What is Blackmal.A worm and How Did I Get It?

Blackmal@mm is a mass-mailing worm that uses its own SMTP engine to email itself to all the contacts in MSN Messenger, Yahoo Pager, and email addresses found in the files with the .htm or .dbx extensions. The worm uses Windows Media Player to mask its malicious intentions and attempts to delete security software and system files.

The email message has a randomly selected subject line, message, and attachment with a .scr, .exe, .zip, or .tgz file extension.

Also known as: W32/MyWife.a@MM, I-Worm.Nyxem, W32/Nyxem-A, WORM_BLUEWORM.A

When Blackmal.A runs, it does the following:

1. Creates a %Windir%\TEMPORARY folder and sets the hidden attribute.
   
   
2. Copies itself as the following files:
   
   • %System%\<random_file_name1>.exe
   • %Windir%\TEMPORARY \<random_file_name2>.exe
     
     
3. Copies itself as multiple .src files or archives itself as a .zip or .tgz file, and then drops them in the %System% folder.
   
   The files will use any of the following file names:
   
   • Fix_BlackWorm.com
   • Julia_1997_Fucking.MPEG_.scr
   • juanita_in_the_kitchen.MPEG.scr
   • 17Ag_double_suck__part[2].MPEG_.scr
   • April_FromTexas.MPEG_.scr
   • Video_briefcase_Group[13].MPEG_.scr
   • After_2AM_small_room[4].MPEG__.scr
   • Graham_Hilton_Sex[4].MPEG__.scr
   • WebCam_12girls_Ass.mpeg_.scr
   • Shakira_Anal_very_old.MPEG.scr
   • why_fuck_anal_back.MPEG.scr
   • open_girl_21year.MPEG.scr
   • Ricky_Gay_ass.MPEG______________.scr
   • GrahamCluley_freakin_Ass_.MPEG__.scr
   • Sexual_Crimes.MPEG____.scr
     
     or:
     
   • hard_babe
   • AprilGoostree
   • Video
   • JuliaRoberts
   • BigFuck
   • hotsucking
   • ParisHilton
   • Shakira
   • Vclip2
   • easyFuck_GIRL
   • RickyMartin
   • AssClip
   • SexCrimes
   • Scan
     
     with one or two of the following file extensions:
     
   • .zip
   • .exe
   • .tgz
     
     
4. Creates a file named Media.Temp.Mpeg in the %Temp% folder and attempts to open Windows Media Player to play it.
   
   
5. Creates and registers the following .dll files so that the worm can spread itself through email:
   
   • OSSMTP.dll
   • Oswinsck.dll
     
     
6. Adds the values:
   
   • "<random_file_name1>.exe"="%System%\<random_file_name1>.exe"
   • "(default)"="%Windir%\TEMPORARY \<random_file_name2>.exe"
     
     to the registry keys:
     
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
     \Run
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
     \RunServices
   • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
     \Run
     
     
7. Creates the following keys:
   
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\OSSMTP.Attachment
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\OSSMTP.CustomHeader
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\OSSMTP.SMTPSession
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\oswinsck.TCP
     
     
8. Deletes the values:
   
   • NPROTECT
   • ccApp
   • ScriptBlocking
   • MCUpdateExe
   • VirusScan Online
   • MCAgentExe
   • VSOCheckTask
   • PCClient.exe
   • PCCIOMON.exe
   • pccguide.exe
   • PccPfw
   • tmproxy
   • McAfeeVirusScanService
   • NAV Agent
   • PCCClient.exe
   • SSDPSRV
   • Taskmon
   • KasperskyAv
   • system.
   • msgsvr32
   • Windows Services Host
   • Explorer
   • Sentry
   • ssate.exe
   • winupd.exe
   • au.exe
     
     from the registry keys:
     
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
     \Run
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
     \RunServices
   • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
     \Run
   • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
     \RunServices
     
     
9. Attempts to delete all the files or executables in the following folders:
   
   • %Program Files%\Norton AntiVirus\
   • %Program Files%\McAfee\McAfee VirusScan\Vso\
   • %Program Files%\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2002\
   • %Program Files%\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2003\
   • %Program Files%\Trend Micro\Internet Security\
   • %Program Files%\Symantec\LiveUpdate\
     
     so that the software cannot run to detect the worm.
     
     
10. Performs a DDOS attack against www.nymex.com.
    
    
11. Enumerates network shares and attempts to copy itself to the open shares.

How to Remove the Blackmal.A Worm?

Kaspersky Internet Security Can Prevent You From Virus and Intrusion. If Kaspersky detects Blackmal.A during the scan, it will AUTOMATICALLY offer you the option of deleting it. Do this by following the program's instructions.

Follow these steps in removing the Blackmal.A worm.

1. Disabling System Restore (Windows Me/XP)

For instructions on how to turn off System Restore, read your Windows documentation, or one of the following articles: "How to disable or enable Windows Me/XP System Restore".

• For Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, or XP users, restart the computer in Safe mode.
• For Windows NT 4 users, restart the computer in VGA mode.

1. Click Start, and then click Run. (The Run dialog box appears.)
2. Type regedit
   
   Then click OK. (The Registry Editor opens.)
   
3. Navigate to the following keys:
   
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
     \Run
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
     \RunServices
   • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
     \Run
     
4. In the right pane, delete the following values:
   
   • "<worm_file_name>.exe" = "%System%\<worm_file_name>.exe"
   • "(default)" = "%Windir%\TEMPORARY \<worm_file_name>.exe"
     
5. Exit the Registry Editor.
   
6. Restart the computer in Normal mode.

4. Updating the virus definitions

If you do not know which anti-virus software can provide strong protection for you, Kaspersky Internet Security is recommended.

5. Scanning for and deleting the infected files

1. Start your Kaspersky Internet Security and make sure that it is configured to scan all the files.
2. Run a full system scan.
3. If any files are detected as infected with Blackmal.A, click Delete.

How to Disinfect My Computer from Worms?

In order to keep your computer protected, bear the following tips in mind:

1. If you have filtering tools installed, configure them to reject messages with the characteristics described above. If, in spite of doing this, you receive the message that contains the virus: do not open it, do not run the attached file and delete it, making sure that you also delete it from the Deleted Items folder.
2. Install a good antivirus in your computer. Select Kaspersky Internet Security to get the Kaspersky antivirus solution that best suits your needs.
3. Keep your antivirus updated. If automatic updates are available, configure your antivirus to use them.
4. Keep your permanent antivirus protection enabled at all times.

Detect and Removal Instruction for Other Worms - 'B':