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Worm:Win32/Nuqel.AK

First posted on 27 March 2019.
Source: Microsoft

Aliases :

Worm:Win32/Nuqel.AK is also known as WORM_SOHANAD.DX, IM-Worm.Win32.Sohanad.bh, W32/Sohana-AO, W32.Imaut.

Explanation :

Worm:Win32/Nuqel.AK is a member of Win32/Nuqel - a family of worms that may spread via removable or network drives and particular messenger applications. It may also modify a number of system settings to facilitate its actions on an affected computer, and contact a remote host. Installation When executed, Worm:Win32/Nuqel.AK copies itself to the following locations:
%windir%sscvihost.exe
lastclnnn.exe
sscvihost.exe
  Note - refers to a variable location that is determined by the malware by querying the Operating System. The default installation location for the System folder for Windows 2000 and NT is C:WinntSystem32; and for XP and Vista is C:WindowsSystem32.
  The malware modifies the following registry entry/ies to ensure that its copy executes at each Windows start: Adds value: "Yahoo Messengger"
With data: "c:windowssystem32sscvihost.exe"
To subkey: HKCUSOFTWAREMicrosoftwindowscurrentversion
un
  Adds value: "Shell"
With data: "explorer.exe sscvihost.exe"
To subkey: HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionWinlogon
  The malware creates the following file(s) on an affected machine: autorun.ini - detected as Worm:Win32/Autorun!inf setting.ini
  The malware attempts to create a scheduled Windows task that runs the worm at 9:00 am every day of the week, by running the following Windows shell command instruction:
cmd.exe /C AT /delete /yes
cmd.exe /C AT 09:00 /interactive /EVERY:m,t,w,th,f,s,su lastclnnn.exe Spreads Via… Variants of the Win32/Nuqel family may use a number of different methods in order to spread to other computers.
MSN Messenger
Win32/Nuqel may spread using a number of different messaging applications, including Yahoo Messenger, AIM, Windows Messenger and Google Talk. It sends a message to all of the infected user's contacts with a link to a copy of itself.

Network shares
Some variants of Win32/Nuqel also try to spread through network shares by querying the following registry entry and copying themselves to any shared folders specified by this entry: HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerWorkgroupCrawlerShares
  Removable drives Worm:Win32/Nuqel.AK copies itself to the following location/s on removable drives:
:
ew folder.exe
:sscvihost.exe
:subst.exe.

It also places an autorun.inf file in the root directory of the targeted drive. Such autorun.inf files contain execution instructions for the operating system, so that when the removable is accessed from another machine supporting the Autorun feature, the malware is launched automatically. Note: this worm was observed to write an executable and create an autorun.inf file on a targeted drive in our automated testing environment. This is particularly common malware behavior, generally utilized in order to spread malware from machine to machine. It should also be noted that autorun.inf files on their own are not necessarily a sign of infection, as they are used by legitimate programs and installation CDs. Payload Terminates processes Worm:Win32/Nuqel.AK terminates the following processes should they be running on an affected machine: cmd.exe
  Modifies system settings The malware modifies the affected computer system's settings by making the following changes to the registry: Sets value: "DisableTaskMgr"
With data: "1"
To subkey: HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesSystem This modification disables the system utility Task Manager.
  Contacts remote hosts The malware may contact the following remote hosts using port 80: setting3.9999mb.com
setting3.yeahost.com
www.freewebs.com
Commonly, malware may contact a remote host for the following purposes: To confirm Internet connectivity To report a new infection to its author To receive configuration or other data To download and execute arbitrary files (including updates or additional malware) To receive instruction from a remote attacker To upload data taken from the affected computer
This malware description was produced and published using our automated analysis system's examination of file SHA1 433c8a8bbb1e98bf5c8909d3087e2b2c56fee1e4. If you would like to comment on this analysis, please send your feedback to mmpc-amd@microsoft.com.

Last update 27 March 2019

 

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