Classification

Category :

Malware

Type :

Worm

Aliases :

Randex.J, W32.Randex.F, W32/Randex.J, Worm.Randex.G

Summary

Randex is a network worm that has backdoor features. This variant of Randex appeared on 8th of September 2003.

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

The worm's file is a Windows PE executable 73728 bytes long. The worm's file is not compressed. Some text strings in the worm are encrypted with a simple cryptoalgorithm.

When the worm's file is started it first looks for and deletes 'winnt32.dat' file in Windows System folder. Then the worm gets API addresses of different Windows functions and checks whether it is already installed on this computer. If not, the worm copies its file as 'netd32.exe' to Windows System directory and creates a startup key for it in the Registry:

[HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
"Microsoft Network Daemon for Win32" = "netd32.exe"
[HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices]
 "Microsoft Network Daemon for Win32" = "netd32.exe"

After the worm starts, it tries to connect to an IRC server (two hardcoded names) and creates a bot in the specific channel (hardcoded name) on this server. Through this bot a hacker can control the worm's behaviour. A hacker can perform the following actions:

1. Log in and out of the bot
2. Display and clear masters list
3. Terminate own process
4. Generate another random nickname for the bot
5. Connect and disconnec from IRC server
6. List active threads
7. Show log file
8. Get connection type
9. Get system information
10. Start and stop NTScan
11. Uninstall the worm
12. Delete the WINNT32.DAT file
13. Terminate theads or a selected thread
14. Join and part from a channel, change bot's nickname
15. Open or run a specified file
16. Get DNS info
17. Open a specified URL
18. Perform SYN flood
19. Send private message from a bot
20. Create clones
21. Redirect traffic for specific port
22. Download files from a specified URL
23. Execute specified files
24. Change channel mode
25. Update the worm from a specified URL
26. Destroy current bot
27. Perform a DoS (Denial of Service) attack
28. Steal CD keys for the following games:

HalfLife
Unreal Tournament 2003
Battlefield 1942
Battlefield 1942: Road To Rome
Command and Conquer: Generals
 

When instructed to do a NTScan, the worm copies itself to Windows System folder as WINNT32.DAT, generates random IP addresses and tries to connect to them. The worm tries to retrieve network user names and connect using them, but in case this fails, the worm will try to connect as Administrator. Once connected the worm tries to access to IPC$ share on remote computer and to copy itself to the following locations as NETD32.EXE file:

\ADMIN$\system32\netd32.exe
\C$\WINNT\system32\netd32.exe

The above locations correspond to System32 folders of NT-based operating systems.

After copying its file, the worm creates a scheduled network task to start the copied worm's file on remote computer. When this happens, a remote computer becomes infected with the worm.