ALIASES:

PWS:Win32/Zbot.gen!AK (Microsoft); PWS-Zbot.gen.ahc (McAfee)

 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: 431,376 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 30 Oct 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 creates the following folders:

  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Poeqew

(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%\Poeqew\pueq.exe"

Other System Modifications

This spyware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Xior

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Xior
aib07cd = "+oRgtCqLxlCZcSbH?_CHAR(0x05)_?"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Xior
f9hb2eb = "b418487"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Xior
f9hb2eb = "b418486"

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\GloballyOpenPorts\
List
10617:UDP = "10617:UDP:*:Enabled:UDP 10617"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
DisableNotifications = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\GloballyOpenPorts\
List
28546:TCP = "28546:TCP:*:Enabled:TCP 28546"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Xior
1hbd7iif = "{random values}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Xior
748iij2 = "{random values}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Xior
116b02ja = "{random values}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Xior
116b02ja = "{random characters}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Xior
748iij2 = "{random characters}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Xior
cdc4ca7 = "{random values}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Xior
2093b5ic = "{random values}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Xior
9316ech = "{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\
WAB\WAB4
OlkContactRefresh = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB\WAB4
OlkFolderRefresh = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Xior
f9hb2eb = "b4184c6"

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 {C0FE0177-5693-4537-9331-A7402AD82D40}.)

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%\Application Data\Poeqew
  • %User Profile%\Poeqew\pueq.exe
  • %Application Data%\yxneep.fya

(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.. %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.)

Other Details

This spyware deletes itself after execution.

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.300

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
    • Xior

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%\Poeqew\pueq.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Xior
    • aib07cd = "+oRgtCqLxlCZcSbH?_CHAR(0x05)_?"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Xior
    • f9hb2eb = "b418487"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Xior
    • f9hb2eb = "b418486"
  • 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
    • 10617:UDP = "10617:UDP:*:Enabled:UDP 10617"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
    • DisableNotifications = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\GloballyOpenPorts\List
    • 28546:TCP = "28546:TCP:*:Enabled:TCP 28546"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Xior
    • 1hbd7iif = "{random values}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Xior
    • 748iij2 = "{random values}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Xior
    • 116b02ja = "{random values}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Xior
    • 116b02ja = "{random characters}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Xior
    • 748iij2 = "{random characters}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Xior
    • cdc4ca7 = "{random values}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Xior
    • 2093b5ic = "{random values}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Xior
    • 9316ech = "{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\WAB\WAB4
    • OlkContactRefresh = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WAB\WAB4
    • OlkFolderRefresh = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Xior
    • f9hb2eb = "b4184c6"

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 = ""{C0FE0177-5693-4537-9331-A7402AD82D40}""
  • 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 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%\Application Data\Poeqew
  • %User Profile%\Poeqew\pueq.exe
  • %Application Data%\yxneep.fya

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\Poeqew

Step 8

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