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TSPY_ZHUGE.A

October 09, 2012
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • 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 may be downloaded by other malware/grayware/spyware from remote sites.

It uses common file icons to trick a user into thinking that the files are legitimate.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

101,256 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

14 Mar 2012

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.

It may be downloaded by other malware/grayware/spyware from remote sites.

Installation

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

  • %User Profile%\Application Data\mscdta.exe

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name} on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name} on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

It uses common file icons to trick a user into thinking that the files are legitimate.

It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:

  • zhugeliannu2zhang3

Autostart Technique

This spyware adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
winlogon = "%User Profile%\Application Data\mscdta.exe"

NOTES:

It steals user credentials, such as user names and passwords, that are related to the following applications:

  • POP3
  • HTTPMail
  • Hotmail
  • Microsoft Outlook Express
  • Internet Explorer Autocomplete Passwords
  • MSN Explorer
  • Protected Storage

It sends the stolen information to the following site:

  • {BLOCKED}hat.{BLOCKED}unix.com

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

8.836.03

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

14 Mar 2012

Step 1

For Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 users, before doing any scans, please make sure you disable System Restore to allow full scanning of your computer.

Step 2

Identify and terminate files detected as TSPY_ZHUGE.A

[ Learn More ]
  1. If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
  2. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

Step 3

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • winlogon = %User Profile%\Application Data\mscdta.exe

Step 4

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TSPY_ZHUGE.A. 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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