TSPY_ZBOT.SUM

 Modified by: Alvin Bacani

 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: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Dropped by other malware, Downloaded from the Internet

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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

387,664 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

16 Jul 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:

  • %Application Data%\{random}\{random filename}.exe - detected as TSPY_ZBOT.SMIG
  • %Application Data%\{random}\{random filename}.{ramdom 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 is injected into the following processes running in memory:

  • explorer.exe

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
Startup Name = "%User Temp%\file.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{random numbers} = "%Application Data%\{random}\{random filename}.exe"

Other System Modifications

This spyware creates the following registry entry(ies) to bypass Windows Firewall:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\
List
%Windir%\explorer.exe = "%Windir%\explorer.exe:*:Enabled:Windows Explorer"

Download Routine

This spyware connects to the following URL(s) to download its configuration file:

    Information Theft

    This spyware accesses the following site to download its configuration file:

    • http://{BLOCKED}neyzz.com/demo/cfg.bin

    Its configuration file contains the following information:

    • List of strings it will monitor usually related to banking
    • URL to send stolen information

    Stolen Information

    This spyware sends the gathered information via HTTP POST to the following URL:

    • http://{BLOCKED}neyzz.com/demo/gate.php

    Other Details

    The configuration file may contain URLs that it access to download an updated copy of itself and to send its gathered information.

      SOLUTION

    Minimum Scan Engine:

    9.300

    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

    Restart in Safe Mode

    [ Learn More ]

    Step 3

    Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.SUM

    Step 4

    Search and delete the file detected as TSPY_ZBOT.SUM

    [ Learn More ]
    Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden files in the search result.

    Step 5

    Search and delete these files

    [ Learn More ]
    There may be some 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.
    • %User Temp%\file.exe
    • %Application Data%\{random}\{random filename}.{ramdom extension}

    Step 6

    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\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
      • {random numbers} = %Application Data%\{random}\{random filename}.exe
    • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
      • Startup Name = "%User Temp%\file.exe"
    • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List
      • %Windir%\explorer.exe    "%Windir%\explorer.exe:*:Enabled:Windows Explorer"

    Step 7

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

    Step 8

    Remove the malware/grayware file that dropped/downloaded TSPY_ZBOT.SUM

       
      • TSPY_ZBOT.SMIG


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