My computer is not up to date, will the conficker affect my computer?

[Martial H]

General Methods of propagation:
• Local network
• Mapped network drives


Aliases:
• Symantec: W32.Downadup.B
• Kaspersky: Net-Worm.Win32.Kido.fw
• F-Secure: Worm:W32/Downadup.gen!A
• Sophos: Mal/Conficker-A
• Panda: Trj/Downloader.MDW
• Grisoft: I-Worm/Generic.CJY
• Eset: a variant of Win32/Conficker.AE worm
• Bitdefender: Win32.Worm.Downadup.Gen

Similar detection:
• Worm/Kido


Platforms / OS:
• Windows 95
• Windows 98
• Windows 98 SE
• Windows NT
• Windows ME
• Windows 2000
• Windows XP
• Windows 2003


Side effects:
• Registry modification
• Makes use of software vulnerability
• Third party control

Files It copies itself to the following locations:
• %all shared folders% \RECYCLER\S-%number%\%random character string%.vmx
• %ProgramFiles%\Internet Explorer\%random character string%.dll
• %ProgramFiles%\Movie Maker\%random character string%.dll
• %System%\%random character string%.dll
• %Temp%\%random character string%.dll
• %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\%random character string%.dll



The following file is created:

– %all shared folders%\autorun.inf This is a non malicious text file with the following content:
• %random comments%
shellexecute rundll32.exe %paths and filenames of malware copies%,%random character string%
%random comments%

Registry The following registry keys are added in order to load the service after reboot:

– HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\%random words%\
Parameters\
• ServiceDll" = "%paths and filenames of malware copies%"

– HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\%random words%\
• "ImagePath" = %SystemRoot%\system32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs
"Type" = "4"
"Start" = "4"
"ErrorControl" = "4"



The following registry keys are changed:

– [HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wscsvc]
Old value:
• "Start"=dword:00000003
New value:
• "Start"=dword:00000004

– [HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wuauserv]
Old value:
• "Start"=dword:00000003
New value:
• "Start"=dword:00000004

– [HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\BITS]
Old value:
• "Start"=dword:00000003
New value:
• "Start"=dword:00000004

– [HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ERSvc]
Old value:
• "Start"=dword:00000003
New value:
• "Start"=dword:00000004

– HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
New value:
• "Hidden"=dword:00000002
"ShowCompColor"=dword:00000001
"HideFileExt"=dword:00000000
"DontPrettyPath"=dword:00000000
"ShowInfoTip"=dword:00000001
"HideIcons"=dword:00000000
"MapNetDrvBtn"=dword:00000000
"WebView"=dword:00000000
"Filter"=dword:00000000
"SuperHidden"=dword:00000000
"SeparateProcess"=dword:00000000

Network Infection In order to ensure its propagation the malware attemps to connect to other machines as described below.


IP address generation:
It creates random IP addresses while it keeps the first three octets from its own address. Afterwards it tries to establish a connection with the created addresses.


Infection process:
It makes the compromised machine download the malware from the infected source computer.
The downloaded file is stored on the compromised machine as: .\RECYCLER\S-%number%\%random character string%.vmx

Hosts – Access to the following domains is effectively blocked:
• ahnlab; arcabit; avast; avg.; avira; avp.; bit9.; ca.; castlecops;
centralcommand; cert.; clamav; comodo; computerassociates; cpsecure;
defender; drweb; emsisoft; esafe; eset; etrust; ewido; f-prot;
f-secure; fortinet; gdata; grisoft; hacksoft; hauri; ikarus; jotti;
k7computing; kaspersky; malware; mcafee; microsoft; nai.;
networkassociates; nod32; norman; norton; panda; pctools; prevx;
quickheal; rising; rootkit; sans.; securecomputing; sophos; spamhaus;
spyware; sunbelt; symantec; threatexpert; trendmicro; vet.; virus;
wilderssecurity; windowsupdate


Miscellaneous Internet connection:
In order to check for its internet connection the following DNS servers are contacted:
• http://www.getmyip.org
• http://www.whatsmyipaddress.com
• http://getmyip.co.uk
• http://checkip.dyndns.org


Checks for an internet connection by contacting the following web sites:
• baidu.com; google.com; yahoo.com; msn.com; ask.com; w3.org; aol.com;
cnn.com; ebay.com; msn.com; myspace.com


File patching:
In order to increase the number of maximum connections it has the capability to modify the tcpip.sys. It may result in a corruption of that file and break network connectivity.

Rootkit Technology It is a malware-specific technology. The malware hides its presence from system utilities, security applications and in the end, from the user.


Method used: