TSPY_ZBOT.NZG
Win32/Spy.Zbot.AAO (NOD32)
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
![](/vinfo/imgFiles/legend.jpg)
Threat Type: Spyware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: Yes
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 deletes itself after execution.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
233,472 bytes
EXE
Yes
09 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 and executes them:
- %Application Data%\{random value}\{random value}.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 drops the following non-malicious files:
- %AppDataLocal%\Identities\{random GUID}\Microsoft\Outlook Express\{Email Folder Names}.dbx
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\Address Book\{Username}.wab
(Note: %AppDataLocal% is the Local Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local on Windows Vista and 7.. %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 creates the following folders:
- %Application Data%\{random characters}
(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 injects threads into the following normal process(es):
- explorer.exe
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 characters} = %Application Data%\{random characters}\{random characters}.exe"
Other System Modifications
This spyware adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
{random characters}
{random characters} = {random value}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
{random characters}
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
{random characters}
"{random values}" = "{random values}"
It modifies the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\1
"1406" = "0"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "1".)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\0
"1609" = "0"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "1".)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\1
"1609" = "0"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "1".)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\2
"1609" = "0"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "1".)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\3
"1406" = "0"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "3".)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\3
"1609" = "0"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "1".)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\4
"1406" = "0"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "3".)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\4
"1609" = "0"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "1".)
Dropping Routine
This spyware drops the following files:
- %Application Data%\{Random characters}\{Random characters}.tmp
- %Application Data%\{Random characters}\{Random characters}.{random extension}
(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.)
Other Details
This spyware deletes itself after execution.
NOTES:
It executes Outlook Express to steal email information.
It tries to connect to the following URL through random ports:
- {BLOCKED}ec948fa2bc.com
SOLUTION
9.300
9.848.05
09 Apr 2013
9.849.00
10 Apr 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
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 3
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 Characters}
Step 4
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\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- {Random GUID} = "%Application Data%\{Random Characters}\{Random Characters}.exe"
- {Random GUID} = "%Application Data%\{Random Characters}\{Random Characters}.exe"
Step 5
Restore these modified registry values
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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\0
- From: "1609" = "1"
To: "1609" = 0
- From: "1609" = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\1
- From: "1406" = "1"
To: "1406" = 0
- From: "1406" = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\1
- From: "1609" = "1"
To: "1609" = 0
- From: "1609" = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\2
- From: "1609" = "1"
To: "1609" = 0
- From: "1609" = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\3
- From: "1406" = "3"
To: "1406" = 0
- From: "1406" = "3"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\3
- From: "1609" = "1"
To: "1609" = 0
- From: "1609" = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\4
- From: "1406" = "3"
To: "1406" = 0
- From: "1406" = "3"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\4
- From: "1609" = "1"
To: "1609" = 0
- From: "1609" = "1"
Step 6
Search and delete these components
- %Application Data%\{random characters}
- %User Profile%\{random characters}\{random characters}.exe
- %Application Data%\{random characters}.{random extension}
Step 7
Search and delete this folder
- %Application Data%\{random characters}
Step 8
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.NZG. 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 9
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.NZG. 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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