-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

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

                       AL-2007.0081 -- AUSCERT ALERT
                                   [Win]
         High volume of email linking to the "Storm Worm" malware
                                9 July 2007

===========================================================================

        AusCERT Alert Summary
        ---------------------

Operating System:     Windows
Impact:               Execute Arbitrary Code/Commands
Access:               Remote/Unauthenticated

- --------------------------BEGIN INCLUDED TEXT--------------------

OVERVIEW:

        AusCERT has observed very large amounts of email purporting to be 
        greeting cards and security updates containing links to malware. 
        This malware is a variant of what is widely known as the "Storm 
        worm", but also known as Tibs or Peacomm [1].


IMPACT:

        A user visiting the links contained in these emails is will be 
        prompted to install malicious software. This software contains 
        backdoor functionality to allow a remote attacker to fully control
        a system. This malware also uses an encrypted P2P control mechanism.

        Currently, this malware is not well detected by many anti-virus 
        vendors. AusCERT has observed more than 50 sites hosting this 
        malware.


MITIGATION:

        Users should avoid clicking on any links in email, unless the email 
        was already expected. Unsolicited e-mail should always be treated 
        with suspicion. Additional countermeasures for protecting Windows 
        systems can be found on the AusCERT web site [2].

        Administrators may wish to examine proxy logs for connections to 
        malicious URLs and mail logs for suspicious messages (see below for 
        more information) which may indicate possible infections.


DETAILS:

        The subject of the malicious email is of the form:

          "You've received a greeting card from a: "

        followed by one of the following:

          Class-Mate!
          Worshipper!
          Neighbour!
          Mate!
          Family Member!
          Colleague!
          Friend!
          Partner!

        Another varient has the following subject:

          "Virus Detected!"

        and with a body of:

          Dear Customer,

          Our robot has detected an abnormal activity from your IP adress
          on sending e-mails. Probably it is connected with the last epidemic
          of a worm which does not have official patches at the moment

          We recommend you [URL] to install this patch to remove worm files 
          and stop email sending, otherwise your account will be blocked.


        The URLs contained in these emails are of the form:

          http://[IP]/?[random string]

        where [IP] is an IP address of the site hosting the trojan. AusCERT
        has observed over 50 of these IPs and there is a high likelyhood of 
        other (currently unknown) sites hosting malware in the future. The
        [random string] appears to be a variable length (AusCERT has 
        observed string lengths ranging from 23 to 32 characters) 
        hexadecimal digits. These pages link to malware (named either 
        patch.exe or ecard.exe).


REFERENCES:

        [1] F-Secure Malware Information Pages: Small.DAM
            http://www.f-secure.com/v-descs/small_dam.shtml

        [2] Protecting your computer from malicious code
            http://www.auscert.org.au/3352

- --------------------------END INCLUDED TEXT--------------------

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.
===========================================================================

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Comment: http://www.auscert.org.au/render.html?it=1967

iQCVAwUBRpGa/ih9+71yA2DNAQI63wP8CfplwcAMX9K5zU33qE1sODXW8MbJyd1G
DwrkbTFyhbn+QftLPEMnO3HgBOx2H5RSbHJjP05qir5hrrH2kTS61aI91PAcKixF
SsjdIL+lVJs9z2vMYyMLIzl76HsCMO+32pU99FBSvFUVNgxmFm6HWfvZ5aoob4+o
7JUWVUTrrZ4=
=OcuX
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----