Classification

Category :

Malware

Type :

Worm

Aliases :

WinExt, I-Worm.WinExt, I-Worm.Trit

Summary

WinExt is an encrypted Internet worm. It usually appears as TRYIT.EXE file attached to email messages. This worm itself is Windows PE executable that is about 70Kb long.

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

When the worm is run it installs itself as WINEXT.EXE into Windows directory and modifies INI files or/and Registry to be run during all further Windows sessions. The worm also creates the additional WINEXT.DAT file in the same directory, and saves some data there. This data is used by the worm while spreading its copies.

After installation the worm sleeps for 1 hour and then launches its spreading routine. To spread itself the worm connects to MS Outlook by using MAPI functions, gets access to messages in Outlook database, and "answers" them with attached TRYIT.EXE file (worm's copy). The "answer" has the same subject with "Re:" prefix, and the message body is randomly selected from variants:

Hi, *
See You Soon
Salut *,
A+.
A bientot.
J'ai bien recu ton message,
je m'en occupe rapidement.
En attendant, regardes le fichier joint.

where '*' is recipient's name.

The worm also seems to have backdoor capaabilities. It checks the messages for specific data, then gets "commands" from the message. There are few commands accepted by the worm: "Stop" - the worm deletes current mail message; "DeleteExe" - the worm uninstalls itself from system and some other commands.

The worm constantly checks system date and in August it removes itself from infected system. About 20 days before that (from 11th to 31st of July) the worm sends "Happy Birthday" congratulations to the email address "nathalie.paget@francetelecom.fr". These messages are randomly constructed from several variants:

Bon anniversaire
Happy birthday
Bonjour Nathalie
Coucou
Hi Nathalie
Bon anniversaire Nathalie
Happy birthday Nathalie
Salut Nathalie,
Je te souhaite un bon anniversaire.
Bon anniversaire
 /\_/\

____/ o o \
/~____
='= / (______)__m_m)
Hi Nathalie,
Happy birthday to you.
Mille bisous pour ton anniversaire.
Happy birthday Nathalie,
 O O
0 * 0
 0 0'\/\ \/
Des milliers de fleurs pour ton anniversaire.
Bonjour Nathalie,
Je pense a toi pour ton anniversaire
Tous mes voeux de bonheur
Bisous,
Loutine
A bientot

Loutine
Tu me manques
 Loutine
See you soon
 Loutine
A+
 Loutine
:-)
Loutine
:(
 Loutine
Je t'embrasse tres fort
 Loutine
Je t'aime
 Loutine

The worm also has the "loutine@hotmail.com" email address in its body, but does not use it.