Analysis by: Kathleen Notario

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Via email, Dropped by other malware

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 may be downloaded by other malware/grayware from remote sites.

It attempts to steal sensitive online banking information, such as user names and passwords. This routine risks the exposure of the user's account information, which may then lead to the unauthorized use of the stolen data.

It deletes the initially executed copy of itself.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 154,192 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 06 Mar 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.

It may be downloaded by the following malware/grayware from remote sites:

  • JS_DLOAD.SMHL

Installation

This spyware drops the following files:

  • %Application Data%\{random letters 1}\{random letters}.exe - copy of itself
  • %Application Data%\{random letters 2}\{random letters}.{random letters} - encrypted file

(Note: %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.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Application Data%\{random letters 1}
  • %Application Data%\{random letters 2}

(Note: %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.)

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
{GUID} = "%Application Data%\{random letters 1}\{random letters}.exe"

Other System Modifications

This spyware adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
{random letters}

Download Routine

This spyware connects to the following URL(s) to download its configuration file:

  • http://{BLOCKED}icdns.com/product-specs-1.html
  • http://{BLOCKED}icdns.com/xml.php

Information Theft

This spyware attempts to steal sensitive online banking information, such as user names and passwords. This routine risks the exposure of the user's account information, which may then lead to the unauthorized use of the stolen data.

Other Details

This spyware deletes the initially executed copy of itself

NOTES:

It may also arrive on a system by clicking malicious links on email messages spammed by other malware or malicious users.

Its configuration file contains information where the spyware can download an updated copy of itself, and where to send its stolen data. It also contains a list of targeted bank-related websites from which it steals information. However, the above-mentioned download sites of its configuration file are inaccessible as of this writing.

It is capable of executing the following commands:

  • Log user key strokes
  • Steal cookies
  • Delete user cookies
  • Steal FTP credentials related to FlashFXP, Total Commander, WsFTP 12, FileZilla 3, FAR Manager 1, 2, WinSCP 4.2, FTP Commander, CoreFTP, and SmartFTP
  • Steal information related to Windows Mail, Live Mail, and Outlook
  • Open a SOCKS proxy
  • Capture screenshots
  • Steal certificates
  • Delete certificates
  • Search files
  • Download files
  • Sniff TCP traffic
  • Uninstall itself
  • Update itself
  • Open a backdoor connection
  • Log off the user
  • Block or unblock a specific URL
  • Set IE home page
  • Grab/delete flashplayer data

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.200
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: currently processing

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

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.VVL

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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
    • {GUID} = "%Application Data%\{random letters 1}\{random letters}.exe"

Step 5

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. Before you could do this, you must restart in Safe Mode. For instructions on how to do this, you may refer to this page If the preceding step requires you to restart in safe mode, you may proceed to edit the system registry.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft
    • {random letters}

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.  
  • %Application Data%\{random letters 1}
  • %Application Data%\{random letters 2}

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.VVL. 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 8

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.VVL. 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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