TSPY_ZBOT.HYN

October 09, 2012
 Analysis by: Sabrina Lei Sioting
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This spyware connects to a certain URL to download its configuration file. As of this writing, the said site is inaccessible.

This spyware may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.

It does not have any propagation routine.

It does not have any backdoor routine.

It modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

It deletes the initially executed copy of itself.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

137,216 bytes

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

29 Dec 2011

Payload:

Connects to URLs/IPs, Drops files

Arrival Details

This spyware may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.

It may be downloaded from the following remote sites:

  • http://{BLOCKED}.altervista.org/9681.bin.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}.it/9681.bin.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}.it/9681.bin.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}.it/9681.bin.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}.com/9681.bin.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}.com/9681.bin.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}.com/9681.bin.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}.com/9681.bin.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}.it/9681.bin.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}.com/9681.bin.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}.com/9681.bin.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}.it/9681.bin.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}.com/9681.bin.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}.it/9681.bin.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}.com/9681.bin.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}.com/9681.bin.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}.com/9681.bin.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}.it/9681.bin.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}.org/9681.bin.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}.it/9681.bin.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}.com/9681.bin.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}.it/9681.bin.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}.pl/9681.bin.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}.net/9681.bin.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}.net/9681.bin.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}.org/9681.bin.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}.org:80/9681.bin.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}.it:80/9681.bin.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}.it/9681.bin.exe

Installation

This spyware drops the following files:

  • %Application Data%\{random1}\o.d
  • %Application Data%\oemfpc.dat
  • %Application Data%\{random2}\{random}.{random characters}

(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 copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Application Data%\{random1}\{random}.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 creates the following folders:

  • %Application Data%\{random1}
  • %Application Data%\{random2}

(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 stays memory-resident by injecting codes into the following processes:

  • all running processes

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
{GUID} = "%Application Data%\{random1}\{random}.exe"

Other System Modifications

This spyware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
{random}

Propagation

This spyware does not have any propagation routine.

Backdoor Routine

This spyware does not have any backdoor routine.

Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification

This spyware modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

Other Details

This spyware deletes the initially executed copy of itself

NOTES:

It connects to the following URL(s) to download its configuration file:

  • http://{BLOCKED}.ru/me/l/ist.dat

As of this writing, the said site is inaccessible.

The configuration file may contain URLs where it downloads an updated copy of itself and where it sends its gathered information. It may also contain URLs of its target online banking and finance-related sites from where it steals the information.

This spyware does not exploit any vulnerability.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

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.HYN

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

Delete the registry entry with an unknown data 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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • {GUID} = %Application Data%\{random1}\{random}.exe

Step 5

Search and delete these folders

[ Learn More ]
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%\{random1}
  • %Application Data%\{random2}

Step 6

Search and delete this file

[ Learn More ]
There may be some component files that are hidden. Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden files and folders in the search result.  
  • %Application Data%\oemfpc.dat

Step 7

Reset Internet security settings

[ Learn More ]

Step 8

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.HYN. 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} cannot be identified by the users 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, {random} need not be deleted since it does not cause the user system any harm.

In deleting the created folders, please take note of the malware path of the file(s) detected earlier.


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