Analysis by: Roland Marco Dela Paz
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This spyware attempts to steal information, such as user names and passwords, used when logging into certain banking or finance-related websites.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 158,302 bytes
File Type: PE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 06 Oct 2010
Payload: Downloads files, Bypasses Windows Firewall, Disables Internet Explorer

Arrival Details

This spyware may be downloaded from the following remote sites:

  • http://www.{BLOCKED}vshina.ru/uk.exe

Installation

This spyware adds the following folders:

  • %Application Data%\{random folder name 1}
  • %Application Data%\{random folder name 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.)

It injects itself into the following processes running in the affected system's memory:

  • explorer.exe
  • taskhost.exe
  • taskeng.exe
  • Dwm.exe
  • wscntfy.exe
  • ctfmon.exe
  • rdpclip.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
{GUID} = %Application Data%\{random folder name 1}\{random file name}.exe

It drops the following files:

  • %Application Data%\{random folder name 1}\{random file name}.exe - copy of itself
  • %Application Data%\{random folder name 2}\{random file name} - contains encrypted stolen data

(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.)

Other System Modifications

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
{random key}

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

Information Theft

This spyware monitors the Internet Explorer (IE) activities of the affected system, specifically the address bar or title bar. It recreates a legitimate website with a spoofed login page if a user visits banking sites with the following strings in the address bar or title bar:

  • *.co-operativebank.co.uk/CBIBSWeb/login.do
  • *.co-operativebank.co.uk/CBIBSWeb/start.do
  • *.halifax-online.co.uk*
  • *.smile.co.uk/SmileWeb/login.do
  • *.smile.co.uk/SmileWeb/start.do
  • */atl.osmp.ru/*
  • */login.osmp.ru/*
  • *apps.standardlife.com/content/applications/portal/customer/*
  • *avivacustomer.co.uk/existing/site/public*
  • *bankcardservices.co.uk*AccountSnapshotScreen*
  • *barclaycard.co.uk*initialLogon*
  • *business.hsbc.co.uk*
  • *business.hsbc.co.uk/1/2/online-services/accounts/account-list*
  • *cardservicing.mint.co.uk/*
  • *cardservicing.tescofinance.com/*
  • *cardsonline-commercial.com/RBSG_Commercial/*
  • *caterallenonline.co.uk*
  • *hsbc.co.uk/1/2/*
  • *hsbc.co.uk/1/2/*cmd_InitialThirdPartyPaymentCommand*
  • *hsbc.co.uk/1/2/*cmd_NewThirdPartyPaymentCommand*
  • *hsbc.co.uk/1/2/*cmd_OnMakePaymtToThirdPartyCommand*
  • *hsbc.co.uk/1/2/*cmd_OnMakeTransferCommand*
  • *hsbc.co.uk/1/2/*cmd_OnMakeTransferConfirmCommand*
  • *hsbc.co.uk/1/2/*cmd_OnMakeTransferVerifyCommand*
  • *hsbc.co.uk/1/2/personal/internet-banking/payments;jsessionid=*
  • *hsbc.co.uk/1/2/personal/internet-banking/recent-transaction;jsessionid*
  • *hsbc.co.uk/1/2/personal/internet-banking/transfer;jsessionid=*
  • *hsbc.co.uk/1/2/personal/internet-banking;jsessionid=*
  • *mybank.alliance-leicester.co.uk/helpinfo/help_pop.asp*
  • *mybank.alliance-leicester.co.uk/index.as*
  • *mybank.alliance-leicester.co.uk/login/PM4point*
  • *mybusinessbank.co.uk*
  • *natwest.com/global/rapport*
  • *natwest.com/x-user.ashx*redirect=trusteer.interstitial.url*
  • *northernrock.co.uk*
  • *npbs.co.uk*
  • *olb2.nationet.com/signon/signon_*
  • *online-business.lloydstsb.co.uk/customer*
  • *rbs.co.uk/global/rapport*
  • *rbs.co.uk/go.ashx?BUS-BANKLINE-LOGON
  • *rbs.co.uk/x-user.ashx*redirect=trusteer.interstitial.url*
  • *sainsburysbank.co.uk*
  • *secure.ingdirect.co.uk/InitialINGDirect.html*
  • *secure.tdwaterhouse.co.uk/webbroker2/*
  • *stockbrokers.barclays.co.uk/idv/Login*
  • *tescofinance.com/personal/finance/register_insecure/*
  • http*://*coventrybuildingsociety.co.uk/onlineservices/login*
  • http*://*first-direct.com*
  • http*://*h-l.co.uk*
  • http*://*online.ybs.co.uk*
  • http*://www.hsbc.co.uk/1/2*
  • http*bankofscotlandhalifax-online.co.uk*
  • http*halifax.co.uk*
  • http*hsbc.co.uk/1/2/personal/internet-banking/popups/business-internet-banking-rapport*
  • https://home.cbonline.co.uk/cbib/cbib/*
  • https://home.ybonline.co.uk/ybib/nabib/index.jsp
  • https://ibank.cahoot.com/Aquarius/web/en/core_banking/log_in/frameset_top_log_in.html
  • https://ibank.cahoot.com/servlet/com*
  • https://my.if.com/PlanReviewAct/plan.asp
  • https://online.lloydstsb.co.uk/account.ibc?Account=*
  • https://online.lloydstsb.co.uk/actionaccount.ibc?Account=*PageRequired=*ClickFrom=*transferpaym.ibc
  • https://online.lloydstsb.co.uk/actionaccount.ibc?Account=*statement.ibc
  • https://online.lloydstsb.co.uk/confirmpersonalrecipient.ibc?Account=*
  • https://online.lloydstsb.co.uk/confirmrecipientpayment.ibc*
  • https://online.lloydstsb.co.uk/customer.ibc
  • https://online.lloydstsb.co.uk/customer.ibc*
  • https://online.lloydstsb.co.uk/logon*
  • https://online.lloydstsb.co.uk/miheld.ibc
  • https://online.lloydstsb.co.uk/newrecipient.ibc?Account=*
  • https://online.lloydstsb.co.uk/personalrecipient.ibc?Account=*
  • https://online.lloydstsb.co.uk/statement.ibc?Account=*
  • https://online.lloydstsb.co.uk/submitpersonalpayment.ibc*
  • https://online.lloydstsb.co.uk/transferpaym.ibc?Account=*
  • https://service.oneaccount.com/onlineV*event=logi*
  • https://www.capitaloneonline.co.uk/CapitalOne_Consumer/Transactions.do
  • https://www.citibank.co.uk/GBGCB/JPS/apps/challques/MainValidateFailure.d*
  • https://www.citibank.co.uk/GBGCB/JSO/signon/uname/HomePage.do*
  • https://www.gruposantander.es/*
  • https://www.halifax-online.co.uk/_mem_bin/formslogin.asp
  • https://www.nwolb.com*
  • https://www.nwolb.com*AccountSummary.asp*
  • https://www.nwolb.com*ActivateCAPCardMethod.asp*
  • https://www.nwolb.com*ChangeSettingsOrderCardReader*
  • https://www.nwolb.com*OneOffPaymentsCreateBillPayee.asp*
  • https://www.nwolb.com*OneOffPaymentsCreatePayee.asp*
  • https://www.nwolb.com*OneOffPaymentsCreatePayment.asp*
  • https://www.nwolb.com*OneOffPaymentsPayeeList.asp*
  • https://www.nwolb.com*PaymentsLandingPage.as*
  • https://www.nwolb.com*SelfSelectAuthorisationLevel*
  • https://www.nwolb.com*Statements*
  • https://www.nwolb.com*TransactionSearchFixedPeriod*
  • https://www.nwolb.com*TransfersLandingPage.as*
  • https://www.nwolb.com/*.aspx*
  • https://www.nwolb.com/login.aspx?refererident*cookieid*
  • https://www.rbsdigital.com*AccountSummary.asp*
  • https://www.rbsdigital.com*ActivateCAPCardMethod.asp*
  • https://www.rbsdigital.com*ChangeSettingsOrderCardReader*
  • https://www.rbsdigital.com*OneOffPaymentsCreateBillPayee.asp*
  • https://www.rbsdigital.com*OneOffPaymentsCreatePayee.asp*
  • https://www.rbsdigital.com*OneOffPaymentsCreatePayment.asp*
  • https://www.rbsdigital.com*OneOffPaymentsPayeeList.asp*
  • https://www.rbsdigital.com*PaymentsLandingPage.as*
  • https://www.rbsdigital.com*SelfSelectAuthorisationLevel*
  • https://www.rbsdigital.com*Statements*
  • https://www.rbsdigital.com*TransactionSearchFixedPeriod*
  • https://www.rbsdigital.com*TransfersLandingPage.as*
  • https://www.rbsdigital.com/*
  • https://www.rbsdigital.com/*.aspx*
  • https://www.rbsdigital.com/login.aspx?refererident*cookieid*

It accesses the following site to download its configuration file:

  • http://www.{BLOCKED}irlinbighome.ru/newfoto.bin
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}mynewproject.ru/newfoto.bin
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}vshina.ru/foto.gif

It attempts to steal information from the following banks and/or other financial institutions:

  • Alliance & Leicester
  • Barclays
  • Capital One
  • Citibank
  • Clydesdale
  • Co-Operativebank
  • First Direct
  • HSBC
  • Halifax
  • Lloyds
  • Nationwide
  • Natwest
  • OSPM
  • RBS
  • Raiffeisen
  • Santander
  • Smile
  • Yorkshire

Drop Points

Stolen information is uploaded to the following websites:

  • http://www.{BLOCKED}vshina.ru/kuku.php

Other Details

This spyware does the following:

  • Adds the following registry entries to disable Internet Explorer:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\PhishingFilter
    Enabled = "0"
    EnabledV8 = "0"
  • Steals the following information:
    • Personal Certificates (MY)
    • FTP credentials for the following FTP applications:
      • flashxp
      • ghisler
      • ipswitch
      • filezilla
      • ftpfar
      • winscp
      • ftpcommander
      • coreftp
      • smartftp
    • Flashplayer data
    • Internet session cookies

Variant Information

This spyware has the following MD5 hashes:

  • 92b58d067b13f47d14a4747af07b2d10

It has the following SHA1 hashes:

  • 5523447b78e430589f12db8e13de587db5046c6b

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 8.900

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 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 folder name 1}\{random file name}.exe
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List
    • %Windows%\EXPLORER.EXE = %Windows%\EXPLORER.EXE:*:Enabled:Windows Explorer
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\PhishingFilter
    • Enabled = 0
    • EnabledV8 = 0

Step 4

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
    • {random key}

Step 5

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.
  • %Application Data%\{random folder name 1}
  • %Application Data%\{random folder name 2}

Step 6

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