TSPY_ZBOT.DNA

October 09, 2012
 Analysis by: Rhena Inocencio
 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 arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

Ports:

Random

File Size:

194,560 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

17 May 2012

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 copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %User Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name 1}\{random file name}.exe

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name} on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name} on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

It drops the following files:

  • %User Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name 2}\{random file name}

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name} on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name} on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

It adds the following possibly malicious files or file components:

    It creates the following folders:

    • %User Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name 1}
    • %User Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name 2}

    (Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name} on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name} on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

    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} = "%User Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name 1}\{random file name}.exe"

    Other System Modifications

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

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
    {random characters}

    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"

    Other Details

    This spyware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

    • http://{BLOCKED}p.ru/search/foryou0.bin

      SOLUTION

    Minimum Scan Engine:

    9.200

    FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

    9.126.02

    FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

    21 May 2012

    VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

    9.127.00

    VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

    22 May 2012

    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.DNA

    Step 3

    Restart in Safe Mode

    [ Learn More ]

    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\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
      • {GUID} = "%User Profile%\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"

    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.
    • %User Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name 1}
    • %User Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name 2}

    Step 6

    Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.DNA. 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 characters} 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 characters} need not to be deleted since it won't 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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