Analysis by: Nikko Tamana
ALIASES:

Mal/EncPk-AEH (Sophos), W32/Zbot.RO!tr (Fortinet), W32/Worm.BLJZ (exact) (FProt), Trojan-Spy.Win32.Zbot (Ikarus), PWS:Win32/Zbot.gen!Y (Microsoft), Win32/Spy.Zbot.YW trojan (NOD32), Trojan.Gen (Norton), Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt), Trojan.Agent.AWKG (Bitdefender)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP,Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This spyware arrives as a file that exports the functions of other malware/grayware. It may arrive bundled with malware packages as a malware component. It 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

File Size: 65,536 bytes
File Type: DLL
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 03 Sep 2012

Arrival Details

This spyware arrives as a file that exports the functions of other malware/grayware.

It may arrive bundled with malware packages as a malware component.

It arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

Other System Modifications

This spyware deletes the following files:

  • %System%\localsp1.dll
  • %System%\msxml4r.dll

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.)

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Control\Lsa
forceguest = "0"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

Other Details

This spyware opens the following files:

  • %System%\msxml0r.ini

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.)

NOTES:

It copies %System%\cmd.exe and renames it to %System%\mmc32.exe. It then uses the copy to execute commands such as adding registries, setting the firewall, etc.