TSPY_ZBOT.SMMY
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
Threat Type: Spyware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: No
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This spyware may be downloaded unknowingly by a user when visiting malicious website(s).
It attempts to steal information, such as user names and passwords, used when logging into certain banking or finance-related websites.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Arrival Details
This spyware may be downloaded unknowingly by a user when visiting the following malicious website(s):
- http://{BLOCKED}ok.com/lookup.exe
Installation
This spyware creates the following folders:
- %Application Data%\{random1}
- %Application Data%\{random2}
(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.)
It injects itself into the following processes as part of its memory residency routine:
- dwm.exe
- rdpclip.exe
- ctfmon.exe
- wscntfy.exe
- taskeng.exe
- taskhost.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} = "%Application Data%\{random1}\{random}.exe"
Other System Modifications
This spyware adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
{random}
Dropping Routine
This spyware drops the following files:
- %Application Data%\{random1}\{random}.exe
- %Application Data%\{random2}\{random}.{random}
(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.)
Download Routine
This spyware connects to the following URL(s) to download its configuration file:
- http://{BLOCKED}ok.com/static.html
Information Theft
This spyware 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*/ach/*
- https*/wire/*
- https*/wires/*
- https*53.com*
- https*banking-services.com*
- https*bankofamerica.com*
- https*bbt.com*
- https*bnymellon*
- https*brdoffice*
- https*businessonline.tdbank.com*
- https*capitalone.com*
- https*capitalonebank*
- https*cashplus*
- https*chase.com*
- https*citigroup.com*
- https*cmserver*
- https*comerica.com*
- https*directnet
- https*ebc_ebc*
- https*enternetbank*
- https*firstplacebankecomm*
- https*fiservsa4*
- https*fnbgranbury*
- https*fremontnational*
- https*goldleaf*
- https*gs.com/*
- https*gsfundadmin.com/*
- https*hsbcnet*
- https*iebanking*
- https*internetbanking*
- https*jpmorgan.com*
- https*jpmorganchase*
- https*key.com*
- https*morganstanley*
- https*northerntrust.com*
- https*onlinecashmanagement*
- https*pnc.com*
- https*pncbank.com*
- https*raiffeisendirect*
- https*raiffeisenonline*
- https*rbc*
- https*rbs.com*
- https*regions.com*
- https*scotiabank*
- https*secure.ally.com*
- https*singlepoint.usbank.com*
- https*statestreet.com*
- https*suntrust*
- https*svbconnect*
- https*tdcommercialbanking*
- https*unicreditbank*
- https*volksbankromania*
- https*wachovia.com*
- https*webcashmgmt*
- https*wellsfargo.com*
It attempts to steal information from the following banks and/or other financial institutions:
- Ally Bank
- BB&T
- BNY Mellon
- BRD Office
- Bank of America
- CASHplus
- Capital One
- Chase
- Citibank
- Comerica
- DirectNET
- Fifth Third
- First Commonwealth Bank
- First National Bank
- First Place Bank
- Fremont National
- Goldleaf
- HSBC
- JP Morgan
- Morgan Stanley
- Northern Trust
- PNC
- RBS
- Raiffeisen
- Regions
- Royal Bank of Canada
- Scotiabank
- Silicon Valley Bank
- State Street
- Suntrust
- TD Bank
- TD Commercial Banking
- US Bank
- UniCredit Bank
- Volksbank Romania
- Wachovia
- Wells Fargo
Stolen Information
This spyware sends the gathered information via HTTP POST to the following URL:
- http://{BLOCKED}ok.com/static.php
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
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.SMMY
Step 3
Restart in Safe Mode
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\Run
- {random CLSID} = %Application Data%\{random1}\{random}.exe
- {random CLSID} = %Application Data%\{random1}\{random}.exe
Step 5
Search and delete these folders
- %Application Data%\{random1}
- %Application Data%\{random2}
Step 6
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.SMMY. 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:
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
- This malware is detected and removed by the latest Trend Micro anti-malware engine and pattern. Always keep pattern files and engines up-to-date. To know more about updating your Trend Micro product's pattern, please refer to this Trend Micro support page. Note: The steps apply for specific products indicated in the page.
- To actively detect and protect your machine, enable real-time scanning of your Trend Micro anti-malware product. Refer to the following Trend Micro support page to know more about enabling real-time scanning in your Trend Micro product:
- For shared computers that are connected to a network, ensure that programs and users of the computer use the lowest level of privileges necessary to complete a task.
- Enable firewall to protect against threats.
- Enforce a strong password policy. Typically, a strong password consists of a mix of numbers, letters, and characters.
- Keep software and operating systems updated with latest patches released by vendors to address vulnerabilities and exploits.
- Block unused ports to disallow malware from using these ports to communicate and/or enforce commands.
- Beware of social engineering attacks.
- Use safe coding practices to avoid exploit of websites and applications.
- Avoid accessing the listed malicious URLs to prevent possible re-infection.
- Monitor network connections for any suspicious connection or connectivity.
- Regularly update list of trusted sites.
- Turn off file sharing if not needed. If needed, disable anonymous access to shared folders.
- Avoid downloading software cracks and/or pirated applications.
- Clear browser cache and delete cookies regularly.
- Delete files in the %User Temp% folder.
- Don't save login credentials on the local computer.
Did this description help? Tell us how we did.