus several .CLA files which perform the main worm functions. A BAT file executes the worm on startup. It tries to perform a denial of service against microsoft.com and mailbomb gates@microsoft.com

Symptoms

System slowdown.

Method of Infection

The worm scans random addresses for unprotected Microsoft IIS servers. It attempts to use an exploit to run its code on the server. If it succeeds it will extract the ARJ file to the c:\winnt\system32\storm directory and add a registry key to run c:\winnt\system32\storm\start.bat

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.