VBS.Gnutella

VBS.Gnutella only affects users of the Gnutella file sharing application. This worm spreads by making a copy of itself in the Gnutella program directory, then making that directory available for sharing files on the Gnutella network.

Also Known As: Gnutella.worm, VBS/GWV.a, VBS_GNUTELWORM, VBS.Gnut.A, VBS/Gnu

Type: Worm

Infection Length: variable

protection

Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater)

May 30, 2000

Wild

Threat Metrics

Wild: Low	Damage: Low	Distribution: Low

Damage

Payload:
- Modifies files: Modifies Gnutella.INI in the Gnutella program folder

Distribution

Target of infection: This worm only affects users of the Gnutella application

This .vbs worm copies itself into the Gnutella program folder with one of the following names:

It then modifies the Gnutella.ini file to allow sharing of .vbs files in the Gnutella program folder. In the body of the code, the worm maintains information about its current generation, its current name, and the date and time of infection.

Finally, the worm drops a file in the Gnutella program directory that contains the current generation, the victim's name, and the date and time of infection. This file is named Yet another GWV! VictimName.zip where VictimName is derived from information in the Gnutella.ini file.

Symantec Security Response encourages all users and administrators to adhere to the following basic security "best practices":

Turn off and remove unneeded services. By default, many operating systems install auxiliary services that are not critical, such as an FTP server, telnet, and a Web server. These services are avenues of attack. If they are removed, blended threats have less avenues of attack and you have fewer services to maintain through patch updates.
If a blended threat exploits one or more network services, disable, or block access to, those services until a patch is applied.
Always keep your patch levels up-to-date, especially on computers that host public services and are accessible through the firewall, such as HTTP, FTP, mail, and DNS services (for example, all Windows-based computers should have the current Service Pack installed.). Additionally, please apply any security updates that are mentioned in this writeup, in trusted Security Bulletins, or on vendor Web sites.
Enforce a password policy. Complex passwords make it difficult to crack password files on compromised computers. This helps to prevent or limit damage when a computer is compromised.
Configure your email server to block or remove email that contains file attachments that are commonly used to spread viruses, such as .vbs, .bat, .exe, .pif and .scr files.
Isolate infected computers quickly to prevent further compromising your organization. Perform a forensic analysis and restore the computers using trusted media.
Train employees not to open attachments unless they are expecting them. Also, do not execute software that is downloaded from the Internet unless it has been scanned for viruses. Simply visiting a compromised Web site can cause infection if certain browser vulnerabilities are not patched.

Restore Gnutella.INI from a clean backup. Delete all detected files.