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TSPY_ZBOT.ZQWA

October 07, 2010
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW



It adds registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup.
It attempts to steal information, such as user names and passwords, used when logging into certain banking or finance-related websites.
It does certain actions.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

Initial Samples Received Date:

01 Jan 0001




Autostart Technique


It drops the following files:

  • %Application Data%\{random folder name 1}\{random}.exe - copy of itself

  • %Application Data%\{random folder name 2}\{random} - contains encrypted stolen data


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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{GUID} =%Application Data%\{random folder name 1}\{random file name}.exe



Drop Points


Stolen information is uploaded to the following websites:

  • http://{BLOCKED}ttoo.cc/yahooman.php



Infection Points


It may be downloaded from the following remote sites:

  • http://{BLOCKED}oo.cc/20aug_pacif.exe



Information Theft


It monitors the Internet Explorer (IE) activities of the affected system, specifically the address bar or title bar. It recreates a legitimate Web site with a spoofed login page if a user visits banking sites with the following strings in the address bar or title bar:

  • *.barclays.co.uk*

  • *.barclays.co.uk*barcaz.php*

  • *.barclays.co.uk*bg.php*

  • *.firstdirect.com/1

  • *.mybank.alliance-leicester.co.uk*

  • *alliance*leicester.co.uk*bg.php*

  • *alliance*leicester.co.uk*leicesteraz.php*

  • *firstdirect.com*bg.php*

  • *firstdirect.com*firstaz.php*

  • *hsbc.co.uk*az.php*

  • *hsbc.co.uk*bg.php*

  • http://recruiter.jobsearch.co.uk/login.cgi*

  • http://www.barclays.co.uk.servaz.cc/barc/bg.php

  • http://www.barclays.co.uk.servaz.cc/js/barcaz.js

  • http://www.mybank.alliance-leicester.cc/js/leicesteraz.js

  • http://www.mybank.alliance-leicester.cc/leicester/bg.php

  • http://www.nsbc.cc/az.js

  • http://www.nsbc.cc/hsbc/bg.php

  • http://www.redgoldfish.co.uk/advertisers/login.aspx*

  • http://www.vacancycentral.co.uk/wscrm/login.php*

  • http://www1.banking.firstdirect.cc/first/bg.php

  • http://www1.banking.firstdirect.cc/js/firstaz.js


It accesses the following site to download its configuration file:

  • http://{BLOCKED}oo.cc/20aug_pacif.cpm

  • http://{BLOCKED}tiestoo.cc/20aug_pacif.cpm

  • http://{BLOCKED}st.net/20aug_pacif.cpm


It attempts to steal information from the following banks and/or other financial institutions:

  • Alliance & Leicester

  • Barclays

  • HSBC



Installation


It adds the following folders:

  • %Application Data%\{random folder name 1}

  • %Application Data%\{random folder name 2}


It injects itself into the following processes running in the affected system's memory:

  • explorer.exe

  • taskhost.exe

  • taskeng.exe

  • Dwm.exe

  • wscntfy.exe

  • ctfmon.exe

  • rdpclip.exe



Other Details


It does the following:

  • Adds the following registry entries to disable Internet Explorer:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\PhishingFilter
    Enabled = '0'
    EnabledV8 = '0'
  • Steals the following information:
      • Personal Certificates (MY)
      • FTP credentials for the following FTP applications:
          • flashxp
          • ghisler
          • ipswitch
          • filezilla
          • ftpfar
          • winscp
          • ftpcommander
          • coreftp
          • smartftp
      • Flashplayer data
      • Internet session cookies



Other System Modifications


It creates the following registry entry(ies) to bypass Windows Firewall:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List
%Windows%\EXPLORER.EXE =%Windows%\EXPLORER.EXE:*:Enabled:Windows Explorer


It adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\{random}
=



Variant Information


It has the following MD5 hashes:

  • 1d792ffd2e922edee9daa7ea3e537466


It has the following SHA1 hashes:

  • 44425c13b6d87d4a4c7980e1f7514204ab7fdab2

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

8.900



Step 1
For Windows ME and XP users, before doing any scans, please make sure you disable System Restore to allow full scanning of your computer.

Step 2
Restart in Safe Mode
[ Learn More ]


Step 3
Delete this registry value This step allows you to delete the registry value created by the malware/grayware/spyware.

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
    • {GUID} = %Application Data%\{random folder name 1}\{random file name}.exe
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List
    • %Windows%\EXPLORER.EXE = %Windows%\EXPLORER.EXE:*:Enabled:Windows Explorer
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\PhishingFilter
    • Enabled = 0
    • EnabledV8 = 0

To delete the registry value this malware/grayware/spyware created:

  1. Open Registry Editor. Click Start>Run, type REGEDIT, then press Enter.
  2. In the left panel, double-click the following:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Run
  3. In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
    {GUID} = %Application Data%\{random folder name 1}\{random file name}.exe
  4. In the left panel, double-click the following:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SYSTEM>CurrentControlSet>Services>SharedAccess>Parameters>FirewallPolicy>StandardProfile>AuthorizedApplications>List
  5. In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
    %Windows%\EXPLORER.EXE = %Windows%\EXPLORER.EXE:*:Enabled:Windows Explorer
  6. In the left panel, double-click the following:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Internet Explorer>PhishingFilter
  7. In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
    • Enabled = 0
    • EnabledV8 = 0
  8. Close Registry Editor.

Step 4
Delete this registry key This step allows you to delete the registry key this malware/grayware/spyware added in the Windows registry.

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}

To delete the registry key this malware/grayware/spyware created:

  1. Open Registry Editor. Click Start>Run, type REGEDIT, then press Enter.
  2. In the left panel, double-click the following:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft
  3. Still in the left panel, locate and delete the key:
    {random}
  4. Close Registry Editor.

Step 5
Search and delete this folder This step allows you to search and delete the folder created by this malware/grayware/spyware. Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden folders in the search result.
  • %Application Data%{random folder name 1}
  • %Application Data%{random folder name 2}

To delete the malware/grayware/spyware folder:

  1. Right-click Start then click Search... or Find..., depending on the version of Windows you are running.
  2. In the Named input box, type:
      • %Application Data%{random folder name 1}
      • %Application Data%{random folder name 2}
  3. In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer, then press Enter.
  4. Once located, select the folder then press SHIFT+DELETE to permanently delete the folder.

Step 6
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.ZQWA 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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