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A  U  S  C  E  R  T                                           A  L  E  R  T

                       AL-2004.040 -- AUSCERT ALERT
        Tsunami Warning Fraudulent E-mails and Malicious Web Sites
                              2 December 2004

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Overview:

  AusCERT has become aware of several fraudulent e-mails, subject lines
  include "Warning, Tsunami", "Huge ocean wave!" and "Coming Tsunami"
  circulating in Australia and overseas, which are used to entice the
  reader to visit malicious web sites. These web sites contain executable
  javascript code which if successfully executed, will install a trojan
  program which in turn captures keystrokes when the user visits banking
  related web sites.  They may also install programs which allow malicious
  users to take control of an infected PC.


Vulnerability:

  The malicious web sites that are linked to in the emails attempt to
  download and run an executable file, typically named server.exe.  This
  file is detected by multiple antivirus vendors as backdoor.berbew.m[1],
  troj/padodor[2], Padodor.W[3] and Backdoor.webber[4].

  The trojan then attempts to remove any cached credentials, install a
  keylogger to facilitate password capture, hide files and processes using
  rootkit technology.  The captured details are stored in a file on the
  compromised system and later uploaded to a website.

  Several exploits are attempted to facilitate downloading of this trojan,
  including the JS.Dragdrop vulnerability [5] to install files on to the
  user's machine.  This was corrected on October 12, 2004 in Microsoft's
  Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer, MS04-038 [6].

  
Mitigation:

  Installation of the patches mentioned in Microsoft security bulletin
  MS04-038[6] will protect a computer against the above mentioned
  vulnerability.

  Updated antivirus signatures may allow detection of this threat. AusCERT
  recommends regular updating of virus definitions to ensure the maximum
  level of protection available from these products.

  For more information regarding protecting your computer from malicious
  code see:
  
  http://www.auscert.org.au/3352


Email Details:

  The email circulating is similar to the following:

  ---- start Tsunami email ----

  Subject: Warning, Tsunami

  THIS IS AN OFFICIAL WARNING!

  A huge 300 ft. high ocean wave is moving towards South Australia.
  Adelaide and many other cities are in a real danger.  Approximate wave
  moving speed is 700 km/h.

  Please read more about this catastrophe here:http://www.tsunamidanger.com/

  We are strongly urging you to evacuate yourself and your family as soon
  as possible,even though you may live far away from Adelaide.  The tsunami
  will reach the continent in approximately FOUR hours.

  YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! 

  ---- end Tsunami email ----

  The subject line may also include 'THIS IS AN OFFICIAL WARNING' or
  similar.

  When any of the links in the email are clicked, they go to one of a
  number of internet addresses which include the following malicious
  websites:

  www .tsunamidanger.com
  www .danger-tsunami.com
  www .tsunamishere.com
  www .tsuntrack.net
  www .waveplanet.org
  www .hugewave.org

Administrators may wish to actively block access to these domains via
proxys or manually through hosts files.


References

  [1] - http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/backdoor.berbew.m.html
  [2] - http://www.sophos.com/virusinfo/analyses/trojpadodogen.html
  [3] - http://www.f-secure.com/v-descs/padodorw.shtml
  [4] - http://www.pandasoftware.com/virus_info/encyclopedia/overview.aspx?idvirus=49003
  [5] - http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/vulninfo/vuln.aspx?ID=7065
  [6] - http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms04-038.mspx

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You have received this e-mail bulletin as a result of your organisation's
registration with AusCERT. The mailing list you are subscribed to is
maintained within your organisation, so if you do not wish to continue
receiving these bulletins you should contact your local IT manager. If
you do not know who that is, please send an email to auscert@auscert.org.au
and we will forward your request to the appropriate person.

NOTE: Third Party Rights
This security bulletin is provided as a service to AusCERT's members.  As
AusCERT did not write the document quoted above, AusCERT has had no control
over its content. The decision to follow or act on information or advice
contained in this security bulletin is the responsibility of each user or
organisation, and should be considered in accordance with your organisation's
site policies and procedures. AusCERT takes no responsibility for consequences
which may arise from following or acting on information or advice contained in
this security bulletin.

NOTE: This is only the original release of the security bulletin.  It may
not be updated when updates to the original are made.  If downloading at
a later date, it is recommended that the bulletin is retrieved directly
from the author's website to ensure that the information is still current.

Contact information for the authors of the original document is included
in the Security Bulletin above.  If you have any questions or need further
information, please contact them directly.

Previous advisories and external security bulletins can be retrieved from:

        http://www.auscert.org.au/render.html?cid=1980

If you believe that your computer system has been compromised or attacked in 
any way, we encourage you to let us know by completing the secure National IT 
Incident Reporting Form at:

        http://www.auscert.org.au/render.html?it=3192

===========================================================================
Australian Computer Emergency Response Team
The University of Queensland
Brisbane
Qld 4072

Internet Email: auscert@auscert.org.au
Facsimile:      (07) 3365 7031
Telephone:      (07) 3365 4417 (International: +61 7 3365 4417)
                AusCERT personnel answer during Queensland business hours
                which are GMT+10:00 (AEST).
                On call after hours for member emergencies only.
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