Traceback Virus

Alias:3066
Strain:Traceback
detected when:June 1989
where:---
Classification:Program extending, RAM-resident
Length:.COM and .EXE files increased by 3066 bytes.

Preconditions

Operating System(s):MS-DOS
Version/Release:2.xx upward
Computer model(s):IBM-PC, XT, AT and compatibles
Caroname:TraceBack.3066

Attributes

Easy identification:Typical text in Virus body (readable with hex-dump-utilities): 1. "VG1" in the data area of the virus 2. "VG1" is found at offset of near-jmp- displacement if program is a .COM file. 3. The complete name of the file, which infected the currently loaded file, is in the code. 4. Search .COM or .EXE files for the hex-string: 58,2B,C6,03,C7,06,50,F3,A4,CB,90,50,E8,E2,03, 8B (the last 16 bytes of an infected program).

Type of Infection:

System: infected if signature string "VG1" is found in specific location in memory. .COM files: program length increased by 3,066 bytes if it is infected. Infects files up to 62,218 bytes. The first byte of an infec- ted file is a near-jump (E9h,XXh,YYh) to the virus code; program is infected if the string "VG1" is at offset (viruscode_entry)-03h. .Com files are infected only once. .EXE files: program length increased by 3066 bytes string "VG1" is used for identification. .EXE files are infected only once.

Infection Technique:
Infection Trigger:Programs are infected the first time the virus is run, and at load time (using the function Load/Execute (4Bh) of MS-DOS).
Storage Media affected:
Interrupts hooked:INT 21h, INT 1Ch, INT 09h, INT 20h, INT 27h, (INT 24h only during infection of a file).
Stealth:
Tunneling/Selfprot:
Oligo/Polymorphism:
Encoding Method:
Damage:Transient Damage: One hour after system infection, the characters will fall down the screen. Af- ter 1 minute, screen is automaticly restored. During damage, INT 09h will be hooked. Characters typed during damage will move "fallen-down" characters back to their start position. Damage repeats every hour. Permanent Damage: ---
Damage Trigger:Every time an infected file is run, system date is checked; apart from diverse conditions before Dec.28 1988, the relevant routine checks: If (system date >= 28th of December 1988) then "cascade damage" (same as Autumn Virus).
Particularities:- The virus infects all files, which will be loaded via INT 21h (function 04Bh, including .EXE, .COM and other files as .APP(GEM),.OVL). - Some files will not run after infection.
Similarities:There are some variants of this virus.

Agents

Countermeasures:NTI3066.EXE is an antivirus that only looks for the Traceback-3066 Virus and, if requested, will restore the file.
Standard means:Notice file-length and search after the strings.

Acknowledgements

Location:Virus Test Center, University Hamburg, FRG
Classification by:Stefan Tode
Documentation by:Stefan Tode
Date:5-June-1990
Information Source:

(c) 1996 Virus-Test-Center, University of Hamburg