TSPY_QBOT.AJ

October 08, 2012
 Analysis by: Erika Bianca Mendoza
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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

It also has rootkit capabilities, which enables it to hide its processes and files from the user.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

191488 bytes

File Type:

EXE

File Compression:

UPX

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

23 Apr 2011

Payload:

Compromises system security, Drops files, Connects to URLs/Ips, Downloads files

Arrival Details

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

Installation

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %System Root%\Recycle.Bin\config.bin

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)

It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %System Root%\Recycle.Bin\Recycle.Bin.exe

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)

It creates the following folders with attributes set to System and Hidden to prevent users from discovering and removing its components:

  • %System Root%\Recycle.Bin

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)

It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:

  • SystemService

It injects itself into the following processes as part of its memory residency routine:

  • explorer.exe

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\PhishingFilter
EnabledV8 = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\PhishingFilter
ShownServiceDownBalloon = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Recovery
ClearBrowsingHistoryOnExit = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
GlobalUserOffline = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
ProxyHttp1.1 = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
WarnOnPostRedirect = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
WarnOnIntranet = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\0
1409 = "3"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\1
1409 = "3"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\2
1409 = "3"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\3
1409 = "3"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\4
1409 = "3"

Rootkit Capabilities

This Trojan also has rootkit capabilities, which enables it to hide its processes and files from the user.

Other Details

Internet activities are monitored by a malicious user.

NOTES:
It also injects its code into all running processes except:

  • system
  • smss.exe
  • csrss.exe
This spyware is capable of the following:
  • Steal FTP, POP3 accounts and certificates
  • Capture entered information in Web forms
  • Perform Web injects / Web fakes
It connects to the following malicious server where it receives commands from a remote malicious user:
  • http://{BLOCKED}hifdff.com

  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\Internet Explorer\PhishingFilter
    • EnabledV8 = 0
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\PhishingFilter
    • ShownServiceDownBalloon = 0
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Recovery
    • ClearBrowsingHistoryOnExit = 0
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
    • GlobalUserOffline = 0
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
    • ProxyHttp1.1 = 1
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
    • WarnOnPostRedirect = 0
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
    • WarnOnIntranet = 0
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\0
    • 1409 = 3
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\1
    • 1409 = 3
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\2
    • 1409 = 3
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\3
    • 1409 = 3
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\4
    • 1409 = 3

Step 4

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.
  • %System Root%\Recycle.Bin

Step 5

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