TSPY_ZBOT.VEK
Trojan-Spy.Win32.Zbot.qjjr (Kaspersky), PWS:Win32/Zbot (Microsoft)
Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)
![](/vinfo/imgFiles/legend.jpg)
Threat Type: Spyware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: Yes
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 does not have any propagation routine.
It modifies Internet Explorer security settings. This puts the affected computer at greater risk, as it allows malicious URLs to be accessed by the computer.
It steals certain information from the system and/or the user.
It deletes the initially executed copy of itself.
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 drops the following files:
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\Address Book\{username}.wab
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\Address Book\{username}.wab~
- %Application Data%\{random folder name 2}\{random file name 2}.{random extension 1}
- %Application Data%\{random folder name 3}\{random file name 3}.{random extension 2}
(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 drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %Application Data%\{random folder name 1}\{random file name 1}.exe
(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 running in the affected system's memory:
- dwm.exe
- taskhost.exe
- taskeng.exe
- wscntfy.exe
- ctfmon.exe
- rdpclip.exe
- explorer.exe
It creates the following folders:
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\Address Book
- %Application Data%\{random folder name 1}
- %Application Data%\{random folder name 2}
- %Application Data%\{random folder name 3}
(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 adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:
- Local\{GUID}
- Global\{GUID}
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} = "%Application Data%\{random folder name 1}\{random file name 1}.exe"
Other System Modifications
This spyware adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB\WAB4
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB\WAB4\Wab File Name
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
{random key}
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB\WAB4
OlkContactRefresh = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB\WAB4
OlkFolderRefresh = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB\WAB4\Wab File Name
{Default} = "%Application Data%\Microsoft\Address Book\{user name}.wab"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
{random key}
{random} = "{random values}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB\WAB4
FirstRun = "1"
It creates the following registry entry(ies) to bypass Windows Firewall:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\
List
%Windows%\explorer.exe = "%Windows%\explorer.exe:*:Enabled:Windows Explorer"
Propagation
This spyware does not have any propagation routine.
Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification
This spyware modifies Internet Explorer zone settings.
Information Theft
This spyware accesses the following site to download its configuration file:
- http://{BLOCKED}dos.com/1008/file.php|file=cfg01.bin
It steals the following information:
- FTP credentials
- Internet session cookies
- Flash player data
- Personal certificates
Other Details
This spyware connects to the following URL(s) to check for an Internet connection:
- http://www.google.com/webhp
It deletes the initially executed copy of itself
NOTES:
It queries for the following registry keys to check for the installed security related software:
- *ROOT\SECURITYCENTER
- *ROOT\SECURITYCENTER2
If found, it terminates the following security related software on the system:
- AVG
- Anti-Virus
- AntiVir
- Antivirus
- Client
- Desktop
- ESET
- Inspection
- Kaspersky
- Malware
- McAfee
- Microsoft
- Monitor
- Norton
- Protection
- SafenSoft
- Security
- Security Center
- SecurityCenter
- Service
- Shared
- Symantec
- SysWatch
- avast!
It steals passwords and usernames from cache and cookies of the following browsers:
- Chrome
- Firefox
- Internet Explorer
The configuration file may contain URLs where it downloads an updated copy of itself and where it sends its gathered information.
However, as of this writing, the URL where it downloads the configuration file is already inaccessible.
It does not have rootkit capabilities.
It does not exploit any vulnerability.
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.VEK
Step 3
Restart in Safe Mode
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
- WAB
- WAB
Step 5
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} = "%Application Data%\{random folder name 1}\{random file name 1}.exe"
- {random} = "%Application Data%\{random folder name 1}\{random file name 1}.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List
- %Windows%\explorer.exe = "%Windows%\explorer.exe:*:Enabled:Windows Explorer"
- %Windows%\explorer.exe = "%Windows%\explorer.exe:*:Enabled:Windows Explorer"
Step 6
Search and delete these folders
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\Address Book
- %Application Data%\{random folder name 1}
- %Application Data%\{random folder name 2}
- %Application Data%\{random folder name 3}
Step 7
Reset Internet security settings
Step 8
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.VEK. 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
The following created registry key(s) cannot be identified by the user since there are no reference values in the created key. The only way it can be identified is by comparing the present keys with a backup of the system registry. Note that the said key(s) do not have to be deleted since it won't be harmful to the system:
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\{random key}
Step 10
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.VEK. 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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