TSPY_ZBOT.SMEQ

 Modified 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 may be downloaded by other malware/grayware from remote sites. It may be dropped by other malware. It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.

It creates folders where it drops its files. It may be injected into processes running in memory.

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

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

Varies

File Type:

PE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

08 Oct 2010

Arrival Details

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

  • PE_LICAT.A

It may be dropped by other malware.

It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.

It may be downloaded from the following remote sites:

  • http://{BLOCKED}tmkxpjvupsm.info/news/?s=333

Installation

This spyware drops the following files:

  • %Application Data%\{random1}\{random}.exe - copy of itself
  • %Application Data%\{random2}\{random}.{3 random alpha character extension name} - encrypted file

(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 is injected into the following processes running in memory:

  • ctfmon.exe
  • dwm.exe
  • explorer.exe
  • rdpclip.exe
  • taskeng.exe
  • taskhost.exe
  • wscntfy.exe

It may be injected into processes running in memory.

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} = {malware path and file name}

Other System Modifications

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

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:

  • .treasury.pncbank.com/portal/esec/login.htm
  • ebanking-services.com
  • http://peuhiuyca.com/h/gate.php
  • http://peuhiuyca.com/script.js
  • https://*.ebanking-services.com/*/signin.asp
  • https://_  < U .treasury.pncbank.com/portal/esec/login.ht
  • https://access.jpmorgan.com/appmanager/jpmalogonportal/jpmalogonhome
  • https://akamai.net/wellsoffice.wellsfargo.com/ceoportal/framework/skins/C /js/CEOP.SignonHelper.js
  • https://authmaster.nationalcity.com/tmgmt/
  • https://banking.commercebank.com/CBI/Accounts/CBI/Summary.aspx
  • https://businessaccess.citibank.citigroup.com/cbusol/signN
  • https://businessonline.huntington.com/BOLHome/BusinessOnlineLogin.aspx
  • https://businessonline.tdbank.com/corporatebankingweb/core/login.aspx
  • https://chaseonline.chase.com/MyAccounts.aspx
  • https://chsec.wellsfargo.com/login/login.fcc
  • https://client.schwab.com/accounts/summary/summary.aspx
  • https://cm.netteller.com/login2008/Authentication/Views/Login.aspx
  • https://cm.netteller.com/login2008/Authentication/Views/Login.aspxU
  • https://customer.eu.clickandbuy.com/gates/google
  • https://customer.eu.clickandbuy.com/surfer/spring/accounthome-flow;jsessionid=
  • https://online.americanexpress.com/myca/acctsumm/
  • https://online.citibank.com/US/portal/Home.do
  • https://online.wellsfargo.com/das/cgi-bin/session.cgi
  • https://onlinebankingC.wachovia.com/myAccounts.aspx
  • https://onlineeastC.bankofamerica.com/cgi-bin/ias/
  • https://onlineeastC.bankofamerica.com/cgi-bin/ias/\
  • https://securentrycorp
  • https://singlepoint.usbank.com/cs70_banking/logon/sbuser
  • https://sitekey.bankofamerica.com/sas/maint.do
  • https://sitekey.bankofamerica.com/sas/sas-docs/js/commonscript.js
  • https://wellsoffice.wellsfargo.com/ceoportal/signon/index.jsp
  • https://www.business.hsbc.co.uk/1/2/
  • https://www.comerica
  • https://www.comerica.com/_
  • https://www.hsbccreditcard.com/ecare/viewaccount
  • https://www.ibsnetaccess.com/NASApp/NetAccess/RegisteredAccountsDisplay
  • https://www.moneybookers.com/app/profile.pl
  • https://www.moneybookers.com/gates/google
  • https://www.paypal.com/C /cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_login-done
  • https://www.paypal.com/C /cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_profile-credit-card-new-clickthru
  • https://www.paypal.com/C /cgi-bin/webscr_
  • https://www.paypal.com/de/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_login-done
  • https://www.paypal.com/gates/googlehttps://www.saferpay.com/gates/googlehttps://www.saferpay.com/vt/pay.asp
  • https://www.suntrust.com/portal/server.pt?mode=
  • https://www.us.hsbc.com/1/2/
  • https://www.usaa.com/inet/
  • https://www.usbank.com/internetBanking/RequestRouter

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 accesses the following site to download its configuration file:

  • http://{BLOCKED}lhjshwdcomn.com/news/?s=5964
  • http://{BLOCKED}sxkjriolzxt.biz/news/?s=5964

The downloaded file contains information where the malware can download an updated copy of itself, and where to send its stolen data.

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

  • Bank of America
  • Chase
  • Citibank
  • HSBC
  • Moneybookers
  • NDB
  • National City
  • PNC
  • PayPal
  • Suntrust
  • US Bank
  • USAA
  • Wachovia
  • Wells Fargo

Stolen Information

This spyware sends the gathered information via HTTP POST to the following URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}lhjshwdcomn.com/news/
  • http://{BLOCKED}tmkxpjvupsm.info/news

Other Details

This spyware does the following:

  • It decrypts and executes another malicious file in memory. As a result the following file(s) is created:
    • %User Startup%\{4-Random Characters}.exe - detected as PE_LICAT.A-O

(Note: %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.)

Variant Information

This spyware has the following MD5 hashes:

  • 6b278196d42214f81a872e52b39e4c1b

It has the following SHA1 hashes:

  • 23fe230907fac1a3e0b6c83cffb10000a4b5b04f

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

8.900

VSAPI PATTERN File:

7.525.00

VSAPI PATTERN Date:

09 Oct 2010

VSAPI PATTERN Date:

10/9/2010 12:00:00 AM

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

Remove the malware/grayware file dropped/downloaded by TSPY_ZBOT.SMEQ

    • PE_LICAT.A 
    • PE_LICAT.A-O

Step 3

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

Step 4

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 5

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} = {malware path and file name}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List
    • %Windows%\EXPLORER.EXE = %Windows%\EXPLORER.EXE:*:Enabled:Windows Explorer

Step 6

Search and delete these components

[ Learn More ]
There may be some components 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.
  • %Application Data%\{random1}\{random}.exe 
  • %Application Data%\{random2}\{random}.{random} 

Step 7

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