ALIASES:

PWS:Win32/Zbot (Microsoft); PWS-Zbot.gen.hz (McAfee); Trojan-Spy.Win32.Zbot.colq (Kaspersky); Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt); Trojan.Generic.KD.405260 (FSecure)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:

  • 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 the initially executed copy of itself.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 187,904 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 08 Dec 2011

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 Profile%\Application Data\Texy
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Etme

(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
{58C4EBA0-47A8-AD40-8C85-A85A94978B48} = ""%User Profile%\Texy\moig.exe""

It registers as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\GloballyOpenPorts\
List

Other System Modifications

This spyware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Awfy

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Privacy

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Awfy
8ggg72d = 5befa8e

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Awfy
d7e0ebf = {random values}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Awfy
8ggg72d = 5befac7

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Awfy
8ggg72d = "xvq+UA==e_CHAR(0x03)_?_CHAR(0x0C)__CHAR(0x01)_"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
DisableNotifications = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\GloballyOpenPorts\
List
14012:UDP = "14012:UDP:*:Enabled:UDP 14012"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\GloballyOpenPorts\
List
13654:TCP = "13654:TCP:*:Enabled:TCP 13654"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Awfy
1j6820c1 = "a8y+UCBNNSouKDd4?_CHAR(0x05)_?"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Awfy
636a14 = {random values}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Awfy
636a14 = {random characters}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Awfy
b58che1 = {random values}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Awfy
1dg2g01e = {random values}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Awfy
1i6gd77g = {random values}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Account Manager
Server ID = 4

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB\WAB4
FirstRun = 1

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Awfy
8ggg72d = {random characters}

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities
Last Username = "Main Identity"

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities
Last User ID = "{341F68BA-C841-4200-A7B4-3D5CFF202166}"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {5D1D9894-914A-4AF9-BD82-81F349A83013}.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities
Identity Login = 9853

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 98053.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities
Identity Ordinal = 2

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

Dropping Routine

This spyware drops the following files:

  • %User Profile%\Texy\moig.exe
  • %User Profile%\Etme\sogia.ohr

(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.)

Other Details

This spyware deletes the initially executed copy of itself

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\GloballyOpenPorts
    • List
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft
    • Awfy
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer
    • Privacy

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
    • {58C4EBA0-47A8-AD40-8C85-A85A94978B48}=""%User Profile%\Texy\moig.exe""
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Awfy
    • 8ggg72d=5befa8e
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Awfy
    • d7e0ebf={random values}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Awfy
    • 8ggg72d=5befac7
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Awfy
    • 8ggg72d="xvq+UA==e_CHAR(0x03)_?_CHAR(0x0C)__CHAR(0x01)_"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
    • DisableNotifications=1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\GloballyOpenPorts\List
    • 14012:UDP="14012:UDP:*:Enabled:UDP 14012"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\GloballyOpenPorts\List
    • 13654:TCP="13654:TCP:*:Enabled:TCP 13654"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Awfy
    • 1j6820c1="a8y+UCBNNSouKDd4?_CHAR(0x05)_?"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Awfy
    • 636a14={random values}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Awfy
    • 636a14={random characters}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Awfy
    • b58che1={random values}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Awfy
    • 1dg2g01e={random values}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Awfy
    • 1i6gd77g={random values}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Account Manager
    • Server ID=4
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WAB\WAB4
    • FirstRun=1
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Awfy
    • 8ggg72d={random characters}

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_CURRENT_USER\Identities
    • From: Last Username="Main Identity"
      To: Last Username=Main Identity
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities
    • From: Last User ID="{341F68BA-C841-4200-A7B4-3D5CFF202166}"
      To: Last User ID={5D1D9894-914A-4AF9-BD82-81F349A83013}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities
    • From: Identity Login=9853
      To: Identity Login=98053
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities
    • From: Identity Ordinal=2
      To: Identity Ordinal=1

Step 6

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.
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Texy
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Etme

Step 7

Search and delete these files

[ 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.
  • %User Profile%\Texy\moig.exe
  • %User Profile%\Etme\sogia.ohr

Step 8

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