TSPY_ZBOT.HXF


 ALIASES:

PWS:Win32/Zbot.gen!Y (Microsoft); PWS-Zbot.gen.ma (McAfee); Trojan.Gen (Symantec); Trojan-Spy.Win32.Zbot.cwqp (Kaspersky); Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt); Trojan.Generic.KDV.486939 (FSecure)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • 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 deletes itself after execution.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

212,480 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

15 Jun 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.

Installation

This spyware creates the following folders:

  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Pyyq
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Roud

(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.)

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
{59739441-5519-B3AC-DAC6-18FFD42B9C43} = "%User Profile%\Pyyq\kaax.exe"

Other System Modifications

This spyware deletes the following files:

  • %User Profile%\Roud\lypup.tmp
  • %User Profile%\Cookies\administrator@google[2].txt
  • %User Temp%\bc1.tmp

(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.. %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

It adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Ezvilu

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Privacy

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Ezvilu
Ofer = "{random values}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Privacy
CleanCookies = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Ezvilu
Kaevybyxa = "{random values}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Ezvilu
Ydgyyttoy = "{random values}"

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\0
1609 = "0"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\1
1406 = "0"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\1
1609 = "0"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\2
1609 = "0"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\3
1406 = "0"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 3.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\3
1609 = "0"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\4
1406 = "0"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 3.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\4
1609 = "0"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

Dropping Routine

This spyware drops the following files:

  • %User Profile%\Pyyq\kaax.exe
  • %User Profile%\Roud\lypup.yca
  • %User Temp%\cab2.tmp
  • %User Temp%\cab3.tmp
  • %User Temp%\cab4.tmp
  • %User Temp%\cab5.tmp
  • %User Temp%\cab6.tmp

(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.. %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

Other Details

This spyware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}alrestaurants.com/images/funny3.jpg
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}e.com/webhp
  • http://{BLOCKED}capital.com/conf.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}alrestaurants.com/conf.php

It deletes itself after execution.

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

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 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
    • Ezvilu
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer
    • Privacy

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
    • {59739441-5519-B3AC-DAC6-18FFD42B9C43} = "%User Profile%\Pyyq\kaax.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Ezvilu
    • Ofer = "{random values}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Privacy
    • CleanCookies = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Ezvilu
    • Kaevybyxa = "{random values}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Ezvilu
    • Ydgyyttoy = "{random values}"

Step 5

Restore this modified 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\Internet Settings\Zones\0
    • From: 1609 = "0"
      To: 1609 = ""1""
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\1
    • From: 1406 = "0"
      To: 1406 = ""1""
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\1
    • From: 1609 = "0"
      To: 1609 = ""1""
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\2
    • From: 1609 = "0"
      To: 1609 = ""1""
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\3
    • From: 1406 = "0"
      To: 1406 = ""3""
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\3
    • From: 1609 = "0"
      To: 1609 = ""1""
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\4
    • From: 1406 = "0"
      To: 1406 = ""3""
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\4
    • From: 1609 = "0"
      To: 1609 = ""1""

Step 6

Search and delete these files

[ Learn More ]
There may be some component files that are hidden. Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the "More advanced options" option to include all hidden files and folders in the search result.
  • %User Profile%\Pyyq\kaax.exe
  • %User Profile%\Roud\lypup.yca
  • %User Temp%\cab2.tmp
  • %User Temp%\cab3.tmp
  • %User Temp%\cab4.tmp
  • %User Temp%\cab5.tmp
  • %User Temp%\cab6.tmp

Step 7

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.
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Pyyq
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Roud

Step 8

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

Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.

  • %User Profile%\Roud\lypup.tmp
  • %User Profile%\Cookies\administrator@google[2].txt
  • %User Temp%\bc1.tmp


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