W32.Myparty@mm
Discovered on: January 26, 2002
Last Updated on: February 12, 2002 at 02:21:05 PM PST
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W32.Myparty@mm is a mass-mailing email worm. This worm is capable of spreading itself only between January 25, 2002, and January 29, 2002. However, it remains active on infected computers after this period of time.
It has the following characteristics:
Subject: new photos from my party!
Message:
Hello!
My party... It was absolutely amazing!
I have attached my web page with new photos!
If you can please make color prints of my photos. Thanks!
Attachment: www.myparty.yahoo.com
The worm sends email to all contacts in the Windows address book and to email addresses that it finds in the Outlook Express inboxes and folders. In addition, the worm sends a message to the author so that the author can track the worm.
On Windows NT/2000/XP-based computers, the worm drops a backdoor Trojan that allows a hacker to control the system. Norton AntiVirus detects this as Backdoor.Myparty.
Finally, if the file name of the worm is Access.<any extension>, it may launch the Web browser to http:/ /www.disney.com. However, the worm does not contain code which can generate a file with the name Access.<any extension>, so it is highly unlikely that this will trigger.
Also Known As: W32/Myparty@MM, WORM_MYPARTY.A, W32/MyParty-A, Win32.MyParty, I-Worm.Myparty
Type: Trojan Horse, Worm
Infection Length: 29,696 bytes
Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater): January 28, 2002
Threat Assessment:
Wild:
Medium Damage:
Low Distribution:
High
Wild:
Number of infections: More than 1000
Number of sites: More than 10
Geographical distribution: High
Threat containment: Easy
Removal: Easy
Damage:
Payload Trigger: January 25-29, 2002
Payload:
Large scale e-mailing: Sends email to all contacts in your Windows address book, and to email addresses that if finds in the Outlook Express Inboxes and folders.
Distribution:
Subject of email: new photos from my party!
Name of attachment: www.myparty.yahoo.com
Size of attachment: 29,696 bytes
Technical description:
W32.Myparty@mm arrives as an email message with the following characteristics:
Subject: new photos from my party!
Message:
Hello!
My party... It was absolutely amazing!
I have attached my web page with new photos!
If you can please make color prints of my photos. Thanks!
Attachment: www.myparty.yahoo.com
When it is executed, the worm first checks the date. If the computer date is not between January 25-29, 2002, or if the keyboard settings are set to Russian, the worm copies itself to
C:\Recycled\F-<random digits>-<random digits>-<random digits>
and exits. Otherwise, the worm continues.
The worm next checks its own file name, and performs different actions depending on the file name or extension:
If the file name is "Access," the worm attempts to launch the Web browser to http:/ /www.disney.com and exits. However, the worm does not contain code that can generate a file with the name Access.<any extension>, so it is highly unlikely that this will trigger.
If the file name has a .com extension, the worm copies itself to one of the following locations:
C:\Regctrl.exe (Windows NT/2000/XP)
C:\Recycled\Regctrl.exe (Windows 95/98/Me)
and then executes the Regctrl.exe file.
If the file name has the .exe extension (for example, Regctrl.exe), the worm begins its propagation routine:
1. The worm searches the Windows address book that is used by Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express; it also searches for email addresses in files with the .dbx extension in the Microsoft Outlook Express folder. (The .dbx files are Microsoft Outlook Express folders and inboxes.)
2. The worm sends itself to these email addresses using its own SMTP engine. The worm uses the default SMTP server address that is configured on the computer. The From: address is set to your email address.
3. On Windows NT/2000/XP-based computers, the worm creates a backdoor Trojan:
%Windows%\Profiles\%User_name%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\msstask.exe
or
\Documents and Settings\%User_name%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\msstask.exe
so that it is executed when you start Windows. This backdoor Trojan contacts a Web page at 209.151.250.170, which allows the author to have access to the computer. Depending on the contents of the Web page, the backdoor will perform different actions. This backdoor will be detected as Backdoor.Myparty by Norton AntiVirus.
NOTES:
%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.
%User_name% is a variable. The worm locates the name of the user who is currently logged on and uses that where indicated.
Finally, the worm sends a message to napster@gala.net, allowing the author to track how far the worm has spread.
Removal instructions:
1. Run LiveUpdate to make sure that you have the most recent virus definitions.
2. Do one of the following, depending on your version of Windows:
Windows 95/98/Me/200/XP: Restart the computer in Safe mode. All Windows 32-bit operating systems except Windows NT can be restarted in Safe mode. Read the document for your operating system.
How to start Windows XP in Safe Mode.
How to start Windows 2000 in Safe mode.
How to restart Windows 9x or Windows Me in Safe Mode.
Windows NT: End task in the Msstask.exe process. To do this:
1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete one time.
2. Click Task Manager.
3. Click the Processes tab.
4. Click the "Image Name" column header two times to sort the processes alphabetically.
5. Scroll through the list, and look for the following process:
Msstask.exe
CAUTION: This is not the same as Mstask.exe--note the single "s". Mstask.exe is a legitimate Microsoft process. Do not end that task.
6. If you find the file--you will only find it if the process is currently running--click it and then click End Process.
7. Close the Task Manager.
3. Start Norton AntiVirus (NAV), and make sure that NAV is configured to scan all files. For instructions on how to do this, read the document How to configure Norton AntiVirus to scan all files.
4. Run a full system scan.
5. Delete all files that are detected as W32.Myparty@mm or Backdoor.Myparty.