w32/virut, Spam-Mailbot.c!Rootkit detected

My PC started behaving weird, then after booting, nothing was visible on the screen. Explorer.exe would not load.

I created a BartPE XP boot disk, and ran mcafee scan with virus definitions 5112on it. This found lots of w32/virut.h w32/vurut.i w32/virut variants.

I restored explorer from my XP CD.

Booting into safe mode, my explorer disappeared. It was deleted from the windows directory. I think that maybe the Symantec 7.5 corporate edition found a virus in it and killed it. Whatever the case, I could see the hard drive light going, and suspected that something was continuing to infect files on the PC, despite being in safe mode.

I rebooted from the boot CD. This time, I used the 5113 definitions. Running the scan again showed more viruses of the same types, and now one Spam-Mailbot.c!Rootkit infection.

I am attaching a HJT log (exe was renamed to analy.exe) . Any advice? I only seem to have a couple minutes at a time before the long scans, so was unable to run any online scans.

 

Welcome to MajorGeeks.com, please follow our standard cleaning procedures:

Run as many steps as you can from the below steps.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/images/grenade.gif Run ALL the steps in this Sticky thread READ & RUN ME FIRST Before Asking for Support

• Make sure you check version numbers and get all updates.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/images/grenade.gif Very Important: Make sure you tell us the results from running the tutorial...was anything found? Were you unable to complete any of the scans?...Were you unable to download any of the tools?...Did you do the on-line scans as suggested? etc.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/images/grenade.gifAfter doing ALL of the above and you still have a problem, make sure you have booted to normal mode and run the steps in the below thread to properly use HijackThis and attach the log:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/images/grenade.gif Downloading, Installing, and Running HijackThis

• Make sure you also rename HijackThis.exe as suggested in the procedures. Use analyse.exe for the new name. This is very important due to some new infections going around..

http://www.majorgeeks.com/images/grenade.gifWhen you return to make your next post, make sure you attach the following logs and that you have run these scans in the following order too:

• CounterSpy Log - only for Windows XP, 2K, & NT users
• AVG Antispyware Log - ONLY IF NEEDED you were not able to run CounterSpy. - only for Windows XP, 2K, & NT users
• Bitdefender Log - from step 6
• Panda Scan Log - from step 6
• runkeys.txt - the log from GetRunKey.bat
• newfiles.txt - the log from ShowNew.bat
• HijackThis Log

NOTE: You can only attach 3 files in a single message so it will require that you use two messages to attach all of these logs!

 

I made it up to the point of running online scans. At that point, my internet explorer would not load. Error was "The application failed to initialize properly (0xc00000033). Clock on OK to terminate the application".

Up to that point, here is what I did

- checked msconfig
- installed spybot SD 1.5
- it returned errors "framedyn.dll not found", but it booted anyway.

Counterspy would not run "The system administrator has set policies to prevent this installation"

AVG Anti-spyware installed ok.

Ran ccleaner

Ran SBS&D 1.5
- Found and cleaned WildTangent
- immunized

Ran AVG AntiSpyware
- Found/deleted Hijacker.small
- saved LOG (attached)

At this point, I noticed that some of my 'utility programs' had changed in size (the one in particular was a command line tool to do directory searches that I wrote and compiled myself). Some would not run. I booted from a CD I had created myself on another machine that had Mcafee scan with virus definitions 5113. It cleaned 646 infections. I had run this same scan before starting this procedure, so something is actively destroying my files, even in safe mode.

When I tried to reboot into safe+network mode and run the online scans, I got the error above.

I ran HJT (as analy.exe) and saved the log.

What now?

 

You didn't attach the logs from the below?

Before you attach them, run the below.

1. Download this file - combofix.exe
2. Double click combofix.exe & follow the prompts.
3. When finished, it will produce a log for you. Attach this log to your next reply

Note:

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

After you comlpete the above, attach the following logs.

• HijackThis Log
• runkeys.txt - the log from GetRunKey.bat
• newfiles.txt - the log from ShowNew.bat
• ComboFix Log

 

More info to follow

 

I had not run runkeys or shownew before because I couldn't get past step 6 (online scans). They are attached now.

In generating the steps below, I had some hiccups:

1) My CMD.exe was corrupted and no command line tools would run without it. I copied it back to the windows directory from the XP CD.

2) Combofix displayed "C:\windows\iexplore.exe" in its window before rebooting. Infected I guess.

3) After displaying the log, this error box popped up twice:

"REGEDIT.EXE" "The application failed to initialize properly (0xc00000033). Clock on OK to terminate the application"​

I had run a bunch of scans from CD on the hard drive, and now have a few EXEs that McAfee could not clean that have been renamed to ".VIR" or ".VXE". These may show up in the attached logs. Can I safely rename these back to .EXE?

I haven't booted it back up yet since running the above. I was a bit concerned about the failed regedit calls, and didn't want to leave the machine on all day while I was at work.

Thanks for all your help!

 

Click on the link below and run the online scan...

Kaspersky Anti-Virus Online Scan

• Click on "Kaspersky Online Scanner"
  
• Click Accept to procede...
  
• If you get a popup askiing if you want to Install Kaspersky's ActiveX Control, click Yes to install it.
  
• If you get a Security Warning popup asking if you want to install and run kavwebscan_unicode.cab, click Yes to install it.
  
• After all updates are downloaded, click NEXT to continue...( Note it will take awhile to download these updates based on your connection speed).
  
• Click Scan Settings and select extended and make sure both boxes are checked at the bottom, Click OK to continue.
  
• Now click on My Computer and let it run!
  
• This scan may take a while but it is very thorough. After the scan is complete save the log as a txt file and attach it to your next post.

Also, please attach the below new logs.

• HijackThis Log
• runkeys.txt - the log from GetRunKey.bat
• newfiles.txt - the log from ShowNew.bat

 

I get the security prompts, but after accepting the one for the .CAB file, nothing happens. It just sits there.

If I look at iexplore.exe in the process monitor, the I/O read/write/other bytes are not changing, so I don't think it's doing anything in the background.

 

It's downloading the updates now.
I tried a bunch of things. I think that what finally worked was adding kaspersky.com to my trusted sites list in IE.
Stay tuned!...

 

I finally got it to run. My machine was very slow, so I went into the task monitor and killed anything that I didn't recognize. The machine has been stable (and fast) since that.

I'm attaching all the requested logs (2 of 4 in this message. 2 to follow)

Thanks again!

 

last 2 of 4 logs...

 

First, please disable any antivirus and/or antispy programs you have installed so they will not block this fix.

Pre-Instructions:
Please print out these instructions so that you can operate with All Browser Windows CLOSED.


Step 1:
Please look in Add/Remove Programs for the following and uninstall if found. If you get any errors just make a note and proceed.

Step 2:
Now scan with HijackThis and check the boxes for the following entries:
( Make sure ALL browser windows are closed when you click FIX )

Again, make sure ALL browser windows are closed when you click FIX.

Step 3:
Copy the contents of the below Quote Box to Notepad. Then click File and then Save As. Change the Save as Type to All Files. Name the file fixme.reg and then click save. (make sure you save it somewhere you can find it. Saving it to your Desktop may make that easy.) Then double-click on the fixme.reg file on your desktop (or locate it with Windows Explorer and double click on it if not saved to the Desktop) and when it prompts to Add in to the registry, say yes.

Step 4:
Now download The Avenger by Swandog46, 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.
• Check the 'Input script manually' box.
• Click on the magnifying glass icon.
• Copy everything in the Quote box below, and paste it in the box that opens:

• Now click the 'Done' button.
• Click on the traffic light icon and OK the prompt.
• You will be prompted to restart, OK the prompt and your PC should reboot, if not, reboot it yourself.
• A log file from Avenger will be produced at C:\avenger.txt

Step 5: Begin here after rebooting from Step 4!
Next Reset Web Settings & Default Security Settings

Note for IE 6 users:
To Reset Web Settings:
Right click on your desktop Internet Explorer icon and select Properties. Then click the Programs tab and then click "Reset Web Settings". Now go back to the General tab and set your home page address to something useful like www.majorgeeks.com. Click Apply. Click Delete Cookies, Click Delete Files and select Delete all Offline content too, Click OK. When it finishes Click OK.

If you do not have an Internet Explorer icon on your Desktop, click Start, Control Panel (for some systems it may be Start, Settings, Control Panel), Internet Options, Programs tab and then click "Reset Web Settings". Now go back to the General tab and set your home page address to something useful like www.majorgeeks.com. Click Apply. Click Delete Cookies, Click Delete Files and select Delete all Offline content too, Click OK. When it finishes Click OK

To Default Security Settings:
Right click on your desktop Internet Explorer icon and select Properties. Then click the Security Tab and click Default Level for Internet, Local Intranet, Trusted Sites, and Restricted Sites. For IE 7 users, simply click the "Reset all zones to default level" button.

Note for IE 7 users:
Select Internet Options, then the Advanced Tab and then the Reset button under Reset Internet Explorer Settings.


Step 6:
Please download ATF Cleaner by Atribune. This program does not require an installation. The executable actually runs the program.

NOTE: This program is for Windows XP and Windows 2000 only. ATF Cleaner will remove all files from the items that are checked so if you have some cookies you'd like to save. Please move them to a different directory first.

• Double-click ATF-Cleaner.exe to run the program.
• Under Main choose: Select All
• Click the Empty Selected button.

If you use Firefox browser

• Click Firefox at the top and choose: Select All
• Click the Empty Selected button.
  • NOTE: If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please click No at the prompt.

If you use Opera browser

• Click Opera at the top and choose: Select All
• Click the Empty Selected button.
  • NOTE: If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please click No at the prompt.

Click Exit on the Main ATF Cleaner menu to close the program.


Step 7:
After you have completed ALL of the above in the correct order, please attach the following logs.

• HijackThis Log
• ShowNew Log
• GetRunKey Log
• Avenger Log

Let me know of any problems you may have encountered with the above instructions and also let me know how things are running now.

 

The JSE program removals did not work. Each of them gave me:
"The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed. This can occur if you are running Windows in safe mode, or if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support personnel for assistance."

Other steps were ok.

I recognize many of the files you listed. All the ones listed as folders except CVIRTE were my own log files from various scans I ran while booted from CD. I had deleted them before.

I had also deleted some suspect exe files along the way (C:\onjonuhx.exe, C:\ptbpxk.vxe, C:\pysvhk.vxe, 1.vxe).

The mmd279~1.txt was another log file. The 713xrmt.* files were from my video card that I don't use (I deleted this anyway). The ssh.lnk and zebedee.lnk were things that I created recently myself.

The CVIRTE and dwuspl!2.exe files I didn't recognize.

Logs are attached (here and in next message)

 

logs

 

Your logs are clean, however I would like to view one more log.

Please download F-Secure's BlacklightBeta

• Download fsbl.exe and save it to the Desktop.
• Once saved... double click fsbl.exe to install the program.
• Click accept agreement and Click scan
• This application may trigger a warning from your antivirus. Let the driver load. Wait for it to finish.
• If it displays any items...don't do anything with them yet. Just hit exit (close)
• It will drop a log on Desktop that starts with fsbl....big number

Please attach the BlackLight log.

 

Here are the requested logs. I think that the machine is clean now. Thank-you very much.

I have some residual problems to clean up. I mention them here so others can avoid my mistakes.

1) I ran some offline scans using McAfee from a bootable CD. It detected some virut.gen, virut.dam, and virut variants. The way I ran this the first time, these files were moved to a quarantine area. Updating the McAfee definitions and running again, they were cleaned. I had to manually move all these files back to where they came from.

2) I had a copy of Symantec AntiVirus installed (Program 10.1.4.4000, scan engine 71.3.0.25). While I was infected, this prevented some infected files from being run. It moved the files to its quarantine area. These files do not seem to be cleanable by Symantec, and I don't know where they are stored on the HD yet.

3) A few of my applications don't run properly. One was the OpenSSHd package, which I think needs to be reconfigured now before it will run, since it's built-in security has detected configuration changes.

4) My IE browser frequently hangs for 30-60 seconds at a time. Not sure if I can fix this by restoring all my files (steps 1 and 2), or if I should reinstall IE.

In any event, I think that I'm in a far better place than I was 2 weeks ago. I will be removing the old Symantec product I have (that let the virus in), and installing another product soon.

Thank-you majorgeeks, and thank-you bjgarrick!

 

Your logs are clean. If you are not having any other malware problems, it is time to do our final steps:

1. If we used Pocket Killbox during your cleanup, do the below
   • Run Pocket Killbox and select File, Cleanup, Delete All Backups
2. If we used ComboFix, you can delete the ComboFix.exe file, C:\ComboFix folder, C:\QooBox folder, C:\WINDOWS\nircmd.exe, and the C:\combofix.txt log that was created.
3. If we used SDFix you can delete all the SDFix related files and folders from your Desktop or whereever you installed it.
4. If we used SmitFraudFix, you can delete all files and folders related to it now including the c:\rapport.txt log.
5. If we used VundoFix, you can delete the VundoFix.exe file and the C:\VundoFix Backups folder and C:\vundofix.txt log that was created.
6. If we had your run FixWareOut, you can delete the Fixwareout.exe file and the C:\fixwareout folder.
7. If we had you run Avenger, you can delete all files related to Avenger, the log (avenger.txt) and C:\avenger.
8. If we had you download any registry patches like fixme.reg, fixme1.reg or fixWLK.reg (or any others), you can delete these files now.
9. You can delete the ShowNew.Zip and GetRunkey.Zip files and the files that you extracted from the ZIP files. You can also delete the C:\newfiles.txt and C:\runkeys.txt logs that were created
10. If you are running Windows XP or Windows ME, do the below:
    • go back to step 8 of the READ & RUN ME to Disable System Restore which will flush your Restore Points.
    • Then reboot and Enable System Restore to create a new clean Restore Point.
11. After doing the above, you should work thru the below link:
    • How to Protect yourself from malware!