TSPY_ZBOT.EZQE

 Analysis by: Roland Marco Dela Paz

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, XP, 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 attempts to steal information, such as user names and passwords, used when logging into certain banking or finance-related websites. It steals CD keys, serial numbers, and/or the application product IDs of certain software. tolen information may be used for profit by cybercriminals who may gain access to the information.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

146,944 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

22 Sep 2010

Payload:

Disables Windows Firewall, Downloads files

Infection Points

This spyware arrives as a file downloaded from the following URLs:

  • http://{BLOCKED}uadg.com/eso/isp.exe

Installation

This spyware adds the following folders:

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

(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 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

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 of mount point of %Windows%} = %Application Data%\{random1}\{random}.exe

It drops the following files:

  • %Application Data%\{random1}\{random}.exe - copy of itself
  • %Application Data%\{random2}\{random} - contains encrypted stolen data

(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 System Modifications

This spyware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft
{random} =

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\PhishingFilter
Enabled = 0

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
InternetExplorer\PhishingFilter
EnabledV8 = 0

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

Information Theft

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

  • *barclays.es*
  • *caixacatalunya.com/*/Home/*,,00.html
  • *caixacatalunya.com/*/benvinguda*
  • *caixacatalunya.com/*/bienvenida*
  • *caixapenedes.com*
  • *cajalaboral.com*acceso_es.js
  • *cajalaboral.com*home.aspx
  • *cam.es*form_camdirecto.js
  • *cam.es*inicio.aspx
  • *iurisbank.com/isum/Main?ISUM_SCR=login*
  • *iurisbank.com/js/checkUsuPass.js
  • *iurisbank.com/js/interface.js
  • *ruralvia.com/isum/Main?ISUM_SCR=login*
  • *ruralvia.com/js/checkUsuPass.js
  • *ruralvia.com/js/interface.js
  • http*empresas.gruposantander.es*login.js
  • http*empresas.gruposantander.es/WebEmpresas/servlet/webempresas.servlets.CompressJSP?JSP=nueva_imagen/inicio.jsp*
  • http*inversis.com*
  • http*inversis.com*/js/inversiones/common.js
  • https://login.facebook.com/*

It accesses the following site to download its configuration file:

  • http://{BLOCKED}lans.ru/eso/esa.sp
  • http://{BLOCKED}ksfg.ru/eso/esa.sp
  • http://{BLOCKED}seao.com/eso/esa.sp

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

  • Barclays
  • Caja Laboral
  • IS Bank
  • Santander

It steals CD keys, serial numbers, and/or the application product IDs of certain software.

Drop Points

The said file is then sent to the following URL via HTTP POST:

  • http://{BLOCKED}otor.ru/esp/gujoh.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}otor.ru/esp/gujoh.php

Other Details

Based on analysis of the codes, it has the following capabilities:

  • This malware is also capable of stealing information such as Personal Certificates(MY), Flashplayer data, and Internet session cookies. It also steals FTP credentials for the following FTP applications: flashxp, ghisler, ipswitch, filezilla, ftpfar, winscp, ftpcommander, coreftp, and smartftp.

It does the following:

  • It adds a registry key as part of its installation routine.
  • It adds registry entries to disable Internet Explorer PhistingFilter.

Variant Information

This spyware has the following MD5 hashes:

  • f3a49e29fdef2471816220aa373be16b

It has the following SHA1 hashes:

  • 7c74039292fd16346136c1c5fced563465cef702

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

8.900

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

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

Search and delete this folder

[ 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 4

Delete this registry 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\Internet Explorer\PhishingFilter
    • Enabled=0
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\InternetExplorer\PhishingFilter
    • EnabledV8=0
  • 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\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • {GUID of mount point of %Windows%} =%Application Data%

Step 5

Delete this registry key

[ 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\
    • {random}

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.EZQE. 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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