F-Secure Virus Descriptions : Korgo.U

[Summary] | [Detailed Description] | [Detection]

NAME:	Korgo.U
ALIAS:	Worm.Win32.Padobot.m, W32/Korgo.U
SIZE:	9353

Summary

The Korgo.U (aka Padobot.m) variant was found on June 24th, 2004. It is very similar to the previous Korgo variants, discovered since June 17th. Korgo.U worm spreads throughout the Internet using a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows LSASS. A description of the vulnerability can be found in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-011:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS04-011.mspx

Detailed Description

The worm's file is a PE executable 9353 bytes long packed with PE-Patch and UPX file compressor. The unpacked file's size is about 19.6 kilobytes in size.

When the worm's file is run, it first deletes the FTPUPD.EXE file. Then the worm creates a mutex with the "uterm19" name. This is done to avoid loading multiple copies of the worm into memory.

Next, the worm deletes Registry key values and terminates processes with any of the following names:

 Windows Security Manager
 Disk Defragmenter
 System Restore Service
 Bot Loader
 SysTray
 WinUpdate
 Windows Update Service
 avserve.exe
 avserve2.exeUpdate Service
 MS Config v13
 Windows Update

The key values are deleted from the following Registry key:

 [HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]

After that the worm installs itself to system and creates a startup key for its file in the Registry. The worm's file is copied to Windows System folder with a randomly generated name. The following Registry key is then created:

 [HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
 "Cryptographic Service" = "%WinSysDir%\<random>.exe"

where %WinSysDir% represents Windows System directory name and <random> represents random characters. The name of the worm's file can be for example 'duzjoarc.exe'.

Additionally the worm creates the following Registry key value:

 [HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Wireless]
 "ID" = "<random_letters>"
 "Client"

where '<random_letters>' is a string of random characters, for example 'kunzwpofkkgtruihr'.

The worm tries to start its spreading routine as a remote thread of Windows Explorer. If this fails, the worm starts the spreading thread directly.

The worm periodically connects to several websites (sometimes, depending on an internal flag, with a specially constructed URL) and reads a file from there. If the file's data does not contain 'zer0' string, the worm waits and re-connects again later. Connection intervals are random. If the file contains 'zer0' string, the worm downloads an executable file from that website to Windows System folder and runs it. It should be noted that the worm performs a secure authentication before the file is downloaded.

Here's the list of websites that the worm tries to connect to:

 mazafaka.ru
 xware.cjb.net
 citi-bank.ru
 konfiskat.org
 adult-empire.com
 parex-bank.ru
 kidos-bank.ru
 crutop.nu
 kavkaz.tv
 color-bank.ru
 master-x.com
 asechka.ru
 fethard.biz
 roboxchange.com
 master-x.com
 filesearch.ru
 www.redline.ru
 cvv.ru

Additionally the worm can listen on a random TCP port.

The worm spreads to remote computers using LSASS vulnerability. It contacts remote computers on TCP port 445, exploits the vulnerability and copies its file to a remote system. As a result a remote system is restarted and after restart the worm becomes active and continues its spreading cycle.

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Detection

Detection of Korgo.U/Padobot.m variant was published on June 24rd, 2004 in the following F-Secure Anti-Virus update:

[FSAV_Database_Version]

Version=2004-06-24_05

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Technical Details: Alexey Podrezov; June 24th, 2004;

F-Secure Corporation