TSPY_ZBOT.JPS
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
Threat Type: Spyware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: No
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware
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.
As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
217,600 bytes
EXE
Yes
03 Jul 2012
Downloads files
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 folder 1}\{random file name 1}.exe
(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)
It drops the following files:
- %Application Data%\{random folder 2}\{random file name 2}.{random extension name}
(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)
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:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)
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 1}.exe"
Other System Modifications
This spyware adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
{random key}
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Privacy
CleanCookies = "0"
Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification
This spyware modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.
Download Routine
This spyware connects to the following URL(s) to download its configuration file:
- http://{BLOCKED}revis.com/file.php
As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
SOLUTION
9.200
9.232.05
03 Jul 2012
9.233.00
04 Jul 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
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.JPS
Step 3
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 4
Delete this registry key
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 key}
- {random key}
Step 5
Delete this registry value
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\Internet Explorer\Privacy
- CleanCookies = "0"
- CleanCookies = "0"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- {random GUID} = "%Application Data%\{random folder 1}\{random file name 1}.exe"
- {random GUID} = "%Application Data%\{random folder 1}\{random file name 1}.exe"
Step 6
Search and delete this folder
- %Application Data%\{random folder 1}
- %Application Data%\{random folder 2}
Step 7
Reset Internet security settings
Step 8
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.JPS. 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.
NOTES:
The created registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\{random key} cannot be identified by the user since there are no reference values in the created key. The only way it can be identified is by comparing the present keys with a backup if the users have one. Note that the key need not to be deleted since it won't cause the user system any harm.
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