Bagle.a prevention and cure

Name: Bagle (w32.bagle.a@mm)

What it does: Attempts to e-mail others

Means of transmission: E-mail

How to recognise: E-mail with "Hi" in the subject line and unusual activity on port 6777

Who is at risk: Windows users

Despite flaws in its programming, a new mass-mailing e-mail worm is spreading across Asia and the Internet. Bagle (Bagle.a@mm) looks like yet another worm designed by spammers, much like Sobig and MiMail. It appears to be building a network of vulnerable computers from which it can later launch anonymous e-mail.

When executed, Bagle attempts to e-mail every e-mail address it finds on an infected computer; it will also attempt to download a Trojan horse from a remote site. Bagle appears to be the first of a new family of viruses. Like Sobig, it contains a built-in expiration date; in this case, it's January 28, 2004. Because Bagle spreads via e-mail and could install a Trojan horse program, this worm rates a 7 on the CNET Virus Meter.

How it works
Bagle arrives as an e-mail message with the subject line -Hi." It appears to be sent from a random e-mail address. The body text reads -Test =)" followed by random letters. The attached file, too, uses random letters followed by an .exe extension. The attached file may use the Windows calculator icon.

When executed, the worm will collect e-mail addresses from address books, text, and HTML files. The worm will not, however, contact addresses using the following domains:

  • .r1
  • @hotmail.com
  • @msn.com
  • @microsoft
  • @avp

    After January 28, 2004, Bagle will not execute.

    According to iDefense, Bagle will make the following changes to the system Registry:

    HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run d3update.exe=WINDOWS SYSTEM DIRECTORY\bbeagle.exe

    HKU\%SystemInfo%\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run d3update.exe=WINDOWS SYSTEM DIRECTORY\bbeagle.exe

    HKCU\Software\Windows98 frun=1 uid=RANDOMIZED VALUE

    Bagle also attempts to download a Trojan horse from a remote site. To do so, it attempts to communicate on port 6777. Desktop firewalls should be able to detect and stop this activity. In theory, this downloaded Trojan would allow the virus author at some future date to update or modify the worm. At this time, however, all the sites Bagle attempts to contact appear to be inactive.

    Removal
    A few antivirus software companies have updated their signature files to include this worm. This will stop the infection upon contact and in some cases will remove an active infection from your system. For more information, see Central Command, Computer Associates, F-Secure, McAfee, MessageLabs, Norman, Sophos, Symantec, and Trend Micro.

  • Advertisement

    Talkback 0 comments

    Sponsored content

    Power Centre - Content from our premier sponsors

    Blogs

    • Phil Dobbie Is wholesale-only backhaul just a pipedream?
      The potential acquisition of Pipe Networks by SP Telemedia has raised the question about whether vertically integrated backhaul providers will mean higher wholesale prices for ISP customers.
    • Array Get extensions going in Firefox, redux
      Previously on Null Pointer we looked at getting extensions working in Firefox betas, and that was great until the fine folks at Firefox changed their minds.
    • Array How reliable is IP telephony?
      Have you ever heard a weird kind of hissing, crackling or popping noise when calling someone on an IP telephony line? How rare is the phenomenon these days?
    • More blogs »

    Tags

    Back to top

    Featured