W32.Gaobot.ALW

W32.Gaobot.ALW is a worm that spreads through open network shares and several Windows vulnerabilities. The vulnerabilities are:

• The Microsoft Windows DCOM RPC Interface Buffer Overrun Vulnerability (described in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-026).
• The Microsoft Windows Workstation Service Remote Buffer Overflow Vulnerability (described in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-049).
• The Microsoft Windows WebDAV Buffer Overflow Vulnerability (described in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-007).
• The Microsoft UPnP NOTIFY Buffer Overflow Vulnerability (described in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS01-059).
• The Microsoft SQL Server Web Task Stored Procedure Privilege Escalation Vulnerability (described in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS02-061).
• The Microsoft Windows Local Security Authority Service Remote Buffer Overflow (described in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-011).

The worm can act as a backdoor and attack other computers. It also attempts to kill the processes of many antivirus and security programs.

Protection

• Initial Rapid Release version May 26, 2004
• Latest Rapid Release version May 26, 2004
• Initial Daily Certified version May 26, 2004
• Latest Daily Certified version May 26, 2004
• Initial Weekly Certified release date May 26, 2004

Click here for a more detailed description of Rapid Release and Daily Certified virus definitions.

Threat Assessment

Wild

• Wild Level: Low
• Number of Infections: 0 - 49
• Number of Sites: 0 - 2
• Geographical Distribution: Low
• Threat Containment: Easy
• Removal: Easy

Damage

• Damage Level: Medium

Distribution

• Distribution Level: Medium