TSPY_ZBOT.YZYZX
PWS:Win32/Zbot (Microsoft); Trojan.Zbot (Symantec); Win32/Spy.Zbot.AAQ (ESET-NOD32); Trojan.Win32.Buzus.vxsg (Kaspersky); Zbot.URI (AVG)
Windows
![](/vinfo/imgFiles/legend.jpg)
Threat Type: Spyware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted:
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.
It modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.
However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible. It deletes itself after execution.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
656,384 bytes
EXE
Yes
06 Dec 2014
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:
- %Application Data%\{random folder 1}\{random filename 1}.exe
(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)
It drops the following files:
- %Application Data%\{random folder 2}\{random file name 2}.tmp
- %Application Data%\{random folder 2}\{random file name 2}.{random extension}
(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)
It creates the following folders:
- %Application Data%\{random folder 1}
- %Application Data%\{random folder 2}
(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)
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 1}\{random filename 1}.exe "
Other System Modifications
This spyware adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
{random key 1}
{random key 2} = "{random values}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB\WAB4
FirstRun = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB\WAB4
OlkContactRefresh = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB\WAB4
OlkFolderRefresh = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Privacy
CleanCookies = "0"
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}in.in/ric/config.bin
However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
It deletes itself after execution.
SOLUTION
9.700
11.276.01
14 Nov 2014
11.277.00
15 Nov 2014
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
Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.
Step 3
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 4
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 1}\{random filename 1}.exe "
- {GUID} = "%Application Data%\{random folder 1}\{random filename 1}.exe "
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WAB\WAB4
- FirstRun = "1"
- FirstRun = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WAB\WAB4
- OlkContactRefresh = "0"
- OlkContactRefresh = "0"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WAB\WAB4
- OlkFolderRefresh = "0"
- OlkFolderRefresh = "0"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Privacy
- CleanCookies = "0"
- CleanCookies = "0"
Step 5
Reset Internet security settings
Step 6
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.YZYZX. 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 7
The following created files/folders/registry keys/registry entries 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 system information with a backup. Note that the said components do not have to be deleted since it won't be harmful to the system.
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\{random key 1}
- {random key 2} = "{random values}"
- {random key 2} = "{random values}"
- %Application Data%\{random folder 1}
- %Application Data%\{random folder 2}
- %Application Data%\{random folder 2}\{random file name 2}.tmp
- %Application Data%\{random folder 2}\{random file name 2}.{random extension}
Step 8
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.YZYZX. 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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