TSPY_ZBOT.CRM
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
![](/vinfo/imgFiles/legend.jpg)
Threat Type: Spyware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted:
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This spyware may be dropped by other malware. It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.
It modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.
It connects to certain URLs. It may do this to remotely inform a malicious user of its installation. It may also do this to download possibly malicious files onto the computer, which puts the computer at a greater risk of infection by other threats.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Arrival Details
This spyware may be dropped by other malware.
It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.
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 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 entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Privacy
CleanCookies = "0"
It adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Privacy
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
{random}
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"
Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification
This spyware modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.
Download Routine
This spyware connects to the following malicious URLs:
- {BLOCKED}48fa2bc.com
SOLUTION
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.CRM
Step 3
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 4
Delete this registry key
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\Internet Explorer
- Privacy
- Privacy
Step 5
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} = "%User Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name 1}\{random file name}.exe"
- {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"
- %Windows%\EXPLORER.EXE = "%Windows%\EXPLORER.EXE:*:Enabled:Windows Explorer"
Step 6
Search and delete these folders
- %User Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name 1}
- %User Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name 2}
Step 7
Reset Internet security settings
Step 8
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.CRM. 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} 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} 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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