TSPY_ZBOT.TFP


 ALIASES:

Trojan-Spy.Win32.Zbot.nsvt (Kaspersky), Trojan-PWS.Tepfer (Ikarus)

 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.

It deletes itself after execution.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

372,736 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

23 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.

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

Other System Modifications

This spyware adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
{Random Characters}
{Random Characters} = "{Random Strings}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
{Random Characters}
{Random Characters} = "{Random Hex Values}"

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities
Identity Ordinal = "2"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification

This spyware modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

Other Details

This spyware drops the following file(s)/component(s):

  • %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\{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 deletes itself after execution.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

10.172.08

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

23 Jul 2013

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

10.173.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

24 Jul 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.TFP

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

Search and delete this file

[ 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.
 
  • %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\{Random File Name}.exe

Step 5

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 Characters}
    • {Random Characters} = "{Random Strings}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\{Random Characters}
    • {Random Characters} = "{Random Hex Values}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • {Random File Name} = "%Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\{Random File Name}.exe"

Step 6

Restore this modified 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\Identities
    • From: Identity Ordinal = "2"
      To: Identity Ordinal = "1"

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.TFP. 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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