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TSPY_ZBOT.SSV

September 04, 2013
 ALIASES:

PWS:Win32/Zbot (Microsoft)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This spyware arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

182,784 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

03 Sep 2013

Arrival Details

This spyware arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

Installation

This spyware drops the following copies of itself into the affected system and executes them:

  • %Application Data%\{Random Folder 1}\{Random File Name}.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 drops the following files:

  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Address Book\{User Name}.wab
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Address Book\{User Name}.wab~
  • %Application Data%\{Random Folder 2}\{Random File Name}.{Random Extension}

(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 Folder 1}
  • %Application Data%\{Random Folder 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.)

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
{Random GUID} = "%Application Data%\{Random Folder 1}\{Random File Name}.exe"

Other System Modifications

This spyware adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
{Random Name 1}
{Random Name 2} = "{Random Hex Values}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB\WAB4
FirstRun = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB\WAB4
OlkContactRefresh = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB\WAB4
OlkFolderRefresh = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB\WAB4\Wab File Name
{Default Value} = "%Application Data%\Microsoft\Address Book\{User Name}.wab"

Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification

This spyware modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

Other Details

This spyware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}an.su/chevrolet.php

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

10.256.07

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

04 Sep 2013

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

10.257.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

05 Sep 2013

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.SSV

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

Delete this registry value

[ Learn More ]

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\{Random Name 1}
    • {Random Name 2} = "{Random Hex Values}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WAB\WAB4
    • FirstRun = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WAB\WAB4
    • OlkContactRefresh = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WAB\WAB4
    • OlkFolderRefresh = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WAB\WAB4\Wab File Name
    • {Default Value} = "%Application Data%\Microsoft\Address Book\{User Name}.wab"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • {Random GUID} = "%Application Data%\{Random Folder 1}\{Random File Name}.exe"

Step 5

Search and delete these folders

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden folders in the search result.
  • %Application Data%\{Random Folder 1}
  • %Application Data%\{Random Folder 2}

Step 6

Search and delete these files

[ Learn More ]
There may be some component files that are hidden. Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden files and folders in the search result.
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Address Book\{User Name}.wab
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Address Book\{User Name}.wab~

Step 7

Reset Internet security settings

[ Learn More ]

Step 8

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.SSV. 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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