Windows – SvcHost is taking 100% of CPU. It appears to be either DcomLaunch or TermService – virus

So my SvcHost is all of a sudden taking 100% of my CPU, and I'd like to figure out which service is responsible for this. Is there any way to differentiate the load being generated by the multiple services running in a single SvcHost?

I have run a virus scan and it came up clean my tool is old and outdated so it found nothing.

I tried stepping through the services, stopping them one by one, but I couldn't find the culprit (note some services also auto restarted and I didn't want to disable them).

Update: I used Process Explorer last night but there were many services, some of which couldn't be stopped, in the offending SvcHost. Today I checked again at heavyd's suggestion and got lucky because only two services are in the offending SvcHost today.

DcomLaunch – DCOM Server Process Launcher

TermService – Terminal Services

Neither of which are stoppable. I am up to date on Windows updates. Going to run another virus scan for the heck of it although nothing turned up last night. Maybe it's time for a fresh start (this install is from sometime in 2004).

Update: Definitely a virus. After the last reboot the CPU usage dropped, but I got some odd "Security Software Installed" messages at boot, oddly named processes running (for example, 555573478785.exe), and suspicious keys added to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run that were not there last night.

Symantec AntiVirus Corporate 8.1.0.825 presented some warnings, but it doesn't seem to be catching everything 🙁

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware results:

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.44
Database version: 3763
Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3
Internet Explorer 8.0.6001.18702

2/19/2010 12:12:58 PM
mbam-log-2010-02-19 (12-12-58).txt

Scan type: Full Scan (C:\|D:\|)
Objects scanned: 290960
Time elapsed: 1 hour(s), 23 minute(s), 54 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 1
Registry Keys Infected: 25
Registry Values Infected: 1
Registry Data Items Infected: 1
Folders Infected: 1
Files Infected: 6

Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Infected:
C:\WINDOWS\kbabjtm.dll (Trojan.Hiloti) -> Delete on reboot.

Registry Keys Infected:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{2e9937fc-cf2f-4f56-af54-5a6a3dd375cc} (Adware.MyWebSearch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{741de825-a6f0-4497-9aa6-8023cf9b0fff} (Adware.MyWebSearch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{cf54be1c-9359-4395-8533-1657cf209cfe} (Adware.MyWebSearch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{147a976f-eee1-4377-8ea7-4716e4cdd239} (Adware.MyWebSearch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Typelib\{d518921a-4a03-425e-9873-b9a71756821e} (Adware.MyWebSearch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{56256a51-b582-467e-b8d4-7786eda79ae0} (Trojan.Vundo) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{00a6faf1-072e-44cf-8957-5838f569a31d} (Adware.MyWebSearch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{07b18ea1-a523-4961-b6bb-170de4475cca} (Adware.MyWebSearch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{07b18ea9-a523-4961-b6bb-170de4475cca} (Adware.MyWebSearch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{07b18eab-a523-4961-b6bb-170de4475cca} (Adware.MyWebSearch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{1d4db7d2-6ec9-47a3-bd87-1e41684e07bb} (Adware.MyWebSearch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{25560540-9571-4d7b-9389-0f166788785a} (Adware.MyWebSearch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{3dc201fb-e9c9-499c-a11f-23c360d7c3f8} (Adware.MyWebSearch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{63d0ed2c-b45b-4458-8b3b-60c69bbbd83c} (Adware.MyWebSearch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{9ff05104-b030-46fc-94b8-81276e4e27df} (Adware.MyWebSearch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Code Store Database\Distribution Units\{1d4db7d2-6ec9-47a3-bd87-1e41684e07bb} (Adware.MyWebSearch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Low Rights\ElevationPolicy\{59c7fc09-1c83-4648-b3e6-003d2bbc7481} (Adware.MyWebSearch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Low Rights\ElevationPolicy\{68af847f-6e91-45dd-9b68-d6a12c30e5d7} (Adware.MyWebSearch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Low Rights\ElevationPolicy\{9170b96c-28d4-4626-8358-27e6caeef907} (Adware.MyWebSearch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Low Rights\ElevationPolicy\{d1a71fa0-ff48-48dd-9b6d-7a13a3e42127} (Adware.MyWebSearch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Low Rights\ElevationPolicy\{ddb1968e-ead6-40fd-8dae-ff14757f60c7} (Adware.MyWebSearch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Low Rights\ElevationPolicy\{f138d901-86f0-4383-99b6-9cdd406036da} (Adware.MyWebSearch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{56256a51-b582-467e-b8d4-7786eda79ae0} (Trojan.Vundo) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Low Rights\RunDll32Policy\f3ScrCtr.dll (Adware.MyWebSearch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Multimedia\WMPlayer\Schemes\f3pss (Adware.MyWebSearch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Values Infected:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MenuExt\&Search\(default) (Adware.Hotbar) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Data Items Infected:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\LSA\Notification Packages (Trojan.Vundo.H) -> Data: kbabjtm.dll  -> Delete on reboot.

Folders Infected:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\55533526 (Rogue.Multiple) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Files Infected:
C:\WINDOWS\kbabjtm.dll (Trojan.Vundo.H) -> Delete on reboot.
C:\WINDOWS\Temp\~TM17.tmp (Trojan.Downloader) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\WINDOWS\Temp\~TM466.tmp (Trojan.Hiloti) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\mach\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\2WE7TOVW\load[1].exe (Malware.Packer.Gen) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\mach\Application Data\avdrn.dat (Malware.Trace) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\mach\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\monnid32.exe (Trojan.Bredolab) -> Delete on reboot.

Second scan results:

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.44
Database version: 3763
Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3
Internet Explorer 8.0.6001.18702

2/19/2010 1:54:07 PM
mbam-log-2010-02-19 (13-54-07).txt

Scan type: Full Scan (C:\|D:\|)
Objects scanned: 290753
Time elapsed: 1 hour(s), 18 minute(s), 34 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 0
Registry Values Infected: 0
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 0
Files Infected: 2

Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Files Infected:
C:\System Volume Information\_restore{0D9A148D-2E7E-411F-8807-407114206A75}\RP2138\A0129104.dll (Trojan.Hiloti) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\System Volume Information\_restore{0D9A148D-2E7E-411F-8807-407114206A75}\RP2138\A0129105.exe (Malware.Packer.Gen) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Update: After a couple more scans it looks like my PC no longer has a virus.

Thanks everyone!