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CERT® Incident Note IN-2002-01

The CERT Coordination Center publishes incident notes to provide information about incidents to the Internet community.

W32/Myparty Malicious Code

Release Date: January 28, 2002

A complete revision history can be found at the end of this file.

Systems Affected

  • Systems running Microsoft Windows

    • Overview

    "W32/Myparty" is malicious code written for the Windows platform that spreads as an email file attachment. The malicious code makes use of social engineering to entice a user to execute it. The W32/Myparty payload is non-destructive.

    As of 16:00 EST (UTC-0500) January 28, 2002 the CERT/CC has received reports of W32/Myparty from several dozen individual sites.

    I. Description

    Analysis of the W32/Myparty malicious code indicates that it is a Windows binary spreading via an email message with the following characteristics:
    SUBJECT: new photos from my party!

    BODY:
    Hello!

    My party... It was absolutely amazing!
    I have attached my web page with new photos!
    If you can please make color prints of my photos. Thanks!

    ATTACHMENT: www.myparty.yahoo.com

    The attached file name containing the malicious code, www.myparty.yahoo.com, was carefully chosen to entice the email recipient to open and (in most email clients) run the attachment. This social engineering exploits the fact that .com is both an executable file extension in Windows and a top-level domain (TLD).

    We have seen two variants of www.myparty.yahoo.com as follows:

    Filename = www.myparty.yahoo.com
    MD5 checksum = 43fc3f274372f548b7e6c14af45e0746
    File size = 30172

    Filename = www.myparty.yahoo.com
    MD5 checksum = 221c47432e70b049fce07a6ca85ca7dd
    File size = 29701

    Both files take the same actions when executed:

    • the file msstask.exe is created in the current user's profile Startup folder (\Start Menu\Programs\Startup) and is immediately executed. It will also be executed every time the Windows user logs into the system.

      Filename = msstask.exe
      MD5 checksum = cda312b5364bbaddcd2c2bf3ceb4e6cd
      File size = 6144

    • on Windows 9x computers, a copy of www.myparty.yahoo.com is written to C:\Recycled\REGCTRL.EXE. On Windows NT computers, this copy is placed in either C:\REGCTRL.EXE or a newly created random directory in the C:\Recycled folder. This copy is subsequently executed.

    • an email message is sent to a predefined address with a subject line of the folder where the W32/Myparty malicious code was stored on the victim machine. When sending this message, W32/Myparty will use the SMTP statement HELO HOST when identifying itself to the SMTP server.

    • the current user's default SMTP server is retrieved from the following registry key:

      HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Account Manager\Accounts\00000001

    • the hard drive is scanned for Windows Address Book (.WAB) files and Outlook Express inboxes and folders (.DBX) in order to harvest email addresses.

    • copies of the malicious code are emailed to all the email addresses it could find.
    Outside analysis indicates that this final step of mass mailing may be time-dependant. The code may only send itself if the clock on the victim machine is set to January 25-29. It is the experience of the CERT/CC that variants of malicious code often occur, so this time-trigger may not apply.

    Other outside analysis also indicates that the default web browser may be launched to a particular URL under certain circumstances.

    II. Impact

    W32/Myparty may cause the default web browser to run unexpectedly. Likewise, the victim and targeted sites may experience an increased load on the mail server when the malicious code is propagating.

    III. Solution

    Run and maintain an anti-virus product

    It is important for users to update their anti-virus software. Most anti-virus software vendors have released updated information, tools, or virus databases to help detect and recover from W32/Myparty. A list of vendor-specific anti-virus information can be found in Appendix A.

    Many anti-virus packages support automatic updates of virus definitions. We recommend using these automatic updates when available.

    Exercise caution when opening attachments

    Exercise caution when receiving email with attachments. Users should be suspicious of unexpected attachments regardless of their origin. In general, users should also always scan files received through email with an anti-virus product.

    The following section of the "Home Network Security" document provides advice on handling email attachments securely:

    http://www.cert.org/tech_tips/home_networks.html#IV-A-4

    Filter the email or use a firewall

    Sites can use email filtering techniques to delete messages containing subject lines known to contain the malicious code, or they can filter all attachments.

    Appendix A. - Vendor Information

    Aladdin Knowledge Systems

    http://www.esafe.com/home/csrt/valerts2.asp?virus_no=10102

    Central Command, Inc.

    http://support.centralcommand.com/cgi-bin/command.cfg/php/enduser/
    std_adp.php?p_refno=020128-000003

    Command Software Systems

    http://www.commandsoftware.com/virus/myparty.html

    Computer Associates

    http://www3.ca.com/solutions/collateral.asp?CT=65&ID=1323

    F-Secure Corp

    http://www.datafellows.com/v-descs/myparty.shtml

    Frisk Software International

    http://www.f-prot.com/f-prot/virusinfo/mypartya.html

    McAfee

    http://vil.mcafee.com/dispVirus.asp?virus_k=99332&

    Norman Data Defense Systems

    http://www.norman.com/virus_info/w32_myparty_a_mm.shtml

    Panda Software

    http://service.pandasoftware.es/servlet/panda.pandaInternet.EntradaDatosInternet?
    operacion=EV2FichaVirus&pestanaFicha=0&idioma=1&nombreVirusFicha=W32/Myparty@MM

    Proland Software

    http://www.pspl.com/virus_info/worms/myparty.htm

    Sophos

    http://www.sophos.com/virusinfo/analyses/w32mypartya.html

    Symantec

    http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/pf/w32.myparty@mm.html

    Trend Micro

    http://www.antivirus.com/vinfo/virusencyclo/default5.asp?VName=WORM_MYPARTY.A

    You may wish to visit the CERT/CC's Computer Virus Resources Page located at:

    http://www.cert.org/other_sources/viruses.html

    Authors: Roman Danyliw, Allen Householder
    This document is available from: http://www.cert.org/incident_notes/IN-2002-01.html

    CERT/CC Contact Information

    Email: cert@cert.org
    Phone: +1 412-268-7090 (24-hour hotline)
    Fax: +1 412-268-6989
    Postal address:
    CERT Coordination Center
    Software Engineering Institute
    Carnegie Mellon University
    Pittsburgh PA 15213-3890
    U.S.A.

    CERT/CC personnel answer the hotline 08:00-17:00 EST(GMT-5) / EDT(GMT-4) Monday through Friday; they are on call for emergencies during other hours, on U.S. holidays, and on weekends.

    Using encryption

    We strongly urge you to encrypt sensitive information sent by email. Our public PGP key is available from

    If you prefer to use DES, please call the CERT hotline for more information.

    Getting security information

    CERT publications and other security information are available from our web site

    * "CERT" and "CERT Coordination Center" are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

    NO WARRANTY
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    Conditions for use, disclaimers, and sponsorship information

    Copyright 2002 Carnegie Mellon University.

    Revision History 

    Jan 28, 2002: Initial release
Jan 29, 2002: Modified feedback link
Feb 28, 2002: Added vendor link for Frisk Software International