TSPY_ZBOT.SMCV3

October 17, 2013
 ALIASES:

TrojanDownloader:Win32/Cbeplay.R (Microsoft); PWS-Zbot.gen.ary (McAfee); Trojan.Win32.Zbot.anr (v) (Sunbelt); Trojan horse Agent.8.AA (AVG)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:
 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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

122,368 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

02 Apr 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%\{malware file name}

(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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
WGASetup = "%Application Data%\{malware file name}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
WGASetup = "%Application Data%\{malware file name}"

Other System Modifications

This spyware adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
IP = "{random values}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
Location = "{random values}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
ISP = "{random values}"

Other Details

This spyware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://www.{BLOCKED}ress.org/ip-checker.php

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  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

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
    • WGASetup = "%Application Data%\{malware file name}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • WGASetup = "%Application Data%\{malware file name}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
    • IP = "{random values}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
    • Location = "{random values}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
    • ISP = "{random values}"

Step 4

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.SMCV3. 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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