Risk: Medium
A new version of the worm that spread from infected Microsoft Web servers in June has been identified and is using instant messages and infected web sites in Russia, Uruguay, and the United States to spread itself, according to one security company.
Researchers at a Californian security company have intercepted new malicious code closely resembling that from widespread attacks in June attributed to a worm named "Scob" or "Download.ject". The new attacks use mass-distributed instant messages to lure Internet users to web sites that distribute malicious code similar to Download.ject.
This wave of attacks works similarly, routing victims to web sites with code that takes advantage of vulnerabilities in Microsoft Internet Explorer and Outlook. Though Microsoft has patched those vulnerabilities, the attackers are attempting to exploit unpatched systems. Two patches from 2003, MS03-025 and MS03-040M, address the flaws used by the new worm.
First detected on June 24, the Scob attacks were attributed to a Russian hacking group known as the "HangUP team". The virus used a recently patched buffer overflow vulnerability in Microsoft's implementation of Secure Sockets Layer to compromise vulnerable Windows 2000 systems running Internet Information Server Version 5 Web servers. Companies that used IIS Version 5 and failed to apply a recent security software patch, MS04-011, were vulnerable.
The June attacks also used two vulnerabilities in Windows and Internet Explorer to silently run the malicious code distributed from the IIS servers on machines that visited the compromised sites. The malware redirected victims to web sites controlled by the hackers, and downloaded a Trojan horse program that captured keystrokes and personal data.
The newer attacks begin with instant messages sent to people using America Online's AOL Instant Messenger or ICQ instant messaging program. The messages invite recipients to click on a link to a Web page, with pitches such as "Check out my new home page!" The messages could appear to be sent from strangers or from regular IM correspondents, or "buddies".
Once victims click on the link, they are taken to one of a handful of attack web pages hosted on servers in Uruguay, Russia, and the United States. There, a Trojan horse program is downloaded.
In addition to opening a "back door" on the victim's computer through which additional malicious programs can enter, the new attacks change the victim's web browser home page or Outlook e-mail search page to web sites featuring adult content.
The attacks are still being analysed to determine whether or not malicious code is placed onto victim's machines. However, many of the files used by the new worm and the way the attacks occur, point to the same group that launched the Scob attacks in June.