TSPY_ZBOT.QXC

 Analysis by: Christopher Daniel So

 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

This spyware drops copies of itself on the affected system. It also creates folders in which to drop the files it carries, and injects itself into running processes.

It attempts to access certain websites in order to download configuration files.

This spyware modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

Once users access any of the monitored sites, it starts logging keystrokes. 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:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

23 Mar 2011

Payload:

Displays fake login console

Infection Points

This spyware arrives as a file downloaded from the following URLs:

  • http://{BLOCKED}4.{BLOCKED}3.44.42/~heheheyo/forum/exe.exe

Installation

This spyware drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %User Profile%\Application Data\{random1}\{random file name 1}.exe

(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.)

It drops the following files:

  • %User Profile%\Application Data\{random2}\{random file name 2}

(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.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %User Profile%\Application Data\{random1}
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\{random2}

(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.)

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

  • ctfmon.exe
  • dwm.exe
  • explorer.exe
  • rdpclip.exe
  • taskeng.exe
  • taskhost.exe
  • wscntfy.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
{random CLSID} = "%User Profile%\Application Data\{random1}\{random file name 1}.exe"

Other System Modifications

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
{random key}

Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification

This spyware modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

Information Theft

This spyware accesses the following site to download its configuration file:

  • http://{BLOCKED}4.{BLOCKED}3.44.42/~heheheyo/forum/forum.bin

Once users access any of the monitored sites, it starts logging keystrokes.

It attempts to access a website to download a file which contains information where the Trojan can download an updated copy of itself, and where to send its stolen data. This configuration file also contains the following list of targeted bank-related websites from which it steals information:

  • https://www.gruposantander.es/*
  • !*/login.osmp.ru/*
  • !*/atl.osmp.ru/*

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

Note that the contents of the file, hence the list of websites to monitor, may change any time.

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

  • Santander
  • OSMP

Stolen Information

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

  • http://{BLOCKED}4.{BLOCKED}3.44.42/~heheheyo/forum/post_now.php

Other Details

This spyware did not exhibit backdoor routines during testing.

Variant Information

This spyware has the following MD5 hashes:

  • fca228403cca73e8311278e7889cda47
  • 1e113b4c6b9f4e3357fc4496ad4c2fd3
  • ccb89fafeb738a19350e0bcb39376f64

It has the following SHA1 hashes:

  • 8567a5ba43c66fba1d65c9a6a9a5cc04ffbc6c0d
  • 95de9f4973e4752ad079dec7c3e91152ee5c84a0
  • ada4846b5b13235711499f599d4764e536cd19cd

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

8.900

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

7.918.16

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

23 Mar 2011

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

7.919.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

23 Mar 2011

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
    • {random CLSID}="%User Profile%\Application Data\{random folder 1}\{random file name 1}.exe"

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 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\{random folder name 1}
%User Profile%\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.QXC. 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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