Due to an increased rate of submissions, Symantec Security Response has upgraded the threat rating of VBS.VBSWG.AQ@mm from Category 2 to Category 3 as of June 6, 2002.

VBS.VBSWG.AQ@mm is a VBScript threat that is designed to send itself as ShakiraPics.jpg.vbs to users of Microsoft Outlook or IRC. This threat also overwrites .vbs and .vbe files with its own code.

Wild:

• Number of infections: 0 - 49
• Number of sites: More than 10
• Geographical distribution: Medium
• Threat containment: Easy
• Removal: Easy

Damage:

• Payload - Large scale e-mailing:
  Uses Microsoft Outlook to send itself to all your contacts.

This threat was created using a construction kit known as VBSWG. The kit enables the worm's author to choose how to distribute the file and what the file name will be when it is distributed. In the sample that Symantec Security Response received, the author chose to use Microsoft Outlook and mIRC as the distribution mechanism. The author intended this threat to be known as VBS.Shakira, as evidenced by the following comment line that precedes all instructions in the script:

'Vbs.ShakiraPics Created By TGK

If VBS.VBSWG.AQ@mm is executed, it does the following:

It copies itself into the \%Windows% folder as ShakiraPics.jpg.vbs.

NOTE: %Windows% is a variable. The worm locates the \Windows folder (by default this is C:\Windows or C:\Winnt) and copies itself to that location.

It adds the value

Registry       wscript.exe C:\WINNT\ShakiraPics.jpg.vbs %

to the registry key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Next, it searches for .vbs and .vbe files on all available drives (including floppy disks and other removable media) and attempts to overwrite them with its own code.

It then attempts to use Microsoft Outlook to send itself to your contacts. The email message is in this format:

Subject: Shakira's Pictures

Message:
Hi :
i have sent the photos via attachment
have funn...

Attachment: ShakiraPics.jpg.vbs

This threat overwrites the mIRC configuration file (Script.ini), so that it sends a copy of itself when you join a chat server.

NOTES:

• If this threat sends itself using Outlook, it creates the following registry entry noting that it has run the routine:
  
  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ShakiraPics
  "mailed" = "1"
  
• If it has modified mIRC in order to send itself, it modifies the registry to note that the routine has run:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ShakiraPics
"mirqued" = "1"

When this threat has finished executing, it displays this message:

Recommendations

Symantec Security Response encourages all users and administrators to adhere to the following basic security "best practices":

• Turn off and remove unneeded services. By default, many operating systems install auxiliary services that are not critical, such as an FTP server, telnet, and a Web server. These services are avenues of attack. If they are removed, blended threats have less avenues of attack and you have fewer services to maintain through patch updates.
• If a blended threat exploits one or more network services, disable, or block access to, those services until a patch is applied.
• Always keep your patch levels up-to-date, especially on computers that host public services and are accessible through the firewall, such as HTTP, FTP, mail, and DNS services.
• Enforce a password policy. Complex passwords make it difficult to crack password files on compromised computers. This helps to prevent or limit damage when a computer is compromised.
• Configure your email server to block or remove email that contains file attachments that are commonly used to spread viruses, such as .vbs, .bat, .exe, .pif and .scr files.
• Isolate infected computers quickly to prevent further compromising your organization. Perform a forensic analysis and restore the computers using trusted media.
• Train employees not to open attachments unless they are expecting them. Also, do not execute software that is downloaded from the Internet unless it has been scanned for viruses. Simply visiting a compromised Web site can cause infection if certain browser vulnerabilities are not patched.

Removal

• Run a full system scan, and delete files that are detected as VBS.VBSWG.AQ@mm.
• Remove the value
  
  Registry     wscript.exe C:\WINNT\ShakiraPics.jpg.vbs %
  
  from the registry key
  
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

1. Obtain the most recent virus definitions. There are two ways to do this:
• Run LiveUpdate. LiveUpdate is the easiest way to obtain virus definitions. These virus definitions have undergone full quality assurance testing by Symantec Security Response and are posted to the LiveUpdate servers one time each week (usually Wednesdays) unless there is a major virus outbreak. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by LiveUpdate, look at the Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate) line at the top of this write-up.
• Download the definitions using the Intelligent Updater. Intelligent Updater virus definitions have undergone full quality assurance testing by Symantec Security Response. They are posted on U.S. business days (Monday through Friday). They must be downloaded from the Symantec Security Response Web site and installed manually. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by the Intelligent Updater, look at the Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) line at the top of this write-up.
  
  Intelligent Updater virus definitions are available here. For detailed instructions on how to download and install the Intelligent Updater virus definitions from the Symantec Security Response Web site, click here.
  
2. Start Norton AntiVirus (NAV), and make sure that NAV is configured to scan all files.
• NAV Consumer products: Read the document How to configure Norton AntiVirus to scan all files.
• NAV Enterprise products: Read the document How to verify a Symantec Corporate antivirus product is set to scan All Files.
3. Run a full system scan.
4. Delete all files that are detected as VBS.VBSWG.AQ@mm.

1. Click Start, and click Run. The Run dialog box appears.
2. Type regedit and then click OK. The Registry Editor opens.
3. Navigate to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

4. In the right pane, delete the following value:

Registry     wscript.exe C:\WINNT\ShakiraPics.jpg.vbs %

5. Click Registry, and click Exit.