Help with irremovable Vundo variant (msddll.exe, VMWareservice.exe)

Discussion in 'Malware Help - MG (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by 3bg, Dec 26, 2008.

  1. 3bg

    3bg Private E-2

    Hello!
    I am running Windows XP Home Edition and in task manager there are 2 persistent files: VMWareservice.exe and msddll.exe which sometimes appear as multiple entries and always take up a lot of memory. I can't close them because they jump around in the list order and regenerate. I get IE pop-ups and my browser loads sites very slowly - sometimes, though my connection is working (files continue to download) my browsers (IE and Firefox) will all have their blank page connection error messages so I can't surf.

    I've tried googling this problem, and I'm guessing it's some Vundo variant. I've tried running a ton of malware destroyers: SUPERAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes, ATF Cleaner, SmitFraudFix, and that Vundo one I forget the exact name of (and can't check as my desktop has disappeared).

    Would really REALLY appreciate some help with this as it's driving me crazy!!
     
  2. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Welcome to Major Geeks!

    Please follow the instructions in the below link and attach the requested logs when you finish these instructions.


    • If something does not run, write down the info to explain to us later but keep on going.
    • Do not assume that because one step does not work that they all will not.
    READ & RUN ME FIRST. Malware Removal Guide

    Notes:

    1. If you run into problems trying to run the READ & RUN ME or any of the scans in normal boot mode. You can running steps in safe boot mode but make sure you tell us what you did later when you post logs. See the below if you do not know how to boot in safe mode:
    2. If you have problems downloading on the problem PC, download the tools on another PC and burn to a CD. Then copy them to the problem PC. You will have to skip getting updates if (and only if) your internet connection does not work. Yes you could use a flash drive too but flash drives are writeable and infections can spread to them.
     
  3. 3bg

    3bg Private E-2

    Attached are my logs. The only thing is I had to use the following options with SAS because it would freeze:

    Use Kernel Direct File Access (recommended)
    Use Kernel Direct Registry Access (recommended)
     

    Attached Files:

  4. 3bg

    3bg Private E-2

    Here's the last log.

    Thanks a lot for your help!
     

    Attached Files:

  5. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    First a question: Is your AV software ( VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware) a paid for version?

    Please disable all anti-virus and anti-spyware programs while we do the following (re-enable when you are finished):

    Open notepad and copy and paste the following text in the quote box into the window:
    Save this as fix.bat
    Choose to save as all files.
    Doubleclick fix.bat and let the program run.
    A small black dos window will flash, this is normal.

    Run C:\MGtools\analyse.exe by double clicking on it (Note: if using Vista, don't double click, use right click and select Run As Administrator). This is really HijackThis (select Do a system scan only) and select the following lines but DO NOT CLICK FIX until you exit all browser sessions including the one you are reading in right now:
    After clicking Fix, exit HJT.

    Now Copy the bold text below to notepad. Save it as fixME.reg to your desktop. Be sure the "Save as" type is set to "all files" Once you have saved it double click it and allow it to merge with the registry.
    Now download The Avenger by Swandog469, and save it to your Desktop.

    * Extract avenger.exe from the Zip file and save it to your desktop
    * Run avenger.exe by double-clicking on it.
    * Do not change any check box options!!
    * Copy everything in the Quote box below, and paste it into the Input script here: part of the window:

    * Now click the Execute button.
    * Click Yes to the prompt to confirm you want to execute.
    * Click Yes to the Reboot now? question that will appear when Avenger finishes running.
    * Your PC should reboot, if not, reboot it yourself.
    * A log file from Avenger will be produced at C:\avenger.txt and it will popup for you to view when you login after reboot.

    Now part of your problem is this:
    Code:
    Total Physical Memory    512.00 MB    
    Available Physical Memory    73.79 MB
    
    You need more RAM!

    Now run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it. Then attach the new C:\MGlogs.zip file that will be created by running this and also attach the log from Avenger.
     
  6. 3bg

    3bg Private E-2

    Hi,
    My AV software are free versions.

    I've run into a couple of problems in following your instructions:

    analyse.exe wasn't able to find this file:
    Then, in running GetLogs.bat, after the software information and description was this line (not sure if any significance):
    and it's been stuck on this instruction for the past 20 minutes:
    But I noticed the logs file is updated, so have attached that here.

    And just a side matter..(to add to the mess) I uninstalled my outdated Norton AV and now have been getting this error which takes many clicks to get rid of for 2 minutes before reappearing:
    After googling the problem, I used the uninstall tool on this site as a possible fix, but it still appears.


    Many thanks for your help!
     

    Attached Files:

  7. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Then VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware is a trial version?

    Open notepad and copy and paste the following text in the quote box into the window:
    Save this as fix.bat
    Choose to save as all files.
    Doubleclick fix.bat and let the program run.
    A small black dos window will flash, this is normal.

    * Run avenger.exe by double-clicking on it.
    * Do not change any check box options!!
    * Copy everything in the Quote box below, and paste it into the "Input script here:"
    part of the window:

    * Now click the Execute button.
    * Click Yes to the prompt to confirm you want to execute.
    * Click Yes to the Reboot now? question that will appear when Avenger finishes running.
    * Your PC should reboot, if not, reboot it yourself.
    * A log file from Avenger will be produced at C:\avenger.txt and it will popup for you to view when you login after reboot.

    Now run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it. Then attach the new C:\MGlogs.zip file that will be created by running this and also attach the log from Avenger.
     
  8. 3bg

    3bg Private E-2

    Thanks for the fast response!
    Yes, those AV programs are trial versions.

    I got this error in the same system restore step of GetLog.bat, but after clicking ok the process ran through to the end:
    Also, should VMWareservice.exe be deleted? I notice it appears with msddll...
     

    Attached Files:

  9. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    It looks like we got it all.

    However, tell me what this is:
    C:\fin.exe

    You will need to uninstall the trial version of your AV software and install some protection that will do a complete job:
    How to Protect yourself from malware!
     
  10. 3bg

    3bg Private E-2

    Thanks a lot for all your help!...however, I'm not sure my system's clean..
    I still have the problem with my browsers only working briefly before they are unable to download any page content (connection still works, because file downloads can continue, e.g. on youtube).

    And I noticed this strange process in task manager: intranetexplorer.exe
    Unfortunately, I have no idea what fin.exe is, but it was created just yesterday - should I delete this, and is VMWareservice.exe harmless?

    Hope you can share some more of your expertise!
     
  11. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Let's do this:

    * Make sure that combofix.exe that you downloaded while doing the READ & RUN ME is on your Desktop but Do not run it!
    o If it is not on your Desktop, the below will not work.
    * Close/disable all anti virus and anti malware programs so they do not interfere with the running of ComboFix.
    * Open Notepad and copy/paste the text in the below code box into it (make sure you scroll all the way down in the code box to get all lines selected ):
    Code:
    
    KILLALL::
    
    File::
    C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Application Data\intranetexplorer.exe
    
    FileLook:
    C:\fin.exe
    
    Registry::
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentVersion\Run]
    "Microsoft Intranet Patcher"=-
    
    
    * Save the above as CFscript.txt and make sure you save it to the same location (should be on your Desktop) as ComboFix.exe
    * At this point, you MUST EXIT ALL BROWSERS NOW before continuing!
    * You should have both the ComboFix.exe and CFScript.txt icons on your Desktop.
    If it asks you to overide the prvevious file with the same name, click YES.
    * Now use your mouse to drag CFscript.txt on top of ComboFix.exe
    [​IMG]
    * Follow the prompts.
    * When it finishes, a log will be produced named c:\combofix.txt
    * I will ask for this log below

    Note:

    Do not mouseclick combofix's window while it is running. That may cause it to stall.

    Now uninstall the C:\MGtools folder and the C:\MGtools.exe file. You can also delete the C:\MGlogs.zip. Go back to the Read and Run FIrst instructions and download the latest version of MGTools.exe.

    Attach the new MGLogs.zip and the Combo log.
     

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