home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
-
- *********************************************
- *** Reports collected and collated by ***
- *** PC-Virus Index ***
- *** with full acknowledgements ***
- *** to the authors ***
- *********************************************
-
-
- FISH #6 Virus
- =============
-
- The names of several fish also appear within the virus code:
-
- "COD SHARK CARP BASS TROUT FIN MUSKY SOLE FISH PIKE MACKEREL
- FISH TUNA FISH FI"
-
- FISH is based on 4096 with which it shares an ability to 'hide' from
- DOS-based utilities by subverting the operating system.
-
- Unlike 4096, it is variably encrypted and it is also encrypted - but
- in a different way - when it is in memory.
-
- Additionally, like 1260, it also contains 'confusion' code to
- discourage disassembly. In consequence, it was not initially
- apparent to many observers how it intended to manifest itself.
-
- Its damage mechanism and strike criteria are now known but the
- reports that another virus - WHALE (qv) - is capable of modifying it
- have not been substantiated.
-
-
- ============== more ===============
-
- ===== Computer Virus Catalog 1.2: FISH #6 Virus (12-February-1991) ===
- Entry...............: FISH #6 Virus
- Alias(es)...........: FISH-6 = European Fish Virus
- Virus Strain........: 4096 = 4K = FroDo = Stealth strain
- Virus detected when.: October 1990
- where.: Bonn/Germany ???
- Classification......: Program (extending), RAM-resident, stealth virus
- Length of Virus.....: .COM & .EXE files: length increased by 3584
- bytes in RAM: 4096 bytes.
-
- -------------------- Preconditions -----------------------------------
- Operating System(s).: MS-DOS
- Version/Release.....: 2.xx upward
- Computer model(s)...: IBM-PC, XT, AT and compatibles
- -------------------- Attributes --------------------------------------
- Easy Identification.: ---
- Type of infection...: System: Allocates a memory block at the high end
- of memory. Finds original address of Int 21h
- handler and original address of Int 13h hand-
- ler, therefore bypasses all active monitors.
- Inserts a JMP FAR to virus code inside origi-
- nal DOS handler.
- .COM & .EXE files: program length increased by
- 3584. A file will only be infected once.
- Files with READ-ONLY attribute set can be in-
- fected; files with SYSTEM attribut set will
- not be infected (e.g.IBMBIO.COM, IBMDOS.COM).
- COMMAND.COM is the first file, which will be in-
- fected in an non infected system.
- Infection Trigger...: Files are infected if function 4B00H (Load/Exe-
- cute) or function 3EH (Close File) of MS-DOS
- is called and if last three bytes of file-
- name sum-up to either 223 (COM) or 226 (EXE),
- and if free diskspace is >16384 bytes.
- Interrupts hooked...: INT21h, through a JMP FAR to virus code inside
- DOS handler;
- INT01h, during virus installation & processing
- INT13h, INT24h during infection.
- Damage..............: Permanent Damage: a message will be displayed:
- "FISH VIRUS #6 - EACH DIFF - BONN 2/90
- '~Knzyvo}'" and then the processor stops (HLT
- instruction).
- Damage Trigger......: If (system date>1990) and a second infected .COM
- file is executed.
- Particularities.....: 1. The virus is encrypted in memory and on disk.
- 2. Summing-up the last 3 bytes of the filename
- for determining .COM and .EXE files for in-
- fection will also include more than 1200
- other extensions such as .BMP,.MEM,.OLD,.PIF,
- .QLB for .COM-files and .LOG,.TBL for .EXE-
- files and filenames without extension, e.g.
- READCOM. , TESTFAX. , TEXTOLD. Therefore,
- virus code will be appended to datafiles
- (e.g. when using "TYPE TEXTOLD", file
- TEXTOLD will be infected).
- 4. Only files with id="MZ" or id="ZM" get
- infected as .EXE.
- 5. If virus is not in memory, infected data
- files are corrupted.
- 6. Infected files get a new date 100 years
- ahead: (newyear:=oldyear+100); e.g
- 1991+100=>2091, but with DIR, the new date
- is not visible.
- 7. Do not use "CHKDSK /F" in an infected system,
- as files get damaged (crosslinked-sectors).
- 8. If the system is infected, the virus
- redirects all file accesses so that the virus
- itself can not be read from the file (stealth
- technique).
- 9. Find first/next function returns are tampered
- so that files with (year>100) are reduced by
- 3584 bytes in size.
- 10.Get/set filedate is also tampered.
- Remark: the reference to "Bonn" built-into
- the message (see damage) has lead to the
- assump- tion that FISH#6 was originated in
- this Ger- man town; a similar assumption has
- been made for the related WHALE=MOTHER FISH
- virus due to a string "Hamburg" appearing in
- its code. There is *no forther evidence*
- that both variants of 4096 originated in
- Germany; the mentioned strings more probably
- are built-in to masquerade the origin
- (Russian: MASKIROWKA)
-
- Similarities........: FISH 6 is an optimized 4096 virus as it inherits
- most of the technology of the 4096 virus.
- The string '~Knzyvo}' meaning "TADPOLES"
- is also found in WHALE=MOTHERFISH virus.
- --------------------- Agents -----------------------------------------
- Countermeasures.....: Cannot be detected on disk while in memory, so
- no monitor/file change detector can help.
-
- Countermeasures successful:
- 1) A Do-it-yourself way (see 4096 virus):
- Infect system by running an infected file,
- ARC/ZIP/LHARC/ZOO all infected .COM and .EXE
- files, boot from uninfected floppy, and
- UNARC/UNZIP/LHARC E etc. all files. Pay
- special attention to disinfection of
- COMMAND.COM.
-
- 2) FINDVIRU 1.6 (Solomon)
- 3) F-FCHK 1.12+ (F. Skulason)
- 4) SCAN 6.3V72 (McAfee)
- 5) My NTIFISH6.EXE is an antivirus that only
- looks for FISH 6 virus, and if requested will
- restore the file.
-
- Standard means......: Only sucessful if virus is not in memory!
- Boot from an uninfected write-protected disk
- and check century of files (with proper
- tool).
-
- --------------------- Acknowledgement --------------------------------
- Location............: Virus Test Center, University Hamburg, Germany
- Classification by...: Stefan Tode
- Documentation by....: Stefan Tode
- Date................: 12-February-1991
- Information source..: see: "Virus Bulletin" (also: see 4096)
-
- ===================== End of FISH-6 Virus ============================
-
-
- ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
- ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ end of reports ++++++++++++++++++++++++
- ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++