The worm scans for and attacks Internet-connected SQL server accounts that aren't protected by administrative passwords. Once it infects such a server, it exports all user passwords on that server to an external e-mail account, said Elias Levy, chief technology officer at SecurityFocus in San Mateo, Calif.

The worm, called the SQLSnake, also uses the compromised machine to similarly infect other vulnerable SQL servers, Levy said.

"It is not exploiting any new vulnerability. It is just looking for administrative accounts with no passwords," he said.

Once it gets into a system it does a few things, Levy added. "It gives administrative privileges to the guest account. It also dumps the password files from the registry and mails it to an e-mail address and it scans for new systems to infect," he said.

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Comment:

An analysis of the worm can be found here.

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