PSS Security Response Team Alert - New E-Mail Worm: W32/Swen@MM
SEVERITY: MODERATE
DATE: September 18, 2003
PRODUCTS AFFECTED: Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Outlook Express, and
Web-based e-mail
**********************************************************************
WHAT IS IT?
W32/Swen@MM spreads via e-mail and network shares. The Microsoft
Product Support Services Security Team is issuing this alert to advise
customers to be on the alert for this virus as it spreads in the wild.
Customers are advised to review the information and take the appropriate
action for their environments.
IMPACT OF ATTACK: Mass Mailing, disabling processes related to security
software such as antivirus and firewall software
TECHNICAL DETAILS:
For additional details on this worm from anti-virus software vendors
participating in the Microsoft Virus Information Alliance (VIA) please
visit the following links:
Network Associates:
http://vil.nai.com/vil/content/v_100662.htm
Trend Micro:
http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/virusencyclo/default5.asp?VName=WORM_SWE
N.A
Symantec
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/[email protected]
ml
Computer Associates:
http://www3.ca.com/virusinfo/virus.aspx?ID=36939
For more information on Microsoft's Virus Information Alliance please
visit this link:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/virus/via.asp
Please contact your Antivirus Vendor for additional details on this
virus.
PREVENTION:
1. This worm is exploiting a previously patched vulnerability. The
vulnerability exploited is related to the following Microsoft Security
Bulletin:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms01-020.asp
As always, customers are advised to install the latest security patch
for Internet Explorer. Information on the latest cumulative security
patch for
Internet Explorer can be found here:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-032.asp
2. Outlook 2000 post SP2 and Outlook XP SP1 include the most recent
updates to improve the security in Outlook and other Office programs.
This includes the functionality to block potentially harmful attachment
types. If you are running either of these versions, they will (by
default) block the attachment, and you will be unable to open it.
To ensure you are using the latest version of Office click here:
http://office.microsoft.com/ProductUpdates/default.aspx
By default, Outlook 2000 pre SR1 and Outlook 98 did not include this
functionality, but it can be obtained by installing the Outlook E-mail
Security Update. More information about the Outlook E-mail Security
Update can be found here:
http://office.microsoft.com/Downloads/2000/Out2ksec.aspx
Outlook Express 6 can be configured to block access to
potentially-damaging attachments. Information about how to configure
this can be found here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q291387
Outlook Express all other versions: Previous versions of Outlook Express
do not contain attachment-blocking functionality. Please exercise
extreme caution when opening unsolicited e-mail messages with
attachments.
Web-based e-mail programs: Use of a program-level firewall can protect
you from being infected with this virus through Web-based e-mail
programs.
RECOVERY:
If your computer has been infected with this virus, please contact your
preferred antivirus vendor or Microsoft Product Support Services for
assistance with removing it.
TECHNET SECURITY LINK:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/virus/alerts/swen.asp
As always please make sure to use the latest Anti-Virus detection from
your Anti-Virus vendor to detect new viruses and their variants.
If you have any questions regarding this alert please contact your
Microsoft representative or 1-866-727-2338 (1-866-PCSafety) within the
US, outside of the US please contact your local Microsoft Subsidiary.
Support for virus related issues can also be obtained from the Microsoft
Virus Support Newsgroup which can be located by clicking on the
following link
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.security.virus.
PSS Security Response Team
--
Larry Samuels MS-MVP (Windows-Shell/User)
Associate Expert
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://home.earthlink.net/~larrysamuels/WS2003FAQ.htm
Expert Zone -
