TSPY_ZBOT.AADN
Trojan.Zbot!gen43 (Norton)
Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)
![](/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 is injected into all running processes to remain memory resident.
It does not have any propagation routine.
It does not have any backdoor routine.
It modifies Internet Explorer security settings. This puts the affected computer at greater risk, as it allows malicious URLs to be accessed by the computer.
It retrieves specific information from the affected system.
It deletes the initially executed copy of itself.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
1,150,526 bytes
EXE
Yes
20 Dec 2013
Connects to URLs/IPs
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 files:
- %Application Data%\{random folder name2}\{random file name2}.{random extension}
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\Address Book\{username}.wab
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\Address Book\{username}.wab~
(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 copies of itself into the affected system:
- %User Temp%\file.exe
- %Application Data%\{random folder name1}\{random file name1}.exe
(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp 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%\Microsoft\Address Book
- %Application Data%\{random folder name1}
- %Application Data%\{random folder name2}
(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 is injected into all running processes to remain memory resident.
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} = "%Application Data%\{random folder name1}\{random file name1}.exe"
Other System Modifications
This spyware adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB\WAB4
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB\WAB4\Wab File Name
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
{random key}
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB\WAB4
OlkContactRefresh = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB\WAB4
OlkFolderRefresh = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB\WAB4\Wab File Name
{Default} = "%Application Data%\Microsoft\Address Book\winxp.wab"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
{random key}
{random} = "{random values}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB\WAB4
FirstRun = "1"
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"
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 Internet Explorer zone settings.
Download Routine
This spyware connects to the following URL(s) to download its configuration file:
- http://{BLOCKED}ols.no-ip.biz/ndukwe/on/gate.php
Information Theft
This spyware retrieves the following information from the affected system:
- Host name
- Task list
- Ip Configuration
It attempts to get stored information such as user names, passwords, and hostnames from the following browsers:
- Chrome
- Firefox
- Internet Explorer
Other Details
This spyware connects to the following URL(s) to check for an Internet connection:
- www.google.com/webhp
It deletes the initially executed copy of itself
NOTES:
It queries the registry below to check for installed anti-virus products and other security related software:
- *ROOT\SECURITYCENTER
- *ROOT\SECURITYCENTER
If it is found the following antivirus products and other security related softwares, it terminates the program:
- avast!
- AVG
- Anti-Virus
- AntiVir
- Antivirus
- Client
- Desktop
- ESET
- Inspection
- Kaspersky
- Malware
- McAfee
- Microsoft
- Monitor
- Norton
- Protection
- SafenSoft
- Security
- Security Center
- SecurityCenter
- Service
- Symantec
- SysWatch
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.
It does not have rootkit capabilities.
It does not exploit any vulnerability.
SOLUTION
9.700
10.484.07
21 Dec 2013
10.485.00
21 Dec 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
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.AADN
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
- WAB
- WAB
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\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- {random} = "%Application Data%\{random folder name1}\{random file name1}.exe"
- {random} = "%Application Data%\{random folder name1}\{random file name1}.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List
- %Windows%\explorer.exe = "%Windows%\explorer.exe:*:Enabled:Windows Explorer"
- %Windows%\explorer.exe = "%Windows%\explorer.exe:*:Enabled:Windows Explorer"
Step 6
Search and delete these folders
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\Address Book
- %Application Data%\{random folder name1}
- %Application Data%\{random folder name2}
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.AADN. 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
The following created registry key(s) 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 of the system registry. Note that the said key(s) do not have to be deleted since it won't be harmful to the system:
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\{random key}
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