Analysis by: Sabrina Lei Sioting
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

http://web14.host21.sitepush.net/italiano.bin

This spyware may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites. However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 144,384 bytes
File Type: PE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 13 Aug 2010

Arrival Details

This spyware may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

Installation

This spyware creates the following folders:

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

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

It injects itself into the following processes as part of its memory residency routine:

  • explorer.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 = %Application Data%\{random1}\{random}.exe

It drops the following files:

  • %Application Data%\{random1}\{random}.exe
  • %Application Data%\{random2}\{random}.isa

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

Information Theft

This spyware accesses the following site to download its configuration file:

  • http://{BLOCKED}host21.sitepush.net/italiano.bin

Other Details

This spyware did not exhibit backdoor routines during testing.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 8.900
VSAPI PATTERN File: 07.378.15
VSAPI PATTERN Date: 13 Aug 2010
VSAPI PATTERN Date: 8/13/2010 12:00:00 AM

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

Identify and delete files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.BAZ using the Recovery Console

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

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=%Application Data%\{random1}\{random}.exe

Step 4

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. Before you could do this, you must restart in Safe Mode. For instructions on how to do this, you may refer to this page If the preceding step requires you to restart in safe mode, you may proceed to edit the system registry.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
    • {random}

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

Step 6

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