Threat Descriptions

Email-Worm:W32/Vote.D

Classification

Category :

Malware

Type :

Email-Worm

Platform :

W32

Aliases :

Email-Worm:W32/Vote.D

Summary

This type of worm is embedded in an email attachment, and spreads using the infected computer's emailing networks.

Removal

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.

Technical Details

Email-Worm:W32/Vote.D is written in Visual Basic and propagates by sending itself to all recipients found in Outlook Address Book of an infected machine.

The worm disguises itself as pictures of the 2001 September 11 terrorist attacks and appears to be trying to remind and/or frighten users with the tragedy.

Propagation

The email messages sent by Vote.D have the following characteristics:

  • Subject: WORLD TRADE CENTER PICTURES
  • Body: Remember The Times.......MAYBE THEY WILL BE BACK....!!!
  • Attachment: WTC32.scr

Where the To: filed is the recipient's name.

The attachment is always named WTC32.scr. and is a PE executable file 61440 bytes long.

Installation

When a user runs the infected attachment, the worm copies itself to system with the following names:

  • c:\windows\notepad.exe
  • c:\Windows\WTC32.scr
  • c:\Autorun.com

Since the path "c:\Windows\" is hard-coded, Vote.D won't work if Windows is installed in a folder different from "c:\windows". After copying its files to a hard disk the worm creates a startup key for one of its files in the Registry:

  • [HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\W32Tc] @ = "c:\Windows\WTC32.scr"

Vote.D can also create a lot of copies of itself with randomly-generated names in c:\Windows\Systm32\BkUp folder.

Activity

Once installed, the worm changes the startup page of Internet Explorer to point to the worm's file "c:\Windows\WTC32.scr". After performing its mass-mailing routine, the worm displays one or more message boxes with different messages, for example:

  • WORLD TRADE CENTER
  • WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THOSE LOST SOULS...

Some of these messages are very insulting and contain bad language. The worm changes the Registered Owner and Registered Organization settings of Windows to:

  • YOU ARE A VICTIM OF THE
  • WORLD TRADE CENTER

And changes the Product Name setting of Windows to:

  • w32.hllp.I-Worm.WTC.03

The worm can play the "GUESS A NUMBER" game with a user of an infected computer. It asks:

  • "GUESS A NUMBER From 1 to 50"

and waits for the answer. If the answer is right, the worm displays "Alright!", otherwise it displays "Sorry !".

The worm's payload also includes dangerous routines. These are:

  • Deleting all DLL files in C:\Windows\System32\ folder.
  • Locating files with the following extensions - wav .mp3 .jpg .bmp .zip .rar .doc - and writing itself with the name of those files and an additional .exe extension. The original files are deleted.
  • Overwriting all .exe and .scr files with its body.