TSPY_ZBOT.HQ

This spyware is a variant of the info-stealing ZBOT/ZeuS malware family that aims to defeat the two-factor security authentication of banks using a ZeuS mobile malware, such as WINCE_ZBOT.B, to steal text messages from affected users' mobile devices.

To get a one-glance comprehensive view of the behavior of this Spyware, refer to the Threat Diagram shown below.

It is a counterpart of SYMBOS_ZBOT.B, BBOS_ZITMO.B, and WINCE_ZBOT.B, which are for devices running on Symbian OS, BlackBerry OS, and Windows Mobile, respectively.

This spyware may be dropped by other malware. It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.

It may be injected into processes running in memory.

It opens a random port to allow a remote user to connect to the affected system. Once a successful connection is established, the remote user executes commands on the affected system.

It attempts to steal sensitive online banking information, such as user names and passwords. This routine risks the exposure of the user's account information, which may then lead to the unauthorized use of the stolen data.

Arrival Details

This spyware may be dropped by other malware.

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

Installation

This spyware drops the following files:

• %Application Data%\{random folder name 1}\{random file name}.exe - copy of itself
• %Application Data%\{random folder name 2}\{random file name} - contains encrypted stolen data

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

It creates the following folders:

• %Application Data%\{random folder name 1}
• %Application Data%\{random folder name 2}

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

It is injected into the following processes running in memory:

• ctfmon.exe
• Dwm.exe
• explorer.exe
• rdpclip.exe
• taskeng.exe
• taskhost.exe
• wscntfy.exe

It may be injected into processes running in memory.

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 name 1}\{random file name}.exe"

Other System Modifications

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
{random characters}

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"

Backdoor Routine

This spyware opens a random port to allow a remote user to connect to the affected system. Once a successful connection is established, the remote user executes commands on the affected system.

Information Theft

This spyware attempts to steal sensitive online banking information, such as user names and passwords. This routine risks the exposure of the user's account information, which may then lead to the unauthorized use of the stolen data.

It accesses the following site to download its configuration file:

• http://{BLOCKED}snow.ru/ajax.jsp?v=5

NOTES:

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

It retrieves the following information from the infected system:

• Flash player data
• FTP credentials
• Internet session cookies
• Personal certificates

Other Details

This spyware monitors the Internet Explorer (IE) activities of the infected system, specifically the address bar or title bar. It recreates a legitimate website with a spoofed login page if a user visits banking sites with certain strings in the address bar or title bar.