TSPY_ZBOT.AAE


 ALIASES:

PWS:Win32/Zbot.gen!B (Microsoft); Packed.Generic.47 (Symantec); Trojan-Spy.Win32.Zbot.roh (Kaspersky); RiskTool.Win32.ProcessPatcher.Nor!cobra (v) (not malicious) (Sunbelt); Win32/PolyCrypt (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:

320,579 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:

  • %System%\oembios.exe

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.)

Autostart Technique

This spyware modifies the following registry entries to ensure it automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
userinit = "%System%\userinit.exe,%System%\oembios.exe,"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is %Windows%\system32\userinit.exe,.)

Other System Modifications

This spyware deletes the following files:

  • %System%\oembios.exe

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.)

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

Identify and delete files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.AAE using either the Startup Disk or Recovery Console

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

Restore these modified registry values

[ Learn More ]

Important:Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this only if you know how to or you can seek your system administrator's help. You may also check out this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
    • From: userinit = "%System%\userinit.exe,%System%\oembios.exe,"
      To: userinit = ""%Windows%\system32\userinit.exe,""

Step 4

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.AAE. 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 5

Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.

  • %System%\oembios.exe


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