ALIASES:

Worm:Win32/Cridex.B (Microsoft); Generic.bfr!et (McAfee); Trojan-Dropper.Win32.Dapato.ansi (Kaspersky); Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt); Trojan.Zbot.4073 (FSecure)

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

It deletes itself after execution.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 90,712 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\KB00172240.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 creates the following folders:

  • %User Profile%\Application Data\F048F32E

(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
KB00172240.exe = "%User Profile%\Application Data\KB00172240.exe"

Other System Modifications

This spyware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows Media Center\98E5FCFE

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows Media Center\F048F32E

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\
Microsoft\Imapi
LogSessionName = "stdout"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {random values}.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\
Microsoft\Imapi
Active = "1"

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\
Microsoft\Imapi
ControlFlags = "1"

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\
Microsoft\Imapi\ImapiSvc
Guid = "8107d8e9-e323-49f5-bba2-abc35c243dca"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 8107d8e9-e323-49f5-bba2-abc35c243dca.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\
Microsoft\Imapi\ImapiSvc
BitNames = "{random characters}"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is ImapiDebugError ImapiDebugWarning ImapiDebugTrace ImapiDebugInfo ImapiDebugX ImapiDebugSort.)

Dropping Routine

This spyware drops the following files:

  • %Temp%\tu0i6h4l.TMP

(Note: %Temp% is the Windows Temporary folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Temp or C:\WINNT\Temp.)

Other Details

This spyware deletes itself after execution.

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.200

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

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\Windows Media Center
    • 98E5FCFE
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Media Center
    • F048F32E

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
    • KB00172240.exe = "%User Profile%\Application Data\KB00172240.exe"

Step 5

Restore this modified 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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\Microsoft\Imapi
    • From: LogSessionName = "stdout"
      To: LogSessionName = ""{random values}""
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\Microsoft\Imapi
    • From: Active = "1"
      To: Active = ""1""
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\Microsoft\Imapi
    • From: ControlFlags = "1"
      To: ControlFlags = ""1""
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\Microsoft\Imapi\ImapiSvc
    • From: Guid = "8107d8e9-e323-49f5-bba2-abc35c243dca"
      To: Guid = ""8107d8e9-e323-49f5-bba2-abc35c243dca""
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Tracing\Microsoft\Imapi\ImapiSvc
    • From: BitNames = "{random characters}"
      To: BitNames = "" ImapiDebugError ImapiDebugWarning ImapiDebugTrace ImapiDebugInfo ImapiDebugX ImapiDebugSort""

Step 6

Search and delete this file

[ Learn More ]
There may be some component files that are hidden. Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden files and folders in the search result.
  • %Temp%\tu0i6h4l.TMP

Step 7

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.
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\F048F32E

Step 8

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_SPYEYE.EPL. 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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