Tech Alert Briefing for 10/3/2002

Bugbear Worm Gains Strength

Virus companies are reporting that a new worm, code-named Bugbear, discovered on September 30th is spreading rapidly.Its malicious payload exploits a known vulnerability in Internet Explorer which allows the worm to run when an email message is previewed through unpatched versions of Microsoft Outlook.Virus experts are warning that Bugbears' main danger lies in its capacity to open backdoor ports, specifically port 36794.Once a user is infected, the worm can spread through network shares potentially affecting peripherial devices such as printers, causing them to print uncontrollably.

Banks should take precautions by ensuring that Outlook and Outlook express users have the latest patches installed on their systems and that all users have updated their virus signature files.

Additional details of this worm may be found at:

Symantec Security Response

Update: 10/04/02
Anti-virus company Sophos has developed a standalonetool which detects and disinfects the commonlyencountered W32/Bugbear-A worm. Thisutility provides a simple way for businesses andhome users to confirm their networks are cleanand disinfect any infected files that are found.

The disinfection tool may be downloaded from Sophos's websiteat http://www.sophos.com.Alternatively, you can send a blank email tobugbear-request@sophos.com and the tool will be emailed back to you.





Previous Tech Alerts:
10/02/02Top 20 List of Internet Security Vulnerabilities Released
09/02/02Microsoft Warns SysAdmins To Immediately Patch Identity Spoofing Flaw
08/21/02Microsoft releases patch to fix "critical" vulnerability inWindows 2000 systems that allow unprivileged users to logonto them interactively
08/09/02 Is Confidential Bank Information Walking Out Your Door?
07/30/02 Microsoft Continues to Patch Flawed Software
07/23/02 CERT advisory on PHP
07/15/02 Outlook Users Employing PGP Encryption Program Vulnerable to Hacking
07/11/02 Researchers Report Serious Flaw in IE
06/27/02 Microsoft Releases Critical Patch for Windows Media Player
06/18/02 CERT Warns of Critical Vulnerabilty in Apache Web Server
06/12/02 Sports Fans Beware: World Cup Virus Bounces Around the Net
06/07/02 Dead Man Tell No Passwords
05/31/02 Microsoft Issues Critical Warning Regarding Exchange Server
05/22/02 Microsoft SQL Spida Worm Slows Network Traffic
05/15/02 Virus Hoax 'JDBGMGR.EXE' Spreading Rapidly Thoughout Net
04/25/02 Klez Worm Reels in Banks with its Bait
04/11/02 Ten New Vulnerabilities Discovered in Microsoft IIS Server
04/09/02 New Virus Hoax Circulating Around Net
03/22/02 MyLife.B Virus Makes Its Way Around the Net
03/21/02 Microsoft Updates Its Warning on Critical Windows Vulnerability
03/14/02 New Virus (W32/Fbound-C) Spreading Rapidly in the Wild
03/08/02 Unauthorized E-Mail Scam Attempts to Steer Unwitting Customers to Fraudulent Bank Web Site
03/06/02 Klez-E Worm and W32.Gibe Virus Warnings
03/01/02 CERT Issues Warning on PHP Scripting Language Flaw
02/27/02 CERT Issues Warning on Internet Explorer and Outlook Flaw
02/22/02 SNMP Patches and Detection Tools Available
02/20/02 Email Address Belonging to Legitimate Security Site Hijacked to Deliver Dangerous Yarner Worm
02/15/02 Mass Mailing Email Worm Compromises Word 2000 Security Settings
02/13/02 SNMP VULNERABILITY
02/07/02 Bloodhound Mass Mailing Worm and Managing Risks in Wireless Networks
02/04/02 Microsoft Issues Collection of Security Fixes for Windows 2000
01/31/02 Copycat Virus Unleashed
01/30/02 Netscape Browser Vulnerable to Cookie Theft
01/28/02 "My Party" Mass Mailing Worm
01/18/02 IT Contingency Planning Guide, Information Security Checklist and Solaris Vulnerability
01/15/02 Trojan.StartPage Alters Web Browsers
01/12/02 New Internet Worm Gigger Masquerades as Microsoft Outlook Upgrade
01/08/02 Microsoft Universal Plug and Play Vulnerability
12/20/01 Holiday Themed Computer Virus Unleashed