TROJ_ZBOT.WAH

 Analysis by: Sabrina Lei Sioting

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Trojan checks for the presence of the following processes which are related to Outpost Personal Firewall and ZoneLabs Firewall Client. It terminates if either of the said processes exist. This is to ensure that it runs uninterrupted.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

61,952 bytes

File Type:

PE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

27 Aug 2010

Payload:

Steals information

Installation

This Trojan drops copies of itself in the Windows system folder and appends garbage code to the dropped copy to avoid easy detection. The dropped copies uses the following file names:

  • ntos.exe

It drops the following non-malicious files:

  • %System%\wsnpoem\audio.dll - used to save the gathered information
  • %System%\wsnpoem\video.dll - copy of the encrypted downloaded file

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.)

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

  • %System%\wsnpoem

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.)

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

  • __SYSTEM__91C38905__

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

  • WINLOGON.EXE
  • SVCHOST.EXE

Autostart Technique

This Trojan modifies the following registry entries to ensure it automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Userinit = %System%\Userinit.exe,%System%\ntos.exe

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is %System%\Userinit.exe,.)

Other System Modifications

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Network
UID = {computer name}_{random numbers}

Information Theft

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

  • http://from-us-with-love.info/imglov/zmpt4d/n16v18.bin

Stolen Information

This Trojan saves the stolen information in the following file:

  • %System%\wsnpoem\audio.dll

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.)

Other Details

This Trojan did not exhibit propagation routines during testing.

It checks for the presence of the following processes, which are related to Outpost Personal Firewall and ZoneLabs Firewall Client:

  • outpost.exe
  • zlclient.exe

It did not exhibit backdoor routines during testing.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

8.900

VSAPI PATTERN File:

07.414.01

VSAPI PATTERN Date:

27 Aug 2010

VSAPI PATTERN Date:

8/27/2010 12:00:00 AM

Step 1

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as TROJ_ZBOT.WAH

Step 2

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 3

Identify and delete files detected as TROJ_ZBOT.WAH using the Recovery Console

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
    • From: Userinit = %System%\Userinit.exe,%System%\ntos.exe
      To: %System%\Userinit.exe,

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Network
    • UID = {computer name}_{random numbers}

Step 6

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%\wsnpoem

Step 7

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_ZBOT.WAH. 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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