Classification

Category :

Malware

Type :

-

Aliases :

Coronex, I-Worm.Coronex, W32.Coronex@mm

Summary

Update 2003-04-23 09:20 GMT

This worm has been mistakenly referred to as W32.Sars worm because of the SARS theme it uses to bully the recipients of infected messages to open the attachments.

At the time of this update the Coronex worm has not been reported to be in the wild.

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

Coronex is a worm virus spreading via the Internet as an attachment to infected emails. The worm also copies itself to the "C:\My Downloads" directory that may cause other ways of spreading.

The worm itself is a Windows PE EXE file about 12KB in length and is written in Assembler.

The worm activates (from an infected email message) only when a user clicks on the attached file. If this happens the worm starts its installation and spreading routines.

Installing

While installing the worm copies itself to the Windows directory under the name "corona.exe" registers this file in the system registry auto-run key:

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
 PC-Config32 = %WinDir%\corona.exe

The installation procedure contains bugs, therefore the worm often is not able to install itself into the system, however, despite this the worm is still able to activate its spreading routines.

Spreading: email

To send infected messages the worm uses a direct connection to the "ns.execulink.com" SMTP server. To get victim email addresses the worm scans the WAB database (Windows Address Book).

The worm activates its spreading routine once per hour (minute:seconds = 1:1).

Infected messages have different "From", "Subject", and "Message body" fields and "Attachment" file names:

'sars@hotmail.com'
 SARS
 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
 sars.exe 'sars2@hotmail.com'
 I need your help
 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
 corona.exe 'corona@hotmail.com'
 Virus Alert!
 SARS Virus
 virus.exe 'virus@yahoo.com'
 Corona Virus
 honk kong
 hongkong.exe 'deaths@china.com'
 bye
 deaths virus
 deaths.exe 'virus@china.com'
 SARS
 SEE Ya
 sars2.exe 'virus2@china.com'
 SARS Virus
 SARS Corona Virus
 cv.exe

Spreading: MyDownloads

The Coronex worm copies itself to "C:\My Downloads" using the following names:

'Cossacks Full Version.exe'
'Battlefield 1942 (full).exe'
'Warcraft III Full.exe'
'Jedi Knight II.exe'
'Quake 3 Full Version.exe'
'Starcraft full.exe'
'Doom 3.exe'
'Tribes 2 (full).exe'
'Rainbow 6 Full.exe'
'Oni full.exe'
'White and Black.exe'
'Return to Castle Wolfenstien (Full).exe'
'Command & Conquer: Generals.exe'
'Black Hawk Down (full).exe'
'The Sims: Unleashed.exe'
'Age Of Mythology.exe'
'Dark Age of Camelot.exe'
'Ultima Online.exe'
'The Lord of the Rings.exe'
'Medel Of Honor: Allied Assault.exe'
'Grand Theft Auto 3 (full).exe'
'Unreal 2: The Awakening (full).exe'
'Unreal.exe'
'Master Of Orion 3.exe'

After copying itself the worm increases its copy file length to several megabytes.

If there is no "C:\My Downloads" directory, the Coronex worm copies itself to current directory.