TSPY_ZBOT.GQA
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
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.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
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 creates the following folders:
- %User Temp%\CP4e12Vec
(Note: %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp 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 modifies the following registry entries to ensure it automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
userinit = "%System%\userinit.exe,%System%\sdra64.exe,"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is %Windows%\system32\userinit.exe,.)
Other System Modifications
This spyware modifies the following file(s):
- %Application Data%\GDIPFONTCACHEV1.DAT
- %Windows%\Prefetch\NTOSBOOT-B00DFAAD.pf
- %Windows%\Prefetch\WUAUCLT.EXE-399A8E72.pf
(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.. %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.)
It deletes the following files:
- %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\config\security.config.cch.1288.52593
- %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\config\enterprisesec.config.cch.1288.52640
- %User Profile%\v2.0.50727.42\security.config.cch.1288.52781
- %System%\sdra64.exe
- %Windows%\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore\Logs\edbtmp.log
(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.. %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)
It adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\microsoft\
windows\currentversion\explorer\
{43BF8CD1-C5D5-2230-7BB2-98F22C2B7DC6}
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
{43BF8CD1-C5D5-2230-7BB2-98F22C2B7DC6}
{3039636B-5F3D-6C64-6675-696870667265} = "{random values}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
{43BF8CD1-C5D5-2230-7BB2-98F22C2B7DC6}
{33373039-3132-3864-6B30-303233343434} = "{random values}"
It modifies the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
GDIPlus
FontCachePath = "%Application Data%"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is %User Profile%\Local Settings\Application Data.)
Dropping Routine
This spyware drops the following files:
- %User Temp%\CP4e12Vec\iexplore.exe
- %System%\sdra64.exe
(Note: %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp 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.. %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)
Other Details
This spyware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- http://{BLOCKED}rme.ru/123/cfg2.bin
This report is generated via an automated analysis system.
SOLUTION
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
Identify and delete files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.GQA using either the Startup Disk or Recovery Console
Step 3
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\windows\currentversion\explorer
- {43BF8CD1-C5D5-2230-7BB2-98F22C2B7DC6}
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\Explorer\{43BF8CD1-C5D5-2230-7BB2-98F22C2B7DC6}
- {3039636B-5F3D-6C64-6675-696870667265} = "{random values}"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\{43BF8CD1-C5D5-2230-7BB2-98F22C2B7DC6}
- {33373039-3132-3864-6B30-303233343434} = "{random values}"
Step 5
Restore these modified registry values
Important:Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this only if you know how to or you can seek your system administrator's help. You may also check out this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\GDIPlus
- From: FontCachePath = "%Application Data%"
To: FontCachePath = ""%User Profile%\Local Settings\Application Data""
- From: FontCachePath = "%Application Data%"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
- From: userinit = "%System%\userinit.exe,%System%\sdra64.exe,"
To: userinit = ""%Windows%\system32\userinit.exe,""
- From: userinit = "%System%\userinit.exe,%System%\sdra64.exe,"
Step 6
Search and delete these components
- %User Temp%\CP4e12Vec\iexplore.exe
- %System%\sdra64.exe
Step 7
Search and delete this folder
- %User Temp%\CP4e12Vec
Step 8
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.GQA. 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 9
Restore deleted/modified files and/or registry entries from backup
*Note: Only Microsoft-related files/keys/values will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted registry keys/values related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on your computer.
- %Application Data%\GDIPFONTCACHEV1.DAT
- %Windows%\Prefetch\NTOSBOOT-B00DFAAD.pf
- %Windows%\Prefetch\WUAUCLT.EXE-399A8E72.pf
Step 10
Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.
- %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\config\security.config.cch.1288.52593
- %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\config\enterprisesec.config.cch.1288.52640
- %User Profile%\v2.0.50727.42\security.config.cch.1288.52781
- %System%\sdra64.exe
- %Windows%\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore\Logs\edbtmp.log
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