TSPY_ZBOT.SMED
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
![](/vinfo/imgFiles/legend.jpg)
Threat Type: Spyware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: Yes
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This spyware arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users. It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.
It is injected into all running processes to remain memory resident.
It attempts to steal sensitive online banking information, such as user names and passwords. This routine risks the exposure of the user's account information, which may then lead to the unauthorized use of the stolen data.
However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Varies
EXE
Yes
16 Aug 2011
Arrival Details
This spyware arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users.
It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.
It may be downloaded from the following remote sites:
- http://{BLOCKED}port-irs.com/report_00000700955070US.pdf.exe
- http://{BLOCKED}ch.com/canceled_report_43893842.pdf.exe
Installation
This spyware drops the following files:
- %Application Data%\{random letters 2}\{random letters}.{random letters} - encrypted file
(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.)
It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %Application Data%\{random letters 1}\{random letters}.exe
(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.)
It creates the following folders:
- %Application Data%\{random letters 1}
- %Application Data%\{random letters 2}
(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.)
It is injected into all running processes to remain memory resident.
Autostart Technique
This spyware adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{GUID} = %Application Data%\{random letters 1}\{random letters}.exe
Other System Modifications
This spyware adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
{random}
It modifies the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\0
1609 = 0
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\1
1406 = 0
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\1
1609 = 0
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\2
1609 = 0
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\3
1406 = 0
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 3.)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\3
1609 = 0
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\4
1406 = 0
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 3.)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\4
1609 = 0
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)
It also creates the following registry entry(ies) as part of its installation routine:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
{random}
{random} = {hex values}
It creates the following registry entry(ies) to bypass Windows Firewall:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\
List
C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe = C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe:*:Enabled:Windows Explorer
Information Theft
This spyware attempts to steal sensitive online banking information, such as user names and passwords. This routine risks the exposure of the user's account information, which may then lead to the unauthorized use of the stolen data.
It accesses the following site to download its configuration file:
- http://{random}/news/?s={random numbers}
The downloaded file contains information where the malware can download an updated copy of itself, and where to send its stolen data.
Other Details
However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
SOLUTION
9.200
Step 1
Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.
Step 2
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.SMED
Step 3
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 4
Delete this registry value
Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- {GUID} = %Application Data%\{random letters 1}\{random letters}.exe
- {GUID} = %Application Data%\{random letters 1}\{random letters}.exe
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List
- C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe = C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe:*:Enabled:Windows Explorer
- C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe = C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe:*:Enabled:Windows Explorer
Step 5
Delete this registry key
Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\{random}Step 6
Restore this modified registry value
Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\0
- From: 1609 = 0
To: 1609 = 1
- From: 1609 = 0
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\1
- From: 1406 = 0
To: 1406 = 1
- From: 1406 = 0
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\1
- From: 1609 = 0
To: 1609 = 1
- From: 1609 = 0
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\2
- From: 1609 = 0
To: 1609 = 1
- From: 1609 = 0
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\3
- From: 1406 = 0
To: 1406 = 3
- From: 1406 = 0
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\3
- From: 1609 = 0
To: 1609 = 1
- From: 1609 = 0
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\4
- From: 1406 = 0
To: 1406 = 3
- From: 1406 = 0
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\4
- From: 1609 = 0
To: 1609 = 1
- From: 1609 = 0
Step 7
Search and delete this file
Step 8
Search and delete these folders
Step 9
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.SMED. If the detected files have already been cleaned, deleted, or quarantined by your Trend Micro product, no further step is required. You may opt to simply delete the quarantined files. Please check this Knowledge Base page for more information.
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