TSPY_ZBOT.PUZ
Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)
Threat Type: Spyware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted:
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This spyware arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users. It arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
It modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.
It deletes the initially executed copy of itself.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
299,520 bytes
EXE
Yes
06 Jun 2013
Arrival Details
This spyware arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users.
It 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 Name 2}\{Random File Name 2}.{Random File 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.)
It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name 1}\{Random File Name 1}.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 creates the following folders:
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name 1}
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name 2}
(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.)
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%\{Random Folder Name 1}\{Random File Name 1}.exe"
Other System Modifications
This spyware adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
{Random Name}
Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification
This spyware modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.
Other Details
This spyware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- http://{BLOCKED}y-learning.com
It deletes the initially executed copy of itself
SOLUTION
9.300
9.970.03
09 Jun 2013
9.971.00
10 Jun 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.PUZ
Step 3
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 4
Search and delete this file
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name 2}\{Random File Name 2}.{Random File Extension}
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name 1}\{Random File Name 1}.exe
Step 5
Search and delete these folders
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name 1}
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name 2}
Step 6
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 Name}
- {Random Name}
Step 7
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
- {GUID} = "%Application Data%\{Random Folder Name 1}\{Random File Name 1}.exe"
- {GUID} = "%Application Data%\{Random Folder Name 1}\{Random File Name 1}.exe"
Step 8
Reset Internet security settings
Step 9
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.PUZ. 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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