W32/Forbot-EV

Please follow the instructions for removing worms.

You will also need to edit the following registry entries, if they are present. Please read the warning about editing the registry.

At the taskbar, click Start|Run. Type 'Regedit' and press Return. The registry editor opens.

Before you edit the registry, you should make a backup. On the 'Registry' menu, click 'Export Registry File'. In the 'Export range' panel, click 'All', then save your registry as Backup.

Locate the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE entries:

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce\
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices\

and remove any reference to any file you deleted.

Each user has a registry area named HKEY_USERS\[code number indicating user]\. For each user locate the entries:

HKU\[code number]\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Run\

HKU\[code number]\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\RunOnce\

and remove any reference to any file you deleted.

Close the registry editor.

W32/Forbot-EV is a worm which attempts to spread to remote network shares. It also contains backdoor Trojan functionality, allowing unauthorised remote access to the infected computer via IRC channels while running in the background as a service process.

W32/Forbot-EV copies itself to the Windows system folder as svzhost.exe and creates entries in the registry at the following locations so as to run itself on system startup:

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\
Microsoft Windows Update
"svzhost.exe"

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce\
Microsoft Windows Update
"svzhost.exe"

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices\
Microsoft Windows Update
"svzhost.exe"

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\
Microsoft Windows Update
"svzhost.exe"

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce\
Microsoft Windows Update
"svzhost.exe"

W32/Forbot-EV also installs a service called "Microsoft Update" and sets a number of related registry entries including those under the following entries:

HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\Root\LEGACY_MICROSOFT_UPDATE
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Microsoft Update\

W32/Forbot-EV attempts to spread to network machines using various exploits including the LSASS vulnerability (see MS04-011). The worm may also act as a proxy.

W32/Forbot-EV may download and execute code. The worm may also steal keys for software and delete network shares.