Question

What is c:\winnt\litmus\windows.exe

Asked by: tony0682

I have this file thats running at c:\winnt\litmus\windows.exe. I can kill the process in task manager and it has a registry entry. I can't find any information about it anywhere. I am running Windows 200 Professional SP4. Can someone help please.

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Asked On
2003-09-16 at 13:24:19ID20740586
Tags

litmus

,

windows

Topic

Miscellaneous Security

Participating Experts
4
Points
125
Comments
8

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Answers

 

by: rossi6789Posted on 2003-09-16 at 13:47:45ID: 9373417

Whatever it is I don't think it belongs on a native install.  We run 300 machines with W2K.  I checked two machines, one native.

????W32.Litmus (Windows worm that spreads by email)

Found above on search but I am dubious.

Rossi

 

by: ornicarPosted on 2003-09-16 at 13:53:21ID: 9373457

I suppose the registry entry is .../CurrentVersion/Run making it load at startup. Just remove this entry, rename the file to windows.exe.disabled or whatever you feel appropriate to disable it.
This is very probably some variant from the Litmus worm. You should update your virus definitions, scan your pc for viruses and take appropriate removal actions, depending on the virus.

About Litmus:

http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/backdoor.litmus.html

It has another filename however the cure would be about the same, but make sure of which worm it is, could be that the payload is triggered by removing the worm. Not very probable but it exists some that encrypt & decrypt some parts of your hd. Everything is fine as long as the virus is up & running. If you remove it you remove the decrypt function as well and your hd becomes unreadable. So first start by a good virus scan with the last definituions and see which perfume it is.

Orni

 

by: ornicarPosted on 2003-09-16 at 14:02:37ID: 9373514

I mean the one with such heavy payload is not Litmus, don't panic. Litmus is a backdoor, allowing a hacker to enter your computer.

 

by: chaddupuisPosted on 2003-09-18 at 04:47:29ID: 9385410

What you should be more concerned about is the fact that a hacker may have taken control of your system. Check the folder size of both the windows and program files directories, there is a good chance that your machine may now be an IRC bot serving IRC users files (moviez appz gamez) via an FTP server. If those folders appear to be enourmous, you will have to search for where the files are, and it is a pain to find. Another good indication would be to go to computer manager (right lcick my computer and click manage) and expand the services option and click services and check for the Dameware service, if you have thias installed then you are most likely comprimised and may be getting a call soon from your ISP in regards to huge traffic.

 

by: johncobbPosted on 2003-09-23 at 06:57:57ID: 9412974

Litmus is a ddos bot

The botnet owner willhave full control of your computer.

Check in your registry under the run command

HK_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\RUN\

For windows.exe

Remove it from there reboot your pc and delete the file

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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