TSPY_ZBOT.QXC
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
Threat Type: Spyware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: Yes
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This spyware drops copies of itself on the affected system. It also creates folders in which to drop the files it carries, and injects itself into running processes.
It attempts to access certain websites in order to download configuration files.
This spyware modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.
Once users access any of the monitored sites, it starts logging keystrokes. It attempts to steal information, such as user names and passwords, used when logging into certain banking or finance-related websites.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Infection Points
This spyware arrives as a file downloaded from the following URLs:
- http://{BLOCKED}4.{BLOCKED}3.44.42/~heheheyo/forum/exe.exe
Installation
This spyware drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %User Profile%\Application Data\{random1}\{random file name 1}.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\{random2}\{random file 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.)
It creates the following folders:
- %User Profile%\Application Data\{random1}
- %User Profile%\Application Data\{random2}
(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 injects itself into the following processes as part of its memory residency routine:
- ctfmon.exe
- dwm.exe
- explorer.exe
- rdpclip.exe
- taskeng.exe
- taskhost.exe
- wscntfy.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
{random CLSID} = "%User Profile%\Application Data\{random1}\{random file name 1}.exe"
Other System Modifications
This spyware adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
{random key}
Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification
This spyware modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.
Information Theft
This spyware accesses the following site to download its configuration file:
- http://{BLOCKED}4.{BLOCKED}3.44.42/~heheheyo/forum/forum.bin
Once users access any of the monitored sites, it starts logging keystrokes.
It attempts to access a website to download a file which contains information where the Trojan can download an updated copy of itself, and where to send its stolen data. This configuration file also contains the following list of targeted bank-related websites from which it steals information:
- https://www.gruposantander.es/*
- !*/login.osmp.ru/*
- !*/atl.osmp.ru/*
The downloaded file contains information where the malware can download an updated copy of itself, and where to send its stolen data.
Note that the contents of the file, hence the list of websites to monitor, may change any time.
It attempts to steal information from the following banks and/or other financial institutions:
- Santander
- OSMP
Stolen Information
This spyware sends the gathered information via HTTP POST to the following URL:
- http://{BLOCKED}4.{BLOCKED}3.44.42/~heheheyo/forum/post_now.php
Other Details
This spyware did not exhibit backdoor routines during testing.
Variant Information
This spyware has the following MD5 hashes:
- fca228403cca73e8311278e7889cda47
- 1e113b4c6b9f4e3357fc4496ad4c2fd3
- ccb89fafeb738a19350e0bcb39376f64
It has the following SHA1 hashes:
- 8567a5ba43c66fba1d65c9a6a9a5cc04ffbc6c0d
- 95de9f4973e4752ad079dec7c3e91152ee5c84a0
- ada4846b5b13235711499f599d4764e536cd19cd
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
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 3
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
- {random CLSID}="%User Profile%\Application Data\{random folder 1}\{random file name 1}.exe"
- {random CLSID}="%User Profile%\Application Data\{random folder 1}\{random file name 1}.exe"
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
- {random key}
- {random key}
Step 5
Search and delete these folders
Step 6
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.QXC. 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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