W32/Netsky.P@mm

Summary

This is an email and network worm. File size is 29568 bytes, but size may vary when the worm comes in a zip file.

Spreading description

When the worm is first executed, it copies itself to the Windows directory. It creates several helper files there as well:

\userconfig9x.dll.
\FVProtect.exe.
\base64.tmp.
\zipped.tmp.
\zip1.tmp.
\zip2.tmp.
\zip3.tmp.

Registry keys created by the worm.

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run Norton Antivirus AV=\FVProtect.exe

Registry keys deleted by the worm.

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run          Explorer
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run          Explorer
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run          system.
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices  system.
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run          msgsvr32
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run          au.exe
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run          winupd.exe
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run          direct.exe
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run          direct.exe
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run          jijbl
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run          Video
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run          service
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run          DELETE ME
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run          d3dupdate.exe
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run          OLE
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run          Sentry
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run          gouday.exe
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run          rate.exe
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run          Taskmon
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run          Taskmon
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run          Windows Services Host
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run          Windows Services Host
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run          sysmon.exe
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run          srate.exe
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run          ssate.exe
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run          winupd.exe
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices  Video
HKCR\CLSID\{E6FB5E20-DE35-11CF-9C87-00AA005127ED}\InProcServer32
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\PINF
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WksPatch

Spreading over email

Emails are very variable, composed by a multitude of wordlists inside the worm.

Email body may contain one of these strings:

Please read the important document.
See the file.
Requested file.
Authentication required.
Your document is attached to this mail.
I have attached your document.
I have received your document. The corrected document is attached.
Your document.
Your details.
You have received an extended message. Please read the instructions.
New message is available.
Now a new message is available.
You got a new message.
SMTP: Please confirm the attached message.
Bad Gateway: The message has been attached.
Protected message is available.
Waiting for authentification.
Protected message is attached.
Please authenticate the secure message.
Follow the instructions to read the message.
Please read the attachment to get the message.
Encrypted message is available.
Delivered message is attached.
Forwarded message is available.
Secure Mail System Beta Test.
Protected Mail System Test.
Your requested mail has been attached.
For further details see the attachment.
For more details see the attachment.
First part of the secure mail is available.
Waiting for a Response. Please read the attachment.
Partial message is available.
ESMTP [Secure Mail System #334]:  Secure message is attached.
Please confirm my request.

Other texts are also possible; in particular it may pose as a fix from an antivirus vendor. Sometimes, one of the texts below are attached:

+++ Attachment: No Virus found
+++ MessageLabs AntiVirus - www.messagelabs.com

+++ Attachment: No Virus found
+++ Bitdefender AntiVirus - www.bitdefender.com

+++ Attachment: No Virus found
+++ MC-Afee AntiVirus - www.mcafee.com

+++Attachment: No Virus found
+++ Kaspersky AntiVirus - www.kaspersky.com

+++ Attachment: No Virus found
+++ Panda AntiVirus - www.pandasoftware.com

++++ Attachment: No Virus found
++++ Norman AntiVirus - www.norman.com

++++ Attachment: No Virus found
++++ F-Secure AntiVirus - www.f-secure.com

++++ Attachment: No Virus found
++++ Norton AntiVirus - www.symantec.de

Generated emails will have spoofed FROM: address. Warnings from email scanners are thus usually not correct.

Some emails may also use a vulnerability in some older Internet Explorer-versions to auto-execute attachment.

Spreading over file-sharing networks

The worm traverses local and remote drives looking for files to harvest email addresses from, and for folders containing certain strings:

shared files
kazaa
mule
donkey
morpheus
lime
bear
icq
shar
upload
http
htdocs
ftp
download
my shared folder

If one of these folders is found, the worm copies itself over using many different file names:

Kazaa Lite 4.0 new.exe
Britney Spears Sexy archive.doc.exe
Kazaa new.exe
Britney Spears porn.jpg.exe
Harry Potter all e.book.doc.exe
Britney sex xxx.jpg.exe
Harry Potter 1-6 book.txt.exe
Britney Spears blowjob.jpg.exe
Harry Potter e book.doc.exe
Britney Spears cumshot.jpg.exe
Harry Potter.doc.exe
Britney Spears fuck.jpg.exe
Harry Potter game.exe
Britney Spears.jpg.exe
Harry Potter 5.mpg.exe
Britney Spears and Eminem porn.jpg.exe
Matrix.mpg.exe
Britney Spears Song text archive.doc.exe
Britney Spears full album.mp3.exe
Eminem.mp3.exe
Britney Spears.mp3.exe
Eminem Song text archive.doc.exe
Eminem Sexy archive.doc.exe
Eminem full album.mp3.exe
Eminem Spears porn.jpg.exe
Ringtones.mp3.exe
Eminem sex xxx.jpg.exe
Ringtones.doc.exe
Eminem blowjob.jpg.exe
Altkins Diet.doc.exe
Eminem Poster.jpg.exe
American Idol.doc.exe
Cloning.doc.exe
Saddam Hussein.jpg.exe
Arnold Schwarzenegger.jpg.exe
Windows 2003 crack.exe
Windows XP crack.exe
Adobe Photoshop 10 crack.exe
Microsoft WinXP Crack full.exe
Teen Porn 15.jpg.pif
Adobe Premiere 10.exe
Adobe Photoshop 10 full.exe
Best Matrix Screensaver new.scr
Porno Screensaver britney.scr
Dark Angels new.pif
XXX hardcore pics.jpg.exe
Microsoft Office 2003 Crack best.exe
Serials edition.txt.exe
Screensaver2.scr
Full album all.mp3.pif
Ahead Nero 8.exe
netsky source code.scr
E-Book Archive2.rtf.exe
Doom 3 release 2.exe
How to hack new.doc.exe
Learn Programming 2004.doc.exe
WinXP eBook newest.doc.exe
Win Longhorn re.exe
Dictionary English 2004 - France.doc.exe
RFC compilation.doc.exe
1001 Sex and more.rtf.exe
3D Studio Max 6 3dsmax.exe
Keygen 4 all new.exe
Windows 2000 Sourcecode.doc.exe
Norton Antivirus 2005 beta.exe
Gimp 1.8 Full with Key.exe
Partitionsmagic 10 beta.exe
Star Office 9.exe
Magix Video Deluxe 5 beta.exe
Clone DVD 6.exe
MS Service Pack 6.exe
ACDSee 10.exe
Visual Studio Net Crack all.exe
Cracks & Warez Archiv.exe
WinAmp 13 full.exe
DivX 8.0 final.exe
Opera 11.exe
Internet Explorer 9 setup.exe
Smashing the stack full.rtf.exe
Ulead Keygen 2004.exe
Lightwave 9 Update.exe
The Sims 4 beta.exe

Removal

General information about removal of malicious software

Norman's antivirus products are in general able to remove all malicious software that is detected.
Some malware, however, uses techniques that the general product does not remove sufficiantly. We have therefore developed the free product Norman Malware Cleaner. Please use the latest version of this program from the link below - if your Norman antivirus is unable to clean-up the infection.