TSPY_ZBOT.VUK

 Analysis by: Vincent Martin Hermosura

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)

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

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Dropped by other malware, Downloaded from the Internet

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 modifies Internet Explorer security settings. This puts the affected computer at greater risk, as it allows malicious URLs to be accessed by the computer.

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:

669,873 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Initial Samples Received Date:

22 Jul 2014

Payload:

Downloads files

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 drops the following copies of itself into the affected system and executes them:

  • %Application Data%\{random folder 2}\{random file name}.exe

(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 drops the following files:

  • %System Root%\debug.txt
  • %Application Data%\{random folder 1}\{random file name}.{random extension}
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Address Book\{user name}.wab
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Address Book\{user name}.wab~

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

  • %Application Data%\{random folder 1}
  • %Application Data%\{random folder 2}
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Address Book

(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 injects codes into the following process(es):

  • explorer.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
{GUID} = "%Application Data%\{random folder 2}\{random file name}.exe"

Other System Modifications

This spyware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
{random key}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB\WAB4

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB\WAB4\Wab File Name

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Privacy

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
{random key}
{random} = "{random}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB\WAB4
OlkContactRefresh = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB\WAB4
OlkFolderRefresh = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB\WAB4
FirstRun = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
WAB\WAB4\Wab File Name
(Default) = "%Application Data%\Microsoft\Address Book\{user name}.wab"

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

It creates the following registry entry(ies) to bypass Windows Firewall:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\
List
%Windows%\explorer.exe = "%Windows%\explorer.exe:*:Enabled:Windows Explorer"

Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification

This spyware modifies Internet Explorer zone settings.

Information Theft

This spyware 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:

  • *.ebay.com/*eBayISAPI.dll?*
  • *//mail.yandex.ru/index.xml
  • *//mail.yandex.ru/
  • *//money.yandex.ru/
  • *//money.yandex.ru/index.xml
  • */atl.osmp.ru/*
  • */login.osmp.ru/*
  • */my.ebay.com/*CurrentPage=MyeBayPersonalInfo*
  • *banquepopulaire.fr/*
  • *wellsfargo.com/*
  • http://*.osmp.ru/
  • http://caixasabadell.net/banca2/tx0011/0011.jsp
  • http://www.hsbc.co.uk/1/2/personal/internet-banking*
  • https://areasegura.banif.es/bog/bogbsn*
  • https://banca.cajaen.es/Jaen/INclient.jsp
  • https://bancaonline.openbank.es/servlet/PProxy?*
  • https://bancopostaonline.poste.it/bpol/bancoposta/formslogin.asp
  • https://banesnet.banesto.es/*/loginEmpresas.htm
  • https://banking*.anz.com/*
  • https://cardsonline-consumer.com/RBSG_Consumer/VerifyLogin.do
  • https://carnet.cajarioja.es/banca3/tx0011/0011.jsp
  • https://easyweb*.tdcanadatrust.com/servlet/*FinancialSummaryServlet*
  • https://empresas.gruposantander.es/WebEmpresas/servlet/webempresas.servlets.*
  • https://extranet.banesto.es/*/loginParticulares.htm
  • https://extranet.banesto.es/npage/OtrosLogin/LoginIBanesto.htm
  • https://hb.quiubi.it/newSSO/x11logon.htm
  • https://home.cbonline.co.uk/login.html*
  • https://home.ybonline.co.uk/login.html*
  • https://home.ybonline.co.uk/ral/loginmgr/*
  • https://home2ae.cd.citibank.ae/CappWebAppAE/producttwo/capp/action/signoncq.do
  • https://ibank.barclays.co.uk/olb/x/LoginMember.do
  • https://ibank.internationalbanking.barclays.com/logon/icebapplication*
  • https://intelvia.cajamurcia.es/2043/entrada/01entradaencrip.htm
  • https://internetbanking.aib.ie/hb1/roi/signon
  • https://light.webmoney.ru/default.aspx
  • https://lot-port.bcs.ru/names.nsf?#ogin*
  • https://montevia.elmonte.es/cgi-bin/INclient_2098*
  • https://oi.cajamadrid.es/CajaMadrid/oi/pt_oi/Login/login
  • https://oie.cajamadridempresas.es/CajaMadrid/oie/pt_oie/Login/login_oie_1
  • https://olb2.nationet.com/MyAccounts/frame_MyAccounts_WP2.asp*
  • https://olb2.nationet.com/signon/signon*
  • https://online*.lloydstsb.co.uk/logon.ibc
  • https://online-business.lloydstsb.co.uk/customer.ibc
  • https://online-offshore.lloydstsb.com/customer.ibc
  • https://online.wamu.com/Servicing/Servicing.aspx?targetPage=AccountSummary
  • https://online.wellsfargo.com/das/cgi-bin/session.cgi*
  • https://online.wellsfargo.com/login*
  • https://online.wellsfargo.com/signon*
  • https://onlinebanking#.wachovia.com/myAccounts.aspx?referrer=authService
  • https://onlinebanking.nationalcity.com/OLB/secure/AccountList.aspx
  • https://onlinebanking.norisbank.de/norisbank/login.do?method=login* GP
  • https://onlineeast#.bankofamerica.com/cgi-bin/ias/*/GotoWelcome
  • https://pastornetparticulares.bancopastor.es/SrPd*
  • https://privati.internetbanking.bancaintesa.it/sm/login/IN/box_login.jsp
  • https://probanking.procreditbank.bg/main/main.asp*
  • https://resources.chase.com/MyAccounts.aspx
  • https://rupay.com/index.php
  • https://scrigno.popso.it*
  • https://web.da-us.citibank.com/*BS_Id=MemberHomepage*
  • https://web.da-us.citibank.com/cgi-bin/citifi/portal/l/autherror.do*
  • https://web.da-us.citibank.com/cgi-bin/citifi/portal/l/l.do
  • https://web.secservizi.it/siteminderagent/forms/login.fcc
  • https://welcome23.smile.co.uk/SmileWeb/start.do
  • https://welcome27.co-operativebank.co.uk/CBIBSWeb/start.do
  • https://www#.citizensbankonline.com/*/index-wait.jsp
  • https://www#.usbank.com/internetBanking/LoginRouter
  • https://www*.banking.first-direct.com/1/2/*
  • https://www.53.com/servlet/efsonline/index.html*
  • https://www.bancajaproximaempresas.com/ControlEmpresas*
  • https://www.bancoherrero.com/es/*
  • https://www.bbvanetoffice.com/local_bdno/login_bbvanetoffice.html
  • https://www.bgnetplus.com/niloinet/login.jsp
  • https://www.caixagirona.es/cgi-bin/INclient_2030*
  • https://www.caixalaietana.es/cgi-bin/INclient_2042
  • https://www.caixaontinyent.es/cgi-bin/INclient_2045
  • https://www.caixatarragona.es/esp/sec_1/oficinacodigo.jsp
  • https://www.caja-granada.es/cgi-bin/INclient_2031
  • https://www.cajabadajoz.es/cgi-bin/INclient_6010*
  • https://www.cajacanarias.es/cgi-bin/INclient_6065
  • https://www.cajacirculo.es/ISMC/Circulo/acceso.jsp
  • https://www.cajadeavila.es/cgi-bin/INclient_6094
  • https://www.cajalaboral.com/home/acceso.asp
  • https://www.cajasoldirecto.es/2106/*
  • https://www.cajavital.es/Appserver/vitalnet*
  • https://www.ccm.es/cgi-bin/INclient_6105
  • https://www.citibank.de*
  • https://www.clavenet.net/cgi-bin/INclient_7054
  • https://www.dab-bank.com*
  • https://www.e-gold.com/acct/balance.asp*
  • https://www.e-gold.com/acct/li.asp
  • https://www.ebank.hsbc.co.uk/main/IBLogon.jsp
  • https://www.fibancmediolanum.es/BasePage.aspx*
  • https://www.gbw2.it/cbl/jspPages/form_login_AV.jsp* GP
  • https://www.gruposantander.es/*
  • https://www.gruposantander.es/bog/sbi*?ptns=acceso*
  • https://www.gruppocarige.it/grps/vbank/jsp/login.jsp
  • https://www.halifax-online.co.uk/_mem_bin/*
  • https://www.halifax-online.co.uk/_mem_bin/formslogin.asp*
  • https://www.halifax-online.co.uk/MyAccounts/MyAccounts.aspx*
  • https://www.in-biz.it* GP
  • https://www.isbank.com.tr/Internet/ControlLoader.aspx*
  • https://www.isideonline.it/relaxbanking/sso.Login*
  • https://www.iwbank.it/private/index_pub.jhtml*
  • https://www.mybank.alliance-leicester.co.uk/login/*
  • https://www.nwolb.com/Login.asp*
  • https://www.nwolb.com/Login.aspx*
  • https://www.paypal.com/*/webscr?cmd=_account
  • https://www.paypal.com/*/webscr?cmd=_login-done*
  • https://www.rbsdigital.com/Login.asp*
  • https://www.sabadellatlantico.com/es/*
  • https://www.suntrust.com/portal/server.pt*parentname=Login*
  • https://www.unicaja.es/PortalServlet*
  • https://www.uno-e.com/local_bdnt_unoe/Login_unoe2.html
  • https://www.us.hsbc.com/*
  • https://www.wellsfargo.com/*
  • https://www2.bancopopular.es/AppBPE/servlet/servin*

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

  • Allied Irish Banks
  • ANZ
  • Banca Intesa
  • Bancaja
  • Banco Mediolanum
  • Banco Pastor
  • Banco Popular
  • Banco Sabadell
  • Banesto
  • Banif
  • Bank of America
  • Banque Populaire
  • Barclays
  • BBVANet Office
  • Business Bank of Turkey
  • Caixa Girona
  • Caixa Laietana
  • Caixa Ontinyent
  • Caixa Sabadell
  • Caixa Tarragona
  • Caja Badajoz
  • Caja de Avila
  • Caja Granada
  • Caja Laboral
  • Caja Madrid
  • Caja Murcia
  • Caja Rioja
  • Caja Vital
  • CajaCanarias
  • Cajacirculo
  • Cajasol
  • Cards Online
  • CCM
  • Chase
  • Citibank
  • Citizens Bank
  • Clavenet
  • Clydesdale Bank
  • Co-operative Bank
  • DAB Bank
  • E-gold
  • Ebay
  • Fifth Third Bank
  • First Direct
  • Gruppo Carige
  • Halifax
  • HSBC
  • Inbiz
  • IW Bank
  • Keeper Light - WebMoney
  • Lloyds TSB
  • Monte Dei Paschi Di Siena
  • National City
  • Nationwide
  • NatWest
  • Norisbank
  • Openbank
  • Paypal
  • Poste Italiane
  • ProCredit Bank
  • Qui UBI
  • Relax Banking
  • Royal Bank of Scotland
  • RuPay
  • Sabadell Atlantico
  • Santander
  • SCRIGNO
  • Sec Servizi
  • Smile
  • SunTrust
  • TD Canada Trust
  • U.S. Bank
  • Unicaja
  • Uno-e
  • Wachovia
  • Washington Mutual
  • Wells Fargo
  • Yandex
  • Yorkshire Bank

It gathers the following data:

  • Personal certificates

It attempts to steal stored account information used in the following installed File Transfer Protocol (FTP) clients or file manager software:

  • FlashXP
  • TotalCommander
  • WS_FTP
  • Filezilla
  • FTP Commander
  • Smart FTP

NOTES:

This ZBOT variant failed to inject in running processes therefore, malicious routines stated above are not replicated. However, it has the capability of doing the malicious routines stated above.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.700

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

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
    • WAB
  • 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
    • {GUID} = "%Application Data%\{random folder 2}\{random file name}.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List
    • %Windows%\explorer.exe = "%Windows%\explorer.exe:*:Enabled:Windows Explorer"

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.
  • %Application Data%\{random folder 1}
  • %Application Data%\{random folder 2}
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Address Book

Step 6

Search and delete this file

[ Learn More ]
There may be some 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.
  • %System Root%\debug.txt

Step 7

Reset Internet security settings

[ Learn More ]

Step 8

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

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.VUK. 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 10

The following created files/folders/registry keys/registry entries cannot be identified by the user since there are no reference values in the created key. The only way it can be identified is by comparing the present system information with a backup. Note that the said components do not have to be deleted since it won't be harmful to the system.

  • %Application Data%\{random folder 2}\{random file name}.exe
  • %Application Data%\{random folder 1}\{random file name}.{random extension}
  • %Application Data%\{random folder 1}
  • %Application Data%\{random folder 2}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • {GUID} = "%Application Data%\{random folder 2}\{random file name}.exe"


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