W32.Sasser Removal Tool ============================= Discovered on: May 1, 2004 Last Updated on: June 11, 2004 Symantec Security Response has developed a removal tool to clean the infections of the following variants of the W32.Sasser worm: * W32.Sasser.Worm * W32.Sasser.B.Worm * W32.Sasser.C.Worm * W32.Sasser.D * W32.Sasser.E.Worm * W32.Sasser.G The W32.Sasser family of worms can run on (but not infect) Windows 95/98/Me computers. Although these operating systems cannot be infected, they can still be used to infect vulnerable systems that they are able to connect to. In this case, the worm will waste a lot of resources so that programs cannot run properly, including our removal tool. (On Windows 95/98/Me computers, the tool should be run in Safe mode.) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Note: The execution of the worm causes LSASS.EXE to crash on some systems. The result of this is that the system may undergo a reboot. The fixtool can be successfully run only after the system has completed the reboot. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WHAT THE TOOL DOES The W32.Sasser Removal Tool does the following: 1. Terminates the W32.Sasser viral processes. 2. Deletes the W32.Sasser files. 3. Deletes the registry values that the worm adds. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AVAILABLE COMMAND-LINE SWITCHES AVAILABLE WITH THIS TOOL Switch Description /HELP, /H, /? Displays the help message. /NOFIXREG Disables registry repair. (We do not recommend using this switch.) /SILENT, /S Enables silent mode. /LOG= Creates a log file where is the location in which to store the tool's output. By default, this switch creates the log file FxSasser.log in the same folder from which the removal tool was executed. /MAPPED Scans the mapped network drives. (We do not recommend using this switch. Refer to the following Notes.) /START Forces the tool to immediately start scanning. /EXCLUDE= Excludes the specified from scanning. (We do not recommend using this switch.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Note: Using the /MAPPED switch does not ensure the complete removal of the virus on the remote computer, because: * Scanning the mapped drives scans the mapped folders only. This action may not include all the folders on the remote computer, leading to missed detections. * If a viral file is detected on the mapped drive, the removal will fail if a program on the remote computer uses this file. For these reasons, run the tool on every computer. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The /EXCLUDE switch will only work with one path, not multiple. An alternative is the /NOFILESCAN switch, followed by a manual scan with AntiVirus. This will allow the tool to alter the registry. Then, scan the computer with AntiVirus and the current virus definitions. You should be able to clean the file system after completing these steps. The following example command line can be used to exclude a single drive: >"C:\Documents and Settings\user1\Desktop\FxSasser.exe" /EXCLUDE=M:\ /LOG=c:\FxSasser.txt Alternatively, the command line below will skip the scanning of the file system, but will repair the registry modifications. Run a regular scan of the system with the proper exclusions: >"C:\Documents and Settings\user1\Desktop\FxSasser.exe" /NOFILESCAN /LOG=c:\FxSasser.txt -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes: o The greater than symbol (>) is not part of the path. o The name of the log file can be whatever you select. The name listed is for the sole purpose of this example. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OBTAINING AND RUNNING THE TOOL ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Note: You must have administrative rights to run this tool on Windows 2000 or Windows XP. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. Download the FxSasser.exe file from: http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/FxSasser.exe. Note: Version 1.0.1 (As shown in the removal tool dialog title bar) provides support for both W32.Sasser.B.Worm and W32.Sasser.Worm. 2. Save the file to a convenient location, such as your downloads folder or the Windows desktop, or removable media known to be uninfected. 3. To check the authenticity of the digital signature, refer to the section, "Digital signature." 4. Close all the running programs before running the tool. 5. If you are on a network or if you have a full-time connection to the Internet, disconnect the computer from the network and the Internet. 6. If you are running Windows XP, then disable System Restore. Refer to the section, "System Restore option in Windows Me/XP," for additional details. CAUTION: If you are running Windows XP, we strongly recommend that you do not skip this step. 7. Do one of the following: o If you are running Windows NT/2000/XP, skip to step 8. o If you are running Windows 95/98/Me, restart the computer in Safe mode. For instructions, read the document, "How to start the computer in Safe Mode." 8. Double-click the FxSasser.exe file to start the removal tool. 9. Click Start to begin the process, and then allow the tool to run. 10. Restart the computer. 11. Run the removal tool again to ensure that the system is clean. 12. If you are running Windows Me/XP, then re-enable System Restore. 13. Run LiveUpdate to make sure that you are using the most current virus definitions. Note: The removal procedure may not be successful if Windows Me/XP System Restore is not disabled as previously directed, because Windows prevents outside programs from modifying System Restore. When the tool has finished running, you will see a message indicating whether W32.Sasser infected the computer. In the case of a removal of the worm, the program displays the following results: o Total number of scanned files o Number of deleted files o Number of repaired files o Number of terminated viral processes o Number of fixed registry entries --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DIGITAL SIGNATURE FxSasser.exe is digitally signed. Symantec recommends that you only use copies of FixBlast.exe that have been directly downloaded from the Symantec Security Response Web site. To check the authenticity of the digital signature, follow these steps: 1. Go to http://www.wmsoftware.com/free.htm. 2. Download and save the chktrust.exe file to the same folder in which you saved FxSasser.exe (for example, C:\Downloads). 3. Depending on your operating system, do one of the following: o Click Start, point to Programs, and then click MS-DOS Prompt. o Click Start, point to Programs, click Accessories, and then click Command Prompt. 4. Change to the folder in which FxSasser.exe and Chktrust.exe are stored, and then type: chktrust -i FxSasser.exe. For example, if you saved the file to the C:\Downloads folder, you would enter the following commands: cd\ cd downloads chktrust -i FxSasser.exe Press Enter after typing each command. If the digital signature is valid, you will see the following, ""Do you want to install and run "W32.Sasser Removal Tool" signed on 05/10/2004 3:45 PM and distributed by: Symantec Corporation" Notes: * The date and time displayed in this dialog box will be adjusted to your time zone if your computer is not set to the Pacific time zone. * If you are using Daylight Saving time, the displayed time will be exactly one hour earlier. * If this dialog box does not appear, there are two possible reasons: => The tool is not from Symantec. Unless you are sure that the tool is legitimate and that you downloaded it from the legitimate Symantec Web site, do not run it. => The tool is from Symantec and is legitimate, however, your operating system was previously instructed to always trust content from Symantec. For information on this and on how to view the confirmation dialog again, read the document "How to restore the Publisher Authenticity confirmation dialog box." 5. Click Yes to close the dialog box. 6. Type Exit, and then press Enter. This will close the MS-DOS session. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYSTEM RESTORE OPTION IN WINDOWS XP Users of Windows Me and Windows XP should temporarily turn off System Restore. Windows Me/XP uses this feature, which is enabled by default, to restore the files on your computer in case they become damaged. If a virus, worm, or Trojan infects a computer, System Restore may back up the virus, worm, or Trojan on the computer. Windows prevents outside programs, including antivirus programs, from modifying System Restore. Therefore, antivirus programs or tools cannot remove threats in the System Restore folder. As a result, System Restore has the potential of restoring an infected file on your computer, even after you have cleaned the infected files from all the other locations. Also, a virus scan may detect a threat in the System Restore folder even though you have removed the threat. For instructions on how to turn off System Restore, read your Windows documentation, or the article How to turn off or turn on Windows XP System Restore. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revision History: June 10, 2004: Added W32.Sasser.G as a variant fixtool version 1.0.4 can remove. May 10, 2004: Updated fixtool ( version 1.0.4) to remove infections of W32.Sasser.E.Worm. May 3, 2004: Updated fixtool ( version 1.0.3) to remove infections of W32.Sasser.D May 2, 2004: Updated fixtool ( version 1.0.2 ) to remove infections of W32.Sasser.C.Worm May 2, 2004: Updated fixtool ( version 1.0.1 ) to remove infections of W32.Sasser.B.Worm.