Product: Microsoft Windows
Operating System: Windows
Impact: Execute Arbitrary Code/Commands
Access: Remote/Unauthenticated
OVERVIEW:
AusCERT has received reports, and has observed malicious emails currently in circulation with a variety of subject lines,
including:
"Current Australia's Prime Minister survived a hear attack"
"The life of the Prime Minister is in grave danger"
"Prime Minister survived a heard attack"
AusCERT is in the process of analysing this trojan and no conclusive information about payload is available at this time.
However, similar incidents have been known to install code designed to steal online credentials and modify security
settings.
MITIGATION:
Users should avoid clicking on any links in email, unless the email was already expected. Unsolicited e-mail should always
be treated with suspicion. Additional countermeasures for protecting Windows systems can be found on the AusCERT web
site[1].
System administrators may wish to consider monitoring their proxy logs for access to the following URLs, or blocking
them completely:
Please note that the above urls have been intentionally modified.
At the time of publication, the malware payload is not widely detected by most popular Anti-virus software.
DETAILS:
The malicious email is HTML with content similar to:
--- BEGIN EMAIL SAMPLE ---
SYDNEY, February 18, 2007 08:56pm (AEDT) - The Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard have survived a heart
attack. Mr Howard, 67 years old, was at Kirribilli House in Sydney, his prime residence, when he was suddenly stricken.
Mr Howard was taken to the Royal North Shore Hospital where the best surgeons of Australia are struggling for his life.
Click on the link below to get the latest information on the health of the Prime Minister:
The Australian - keeping the nation informed
John Howard was born on the 26th of July, 1939. Howard is Australia's second longest serving Prime Minister and leader
of the Liberal Party in Australia.
AusCERT has made every effort to ensure that the information contained in this document is accurate. However, the decision to use the information described is the responsibility of each user or organisation. The decision to follow or act on information or advice contained in this security bulletin is the responsibility of each user or organisation, and should be considered in
accordance with your organisation's site policies and procedures. AusCERT takes no responsibility for consequences which may arise from following or acting on information or advice contained in this security bulletin.
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Australian Computer Emergency Response Team
The University of Queensland
Brisbane
Qld 4072
Internet Email: auscert@auscert.org.au
Facsimile: (07) 3365 7031
Telephone: (07) 3365 4417 (International: +61 7 3365 4417)
AusCERT personnel answer during Queensland business hours which are GMT+10:00 (AEST).
On call after hours for member emergencies only.
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