SYMANTEC PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE PROTECTION AGAINST W32.NIMDA.A@MM

New Analysis of Computer Worm Indicates Additional Destructive Payload

Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq: SYMC), a world leader in Internet security, today announced that new analysis of W32.Nimda.A@mm reveals that the worm contains an additional destructive payload that will not only require detection, but removal. The new analysis indicates that the worm is a file infector, overwriting .exe files.

W32.Nimda.A@mm is a mass-mailing worm that utilizes multiple methods to spread itself. The worm sends itself out by e-mail, infects machines over the network, and infects unpatched or already vulnerable Microsoft IIS Web servers. The worm also has various side effects, such as increasing network traffic while searching for machines to infect, which may cause network bandwidth problems. W32.Nimda.A@mm will also attempt to create security holes by creating a guest account with administrator privileges and create open shares on the infected system.

Symantec currently provides an integrated detection and repair solution against W32.Nimda.A@mm. In one step, users can download a cure that will simultaneously detect the worm and repair damaged files. The new definitions are available through Symantec’s LiveUpdate feature or from the Symantec Web site http://www.securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/download.html “Using blended Internet security threats – the combination of viruses, exploits, or vulnerabilities – to attack businesses and destroy assets, continue to rise,” said Vincent Weafer, senior director of Symantec Security Response. “For the first time, to combat such a fast spreading threat, Symantec integrated its solution for W32.Nimda.A@mm to detect and repair in one seamless step. The integrated solution allows for quick clean up with little downtime, while preventing additional infections.”

Symantec Security Response recommends that IT administrators implement the following to stop the propagation of W32.Nimda.A@mm:

• Block e-mails containing a “readme.exe” attachment.
• Update virus definitions and ensure that firewalls are correctly configured.
• Download the latest security updates for Enterprise Security Manager and NetRecon.
• Install the IIS Unicode Transversal security patch.
• Install the malformed MIME header execution security patch.
• Close network share drives.

Additionally, consumers can immediately protect themselves against the new worm by implementing the following:

• Use Symantec’s LiveUpdate feature to obtain the latest virus definitions.
• Use the Windows Update feature located on the “Start” menu on Window 95 and higher systems to download new security patches.
• Disable the “File Download” feature in Internet Explorer to prevent compromise.

Both consumers and enterprises can be infected through a variety of methods.

• E-mail – One of the methods the worm infects PCs though is e-mail. The e-mail arrives with an attachment – readme.exe that is not always visible and contains a randomly generated subject line and no body message. The worm uses its own SMTP engine to e-mail itself out to all the addresses it collects by searching the user’s incoming and outgoing e-mail boxes. Internet Explorer users v5.01 or v5.5 – (IE 5 with the Service Pak 2 or later installed or IE 6 are not affected) will receive a blank e-mail – no subject line, no body and a hidden attachment. Just opening the e-mail can infect user’s PCs. For the latest Microsoft security patch, visit http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/download/critical/q290108/default .asp.
• Shared Drives – PC users with shared drives enabled are also at risk. The worm searches for open network shares and will attempt to copy itself to these systems and then execute. IT administrators should close all network shared drives.
• Web sites -When users visit a compromised Web site, the server will run a script attempting to download an Outlook file, which contains the W32.Nimda.A@mm worm. The worm will create an open network share on the infected machine allowing access to the system. W32.Nimda.A@mm specifically targets versions of IIS servers, taking advantage of the known Universal Web Traversal exploit (MS Security Bulletin MS00-078), which is similar to the exploit used in the Code Red attack. Compromised servers will display a Web page and attempt to download an Outlook file that contains the worm as an attachment. IT Administrators should download the Microsoft security patch for IIS 4.0 athttp://www.microsoft.com/downloads/Release.asp?ReleaseID=32061 and for IIS v5.0 at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/Release.asp?ReleaseID=32011.

Symantec provides additional protection against W32.Nimda.A@mm through the following solutions:

• Enterprise Security Manager -Symantec’s policy compliance and vulnerability management system, helps manage security patch update functions. New patch templates are available that detect the underlying vulnerability on Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 servers.
• NetProwler – Symantec’s network-based intrusion detection tool, with Security Update 8 installed, is capable of detecting attempts to attack IIS 4.0 and 5.0 servers through this vulnerability.
• NetRecon – Symantec’s network vulnerability assessment tool will be updated to detect if this vulnerability exists on a system and if so will provide recommendations on how to fix it.
• Symantec Enterprise Firewall (Raptor Firewall) – Symantec’s application inspection firewall, by default, blocks suspect outbound data traffic from web servers, like IIS, when operating on the firewall’s service network, thereby stopping the propagation of this, as well as other types of attacks.
• Symantec Security Check – This service, www.symantec.com/securitycheck, has been updated to scan if a system is vulnerable to this exploit.
• Norton Internet Security – Symantec’s integrated security and privacy suite for consumers can be updated to ensure only trusted programs access the Internet.

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