TSPY_GOZI.A

 Analysis by: Mark Joseph Manahan

 ALIASES:

a variant of Win32/Kryptik.ATA trojan (Eset), TrojanSpy:Win32/Ursnif.EC (Microsoft), Trojan-PSW.Win32.Papras.gen (Sunbelt), Trojan-PWS.Win32.Papras (Ikarus)

 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:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

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

It sends the information it gathers to remote sites.

It connects to certain websites to send and receive information.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

27,136 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

02 Jan 2013

Payload:

Compromises system security, 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 component file(s):

  • %Windows%\new_drv.sys - detected as RTKT_GOZI.A

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.)

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

  • %Windows%\9129837.exe

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.)

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

  • ___RHaiuy72Mjtex

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
ttool = "%Windows%\9129837.exe"

It registers its dropped component as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup. It does this by creating the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\new_drv

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Enum\Root\LEGACY_NEW_DRV

Other System Modifications

This spyware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
InetData

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
InetData
k1 = "{Values}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
InetData
k2 = "{Values}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
InetData
version = "205"

Rootkit Capabilities

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

Process Termination

This spyware terminates the following services if found on the affected system:

  • wscsvc
  • SharedAccess

Download Routine

This spyware downloads updated copies of itself from the following websites:

  • pull.{BLOCKED}rava.com/cmd.cgi

Information Theft

This spyware gathers the following data:

  • Cached Username/Passwords
  • Certificate Informations
  • Keystrokes
  • Network Traffic (Http.Ftp,Pop3,Imap,Icq)
  • Screenshots
  • E-mail Credentials

It sends the information it gathers to remote sites.

Other Details

This spyware connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • pull.{BLOCKED}rava.com/ss.cgi
  • pull.{BLOCKED}rava.com/forms.cgi
  • pull.{BLOCKED}rava.com/pstore.cgi
  • pull.{BLOCKED}rava.com/mail.cgi
  • pull.{BLOCKED}rava.com/file.cgi
  • pull.{BLOCKED}rava.com/options.cgi
  • pull.{BLOCKED}rava.com/cert.cgi
  • pull.{BLOCKED}rava.com/keylog.cgi

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

9.632.04

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

02 Jan 2013

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

9.633.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

03 Jan 2013

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 malware/grayware files dropped/downloaded by TSPY_GOZI.A

    • RTKT_GOZI.A

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
    • new_drv
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\Root
    • LEGACY_NEW_DRV
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft
    • InetData

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
    • ttool = "%Windows%\9129837.exe"

Step 6

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