F-Secure received the first submission of Kickin worm on 7th of May 2003. However, the worm appeared in the wild a few days earlier - we received its notification messages before we got the actual sample.
This worm is 109056 bytes long and it's packed with UPX file compressor. Kickin is very similar to Cydog worm variants but it is rewritten in Visual C language. Kickin can spread via email, IRC and peer-to-peer (P2P) networks Kazaa, Edonkey, Bearshare, Morpheus.
Based on the settings of your F-Secure security product, it will either move the file to the quarantine where it cannot spread or cause harm, or remove it.
A False Positive is when a file is incorrectly detected as harmful, usually because its code or behavior resembles known harmful programs. A False Positive will usually be fixed in a subsequent database update without any action needed on your part. If you wish, you may also:
Check for the latest database updates
First check if your F-Secure security program is using the latest updates, then try scanning the file again.
Submit a sample
After checking, if you still believe the file is incorrectly detected, you can submit a sample of it for re-analysis.
Note: If the file was moved to quarantine, you need to collect the file from quarantine before you can submit it.
Exclude a file from further scanning
If you are certain that the file is safe and want to continue using it, you can exclude it from further scanning by the F-Secure security product.
Note: You need administrative rights to change the settings.
When run, the worm copites itself to Windows directory as CYBERWOLF.EXE with hidden and system attributes. Additionally the worm copies itself to Windows System directory with the following names:
mapi32.drv format.com SARS-Guide.scr MsnMsgs.exe Setup.exe Virtual Joke.scr Saddam-the real pics.scr Christina Aguilera-The most beautiful girl on earth.scr Soccer Database.exe OutWar Demo.exe Love.scr Last Summer.scr Hotmail Hacker.exe FixSql.com Q30215HOTFIX.pif Api Hooking-Tutorial.exe Kernel32.exe Magical-Screensaver.scr
The worm sets hidden and system attribute for Kernel32.exe file. It modifies the default EXE file startup key so that Kernel32.exe file is always started when a user runs an EXE file:
[HKCR\exefile\shell\open\command] @ = "%winsysdir%\Kernel32.exe"%1"%*""
The worm also creates two startup keys for its files in System Registry:
[HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] "CyberWolf" = "%windir%\CyberWolf.exe" "Windows Kernel" = "%winsysdir%\Kernel32.exe"
where %windir% represents Windows directory and %winsysdir% represents Windows System directory. This is done to make those two worm files start during every Windows session.
The worm modifies several Registry keys. These modifications make Windows hide file extensions and avoid showing files with hidden and system attributes.
The worm primarily spreads itself in infected email messages. It collects email addresses from Yahoo Messenger, MSN and .NET Messenger, ICQ, Windows Address Book and from HTML and EML files it can find on a hard disk.
Kickin worm has a list of SMTP servers that it tries to connect if a user's SMTP server is not available. It can send itself in messages with different subjects and bodies. Worm's attachment names are also different. Infected messages sent by the worm look as follows:
From: Lovergirl@yahoo.com Subject: Fwd:Fwd:Fwd:Watch out for SARS!
Body:
---ORIGINAL MESSAGE BODY--- FROM:DATE:Tuesday, May 06, 2003 11:37:31 TO: SUBJECT:Fwd:Watch out for SARS! FROM: DATE:Tuesday, May 06, 2003 11:37:31 TO: SUBJECT:Fwd:FwdWatch out for SARS! FROM: DATE:Tuesday, May 06, 2003 11:37:31 TO: SUBJECT:Fwd:Fwd:Fwd:Watch out for SARS! SARS aka Severe Acute Respiration Syndrome is infecting more and more people every day Soon it will get to USA,Europe,Asia,Africa and Australia if we don't do something Thats why we started this chain letter with a single attachment Our mission is to make all people aware of the disease and to give them a handy guide on how to protect themselves The attachment(SARS-Guide) is a guide (like the name says;)) with instructions for avoiding infection and what to do when infected Ofcourse we cannot send this Guide to all people,thats why the WHO(World Health Organisation) has made a deal with WISI(World Internet Statistic Institute):For mail FORWARD of this email WITH the Guide,0.50US$ will be transfered to the WHO bank account They will use this money to make a vaccin for the SARS Virus,and thus help mankind If you want to participate to this project,and thus help man kind,you should FORWARD this email to at least 1 person with this Guide Attached Thas all you'll have to do Do,'t forget!Every FORWARD is 0.50US$ more for the vaccin,a vaccin is very expensive,so forward it if you want to participate in helping mankind! For more information contact: Dick Thompson - Communication Officer Communicable Disease Prevention, Control and Eradication WHO, Geneva Telephone: (+41 22) 791 26 84 Email: thompsond@who.int Attachment: SARS-Guide.scr
Please note that there is a real Mr. Dick Thompson working for WHO. Obviously he has nothing to do with this virus.
From: Webmaster@planet-source-code.com Subject: Api Hooking Tutorial... Body: Did you wanted to learn how to api hook? Here your chance!This tutorial explains all the basics AND moderate Api Hookings Starting by hooking Registry Keys,Till hiding files from view in Windows Explorer After reading this tut you can even start Windows RootKit Programming but ofcourse thats up to you to decide... The Tutorial attached in this email is for privat use only and may never be distributed under any curcumstances Provided to you by: Webmasterand www.planet-source-code.com Attachment: Api Hooking-Tutorial.exe From:Support@microsoft.com Subject:Windows Hotfix! Body: Attached is the HotFix for several bugs in Windows Operating Systems. The following Windows versions are vulnerable: Windows Xp home and Pro edition (with/without SP1) Windows ME,2000 and NT Home and Pro Edition(With/without SP) Windows 98 Home,Pro and Special Edition(With/without SP) The following Windows Operating Systems are not vulnerable: Windows 95(All editions With or Without Sp Microsoft IIS(all versions) If your Operating System is one of the vulnerable systems listed above then Microsoft Corp. recommends you to install this HotFix If you for some reason didn't install this hotfix,then your pc will be vulnerable to this bugs allowing an attacker to Remote Control your pc,or beeing infected with the infamous SqlSlammer. Because this is an critical bug,Microsoft Corp. has send this HotFix to all of his customors who use one of the OS's. For more information about this bug or about Microsoft Corp.,please visit www.microsoft.com Presented to you by:Microsoft HelpDesk Attachment: Q30215HOTFIX.pif From: SecurityResponse@symantec.com Subject: Warning from Symantec.com Body: 5/4/2003 A NEW INTERNET WORM HAS BEEN FOUND IN THE WILD A new very dangerous internet worm has been found in the wild.This worms goes under the name W32.SqlSlammer.C@mm and has the possibility to spread by several ports on your pc(139,25,445,446,10252). It will infect you without your knowlegde because it uses the Sql Buffer Overflow exploit.Because of this its very hard for Av companies and Microsoft to contain this thread.Thats why we decided to protect our customors by sending then SqlFix and thus protecting them from infection. After installation the fix will determine if the SqlSlammer.C has infected your pc and clean it.If it didn't infect it then it will make sure it will never infect you by closing the bug in your OS. Simply run the attached fix and wait for the dialog to prompt,select the feature and wait till its finished. Sincerely, Symantec Security Response Team Symantec Corporation Attachment: FixSql.com From: Admin@hackers.com Subject: u wanted to hack? Body: hi there,so you wanted to hack your friends hotmail account huh,well use this xss-exploit tool to find his password within 3 minutes!! Simply open it and enter your victims email ID and select This will also work on Yahoo and Icq accounts Admin@hackers.com From: Lovergirl963@hotmail.com Subject: Do you remember last summer? Body: hi Do you remember we met last summer? We became very good friends at the end huh! Well i looked a bit over internet and i encountered your Email,so i thought why not send him the pics from last summer I've attached them in this email,there in ScreenSaver format,pls reply to me if you liked them See you soon again xxx Love ya... Attachment: Last Summer.scr From:Lovergirl33@hotmail.com Subject: Fwd:Fwd:Fwd:Sit back and be surprised... Body: ORIGINAL MESSAGE BODY: FROM: DATE:Tuesday, May 06, 2003 13:37:31 TO: SUBJECT:Fwd:Fwd:Sit back and be surprised... Magic in CyberSpace,its almost unbelievable! 1)Pick 3 numbers and write them down on a paper. 2)Add one of the following values to the 3 numbers:Love,Friendship and Sex.Write these values next to the number 3)Pick 1 additional number and say it out loud 5 times 4)Now the sticky part:Choose 3 names of girls/boys who you like and write them below on that paper. 5)Now open the Magical screensaver i attached,wrap the paper in your left hand and close your eyes until you here the beep. 6)Open your eyes again and look at the screen.What the screensaver displayed will be personal,so you'll have to be alone in your room.Everything the screensaver displays will come tru within the next 2 months,Only the Sex part will come tru when your above 16. You don't have to forward this email but then your friends won't get the chance to make their dreams come tru,So if you want your friends to be happe,simply mail them the magic... Be aware!No cheating allowed,Once you have written those names and values on your paper you cannot chance them!!! Attachment:Magical-Screensaver.scr From:Admin@screensavers.com Subject: The Magical screensaver Body: Check out this magic screensaver.Its pure magic!!! Follow these steps for the magic: 1)Pick 3 numbers and write them down on a paper. 2)Add one of the following values to the 3 numbers:Love,Friendship and Sex.Write these values next to the number 3)Pick 1 additional number and say it out loud 5 times 4)Now the sticky part:Choose 3 names of girls/boys who you like and write them below on that paper. 5)Now open the Magical screensaver i attached,wrap the paper in your left hand and close your eyes until you here the beep. 6)Open your eyes again and look at the screen.What the screensaver displayed will be personal,so you'll have to be alone in your room.Everything the screensaver displays will come tru within the next 2 months,Only the Sex part will come tru when your above 16. Presented by Admin@screensavers.com Attachment: Magical-Screensaver.scr From: Webmaster@Loveforlife.com Subject:Feel the reason why we fall in love... Body: It takes One minute to find someone special One hour to like someone 1 Day to fall in love with someone But it takes a lifetime to forget someone. If you have ever been in love then you'll know about what i am talking. If you wanne have that same old feeling then open the lovescreensaver and realise why we fall in love all the time... Attachment:Love.scr From: Webmaster@Outwar.comSubject: Outwar is proud to present you:Outwar InterActive Body: After beeing succesfull for quit some years now and having more then 20000 clients,it was time for something new. Thats why we decided to take our OutWar into the game market and developed OurWar InterActive This game will be in shops late summer and will cost about 36$. It will be avaible across the Usa,Europe,Australia and Asia. Our release for Africa is scheduled early 2004. Because this will mean a lot of waiting,we developed the first Official OutWar Int. Demo! The attached file contains Installation Packet for the downloader. Install it and download the game from our Private FTP servers,and then enjoy it on your home pc!. Sincerely yours Webmaster@outwar.com Attachment: OutWar Demo.exe From: Soccerfan@yahoo.com Subject: Fwd:Fwd:Fwd:Soccer... Body: Ever wanted to see the best goals,the most beautiful freekicks etc.with just 2 clicks with your mouse? Ever wanted to acces the largest Soccer Database on the internet where all goals from more then 25 international competitions from the past 15 years are stored? Here is your chance,this program has instant acces it,so you can enjoy how Diego Maradonna scored ,or how Johan Cruyff curled that ball into the goal...Enjoy! The database contains goals from countries like:Spain,Italy,France,Germany,England,Belgiëum,The Netherlands,Sweden,Finland and much more Also forward this to all football fans you know so they can enjoy this to. Attachment: Soccer Database.exe From: Webmaster@beautifulgirls Subject: Christina Aguilera:The most beautiful girl on earth Body: Don't you think Christina Aguilera is the most beautiful girl on earth? She is soo nice!!! That clip was amazing... If you wanne see some hidden pics of that videoclip then check out this screensaver Its nice...Very nice,if you get what i mean ;) Webmaster@beautifulgirls.com Attachment: Christina Aguilera-The most beautiful girl on earth.scr From: webmaster@screensavers.com Subject: Saddam alive and kickin' Body: The whole world wants to know it,is saddam a live,or death? Well somedays a go the britisch took secret spy cam pics,and luckely someone has uploaded this pics to the internet,and now their avaible! You won't believe what you see!its amazing!!!The spy cam was hidden inside a tower in Bagdad and it took pics from saddam and his sons,they our 250m beneath the ground! Check out the pics i attached,you won't believe what you see! Attachment: Saddam-the real pics.scr From: Admin@jokes.com Subject: The Virtual Joke... Body: Have you seen it yet? You should because its soooooo funny,i wish the real jokes where that funny :) Check out the attached screensaver and enjoy the pleasure of laughing... Attachment: Virtual Joke.scr From: flipbabe@hotmail.com Subject: Fwd:Fwd:Whats really happening in bagdad Body: ORIGINAL MESSAGE BODY: FROM: DATE:Tuesday, May 06, 2003 13:37:31 TO: SUBJECT:Fwd:Whats really happening in bagdad Someone of the britisch army has made some Secret Spy Cam pics,and uploaded it to the internet!! The pics show you exactly whats reall happened in Irak!Its really not what you've seen on tv! Check out the attached file and forward this to as much friends so that they can all see what has really happened in Irak. FlipBabe xxx Attachment: Saddam-the real pics.scr From: mailinglist@Msn.com Subject: Get the new Msn 5.1! Body: Tired of the little nicknames in Msn,tired of all the limits? Well we've got news for you,Msn 5.1 is the newest and best msn messenger ever! It allows nicknames up to 500 characters and has many new functions who will make your cyberlife easyier and better! Msn Messenger 5.1 is avaible for following Operating Systems: Windows Xp Windows ME and 2000 Windows 98 and NT Is not avaible for:Windows 95 This version of msn messenger supports also Api's in Windows Xp so you can make your own addons. To download Msn Messenger 5.1 install the attached Root Setup. WARNING:MSN MESSENGER IS NOT AVAIBLE FOR DOWNLOAD AT OUR WEBSITE DUE TO JURIDICAL RESTRICTIONS,IF YOU WANT IT YOU'LL HAVE TO INSTALL THE ROOT SETUP. If you don't want to install it then you'll have to wait for another 5 weeks because of the juridical restricions. Please do not forward this email.Every user who has Msn Messenger installed will receive this email sooner or later,so its up to them to decide to use the new version of not Sincerely yours: The Msn Messenger Team The Hotmail Team Attachment: MsnMsgs.exe From: nice_girl21@hotmail.com Subject: Fwd:How to protect yourself against SARS Body: ORIGINAL MESSAGE BODY: FROM: DATE:Tuesday, May 06, 2003 11:37:31 TO: SUBJECT:Fwd:How to protect yourself against SARS SARS aka. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome is a worldwide health threat. It was first discovered in China But now,it has become a very big thread to all people in this world If no vaccin is found,soon more then 500.000 people will be infected with it This vaccin is not yet made,so within this time the ONLY protection humans have is prevention of infection Thats why we of HealthCare launched a project in which we will send newsletters with information about SARS and with prevention rules. Symptoms:High Fever(>38-C) AND one or more respiratory symptoms including cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing Also be aware of the following:close contact with a person who has been diagnosed with SARS AND a recent history of travel to areas reporting cases of SARS In addition to fever and respiratory symptoms, SARS may be associated with other symptoms including: headache, muscular stiffness, loss of appetite, malaise, confusion, rash, and diarrhea. Until more is known about the cause of these outbreaks, WHO (World Health Organization) recommends that all people read the attached instructions of howto prevent beeing infected with SARS and what to do when infection has occurred For more information contact: Dick Thompson - Communication Officer Communicable Disease Prevention, Control and Eradication WHO, Geneva Telephone: (+41 22) 791 26 84 Email: thompsond@who.int Attachment: SARS-Guide.scr
The worm has the ability to spread in peer-to-peer networks. It tries to locate shared folders of Kazaa, Edonkey, Bearshare and Morpheus file sharing clients and copies itself there with the following names:
Virus Creation ToolKit-VX v7.1_create virii with this tool,Klez.H and Sircam has been created with version 6.exe WebAttack-DoS Tool.exe FTP Cracker-2003(Crack the password of ANY FTP server with this tool!).exe Yahoo Remote Password Cracker Deluxe 2003.exe AIM Remote Password Cracker.exe Hotmail Exploiter 2003.exe XNuker 2003.exe Ultimate HackProg.exe Msn Messenger Remote Password Cracker 2003.exe Netbios hacker.exe Chaos Ip Spoof 2003.exe People who download and run these files become infected with the worm.
The worm spreads via IRC by replacing the SCRIPT.INI file of IRC client and creates its own script that sends the following messages to users joining a channel where an infected user is staying:
<user_nick> hi,im CyberWolf,15 and from austria and u? <user_nick> check out this crazy screensaver!its magic!!! Then the script sends the worm's file with the 'Magical-Screensaver.scr' name to a user with the nickname <user_nick>. When a user runs that file, he/she becomes infected with the worm.
The worm sends notification messages to anti-virus companies. Such messages look like that:
---ORIGINAL MESSAGE BODY--- FROM: DATE:Tuesday, May 06, 2003 11:37:31 TO: SUBJECT:Fwd:Watch out for SARS! FROM: DATE:Tuesday, May 06, 2003 11:37:31 TO: SUBJECT:Fwd:FwdWatch out for SARS! FROM: DATE:Tuesday, May 06, 2003 11:37:31 TO: SUBJECT:Fwd:Fwd:Fwd:Watch out for SARS! SARS aka Severe Acute Respiration Syndrome is infecting more and more people every day Soon it will get to USA,Europe,Asia,Africa and Australia if we don't do something Thats why we started this chain letter with a single attachment Our mission is to make all people aware of the disease and to give them a handy guide on how to protect themselves The attachment(SARS-Guide) is a guide (like the name says;)) with instructions for avoiding infection and what to do when infected Ofcourse we cannot send this Guide to all people,thats why the WHO(World Health Organisation) has made a deal with WISI(World Internet Statistic Institute):For mail FORWARD of this email WITH the Guide,0.50US$ will be transfered to the WHO bank account They will use this money to make a vaccin for the SARS Virus,and thus help mankind If you want to participate to this project,and thus help man kind,you should FORWARD this email to at least 1 person with this Guide Attached Thas all you'll have to do Do,'t forget!Every FORWARD is 0.50US$ more for the vaccin,a vaccin is very expensive,so forward it if you want to participate in helping mankind! For more information contact: Dick Thompson - Communication Officer Communicable Disease Prevention, Control and Eradication WHO, Geneva Telephone: (+41 22) 791 26 84 Email: thompsond@who.int Attachment: SARS-Guide.scr
F-Secure has been receiving quite a large amount of such emails, sent from infected machines in China, Belgiëum and the Netherlands.
Depending on system time the worm can create text files in Windows directory: CyberWolf.txt or Windows.lOg. These files contain text messages from the author of the worm.
Depending on system time the worm can open Internet browser and go to the following sites:
---ORIGINAL MESSAGE BODY--- FROM: DATE:Tuesday, May 06, 2003 11:37:31 TO: SUBJECT:Fwd:Watch out for SARS! FROM: DATE:Tuesday, May 06, 2003 11:37:31 TO: SUBJECT:Fwd:FwdWatch out for SARS! FROM: DATE:Tuesday, May 06, 2003 11:37:31 TO: SUBJECT:Fwd:Fwd:Fwd:Watch out for SARS! SARS aka Severe Acute Respiration Syndrome is infecting more and more people every day Soon it will get to USA,Europe,Asia,Africa and Australia if we don't do something Thats why we started this chain letter with a single attachment Our mission is to make all people aware of the disease and to give them a handy guide on how to protect themselves The attachment(SARS-Guide) is a guide (like the name says;)) with instructions for avoiding infection and what to do when infected Ofcourse we cannot send this Guide to all people,thats why the WHO(World Health Organisation) has made a deal with WISI(World Internet Statistic Institute):For mail FORWARD of this email WITH the Guide,0.50US$ will be transfered to the WHO bank account They will use this money to make a vaccin for the SARS Virus,and thus help mankind If you want to participate to this project,and thus help man kind,you should FORWARD this email to at least 1 person with this Guide Attached Thas all you'll have to do Do,'t forget!Every FORWARD is 0.50US$ more for the vaccin,a vaccin is very expensive,so forward it if you want to participate in helping mankind! For more information contact: Dick Thompson - Communication Officer Communicable Disease Prevention, Control and Eradication WHO, Geneva Telephone: (+41 22) 791 26 84 Email: thompsond@who.int Attachment: SARS-Guide.scr
The worm kills the following processes belonging to anti-virus and security software:
---ORIGINAL MESSAGE BODY--- FROM: DATE:Tuesday, May 06, 2003 11:37:31 TO: SUBJECT:Fwd:Watch out for SARS! FROM: DATE:Tuesday, May 06, 2003 11:37:31 TO: SUBJECT:Fwd:FwdWatch out for SARS! FROM: DATE:Tuesday, May 06, 2003 11:37:31 TO: SUBJECT:Fwd:Fwd:Fwd:Watch out for SARS! SARS aka Severe Acute Respiration Syndrome is infecting more and more people every day Soon it will get to USA,Europe,Asia,Africa and Australia if we don't do something Thats why we started this chain letter with a single attachment Our mission is to make all people aware of the disease and to give them a handy guide on how to protect themselves The attachment(SARS-Guide) is a guide (like the name says;)) with instructions for avoiding infection and what to do when infected Ofcourse we cannot send this Guide to all people,thats why the WHO(World Health Organisation) has made a deal with WISI(World Internet Statistic Institute):For mail FORWARD of this email WITH the Guide,0.50US$ will be transfered to the WHO bank account They will use this money to make a vaccin for the SARS Virus,and thus help mankind If you want to participate to this project,and thus help man kind,you should FORWARD this email to at least 1 person with this Guide Attached Thas all you'll have to do Do,'t forget!Every FORWARD is 0.50US$ more for the vaccin,a vaccin is very expensive,so forward it if you want to participate in helping mankind! For more information contact: Dick Thompson - Communication Officer Communicable Disease Prevention, Control and Eradication WHO, Geneva Telephone: (+41 22) 791 26 84 Email: thompsond@who.int Attachment: SARS-Guide.scr
The worm also does's allow the programs with the following names to run:
---ORIGINAL MESSAGE BODY--- FROM: DATE:Tuesday, May 06, 2003 11:37:31 TO: SUBJECT:Fwd:Watch out for SARS! FROM: DATE:Tuesday, May 06, 2003 11:37:31 TO: SUBJECT:Fwd:FwdWatch out for SARS! FROM: DATE:Tuesday, May 06, 2003 11:37:31 TO: SUBJECT:Fwd:Fwd:Fwd:Watch out for SARS! SARS aka Severe Acute Respiration Syndrome is infecting more and more people every day Soon it will get to USA,Europe,Asia,Africa and Australia if we don't do something Thats why we started this chain letter with a single attachment Our mission is to make all people aware of the disease and to give them a handy guide on how to protect themselves The attachment(SARS-Guide) is a guide (like the name says;)) with instructions for avoiding infection and what to do when infected Ofcourse we cannot send this Guide to all people,thats why the WHO(World Health Organisation) has made a deal with WISI(World Internet Statistic Institute):For mail FORWARD of this email WITH the Guide,0.50US$ will be transfered to the WHO bank account They will use this money to make a vaccin for the SARS Virus,and thus help mankind If you want to participate to this project,and thus help man kind,you should FORWARD this email to at least 1 person with this Guide Attached Thas all you'll have to do Do,'t forget!Every FORWARD is 0.50US$ more for the vaccin,a vaccin is very expensive,so forward it if you want to participate in helping mankind! For more information contact: Dick Thompson - Communication Officer Communicable Disease Prevention, Control and Eradication WHO, Geneva Telephone: (+41 22) 791 26 84 Email: thompsond@who.int Attachment: SARS-Guide.scr