Just for Fun. . .
Phony Virus Alert

April 1, 2004
 

The Computer Virus Legion has just issued a Severity-One virus alert for a security vulnerability for myBase Databases on Linux and UNIX platforms.   This virus effects myBase and may result in a complete loss of service.  This virus may be serious and requires IMMEDIATE attention to neutralize the threat.

  • Problem: The virus exploits a vulnerability in a Windows myBase client, allowing an unauthorized myBase user to gain root privileges on the UNIX myBase database server.  The virus then places a malicious Trojan executable on the server. 
     

  • CVL References: 41-20374, 75-28365.
     

  • Platforms Impacted:  Sun Solaris, Red Hat Linux, SuSE Linux, AIX and HP UNIX.
     

  • Vulnerability Assessment: The risk is HIGH. The virus software allows the myBase user to gain unauthorized root privileges and can cause serious loss of production service.
     

  • Virus Detection: This virus plants a Trojan UNIX shell executable (xxx.sh) on your myBase server and starts a daemon process on each myBase UNIX server.

Again, the threat level for this virus is HIGH, and we highly recommend that you get full details.  This myBase virus creates a Trojan executable on your myBase server and starts a daemon process on each myBase UNIX server.  If the following command returns "1" then your server may be infected:

ps -ef|grep `whoami`|grep -v grep|wc -l

The virus spreads between myBase servers using the UNIX e-mail gateway by exploiting the UNIX mailx daemon, sending malicious messages to all users defined in the /etc/passwd file. These messages can be detected by their distinctive subject lines 'GENERIC VIAGRA', and 'GROW YOUR THINGY'.
 

Hallmarks of the myBase virus include:

  • Increasing degradation in myBase performance, especially as user load and database size increases.
     

  • Sub-optimal SQL execution plans will appear in the myBase library cache.
     

  • The instance will switch to rule-based SQL optimization and send an e-mail to myBase Support, requesting an iTar for technical assistance.
     

  • The following message will appear in the myBase alert log:
    MYB-0911411 - Cannot install MySQL
     

  • It will rewrite your myBase backup files, changing all active verbs to a passive voice and introducing undetectable misspellings into all text.
     

  • You may see a variation on the Oprah Winfrey virus where your SYSTEM tablespace suddenly shrinks to 20 Meg, and then slowly expands-out to over 500 Meg.
     

  • The daemon process will attack all PeopleSoft software on the server, in an attempt to take-over control of the application.
     

  • The virus may also manifest as a variation of the Monica Lewinsky virus, sucking all of the RAM out of your SGA and then sending e-mails all users, telling them about it.
     

  • It will de-magnetize the strips on all of your credit cards and re-program your ATM access code.
     

  • It will program your telephone to auto-dial 1-900 talk-dirty-to-me phone lines.
     

  • If you are running myBase on Windows, it will will re-calibrate your refrigerator's coolness settings so that all your ice cream melts.
     

  • If you are running the multi-threaded server, it will leave the toilet seat up and leave your hair dryer plugged in dangerously close to a full bathtub.


PLEASE FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!

HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY!