Analysis by: JasperM

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This spyware arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users.

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 modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

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. 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: 120,832 bytes
File Type: PE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 13 Aug 2010
Payload: Downloads files, Compromises system security

Arrival Details

This spyware arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users.

It may be downloaded from the following remote sites:

  • https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.146.14/box2/master.tmp

Installation

This spyware adds the following folders:

  • %Application Data%\jh87uhnoe3
  • %Windows%\jh87uhnoe3

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

Other System Modifications

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Network
PID = {machine name}_{random}

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
{19127AD2-394B-70F5-C650-B97867BAA1F7}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
{4B19E1F3-5B47-C615-C75A-E0FD63DB477F}

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\
Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Explorer\{19127AD2-394B-70F5-C650-B97867BAA1F7}

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\
Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Explorer\{4B19E1F3-5B47-C615-C75A-E0FD63DB477F}

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.

Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification

This spyware modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

Information Theft

This spyware monitors the Internet Explorer (IE) activities of the affected 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 the following strings in the address bar or title bar:

  • www.gruposantander.es
  • *chase.com*
  • www.firstcitizens.com
  • online.wellsfargo.com

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.

It accesses the following site to download its configuration file:

  • https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.146.12/box1/1.gif

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

  • Santader
  • Wellsfargo
  • First Citizens Bank
  • Chase

Stolen Information

The stolen information is saved in the following file:

  • %Application Data%\jh87uhnoe3\ewfrvbb.nls
  • %Windows%\jh87uhnoe3\ewfrvbb.nls

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

It sends the gathered information via HTTP POST to the following URL:

  • https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.146.14/box2/update.php

Other Details

This spyware does the following:

  • It does not perform its routine if the following processes are running in memory:
    • tcpview.exe
    • ollydbg.exe
    • wireshark.exe
  • It uses SSL to communicate with its C&C server.
  • It may also steal the following information:
    • FTP credentials and FTP communication
    • HTTP credentials and HTTP communication
    • Cookies
    • Digital Certificates
  • When the user is running under admin privileges:
    • It drops a copy of itself as %Windows%\host32.exe.
    • It drops the file components %Windows%\jh87uhnoe3\ewfrvbb.nls, which contains the stolen information and %Windows%\jh87uhnoe3\ewf32.nls, which contains a copy of configuration file.
    • it injects its code into the processes SERVICES.EXE,LSASS.EXE, and CSRSS.EXE.
    • It modifies the following registry entry to enable its automatic execution at system startup:

      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
      Userinit = "%System%\userinit.exe,%WindowS%\host32.exe,"

      (Note: The default value is "%System%\userinit.exe,".)

  • When the user is running under restricted privileges:
    • It drops a copy of itself as %Application Data%\host32.exe.
    • It drops the file components %Application Data%\jh87uhnoe3\ewfrvbb.nls, which contains the stolen information and %Application Data%\jh87uhnoe3\ewf32.nls, which contains a copy of configuration file.
    • It injects its code into the processes, EXPLORER.EXE and other running processes
    • It creates the following registry entry to enable its automatic execution at system startup:

      HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
      Userinit = "%Application Data%\host32.exe"

    (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.)

    Variant Information

    This spyware has the following MD5 hashes:

    • c82098119fd39530e09214625bf35097

    It has the following SHA1 hashes:

    • a50d7c4bbc503b0de7944e4099a560dd76e466fe

      SOLUTION

    Minimum Scan Engine: 8.900
    VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 7.383.80
    VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 14 Aug 2010

    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

    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
      • PID={machine name}_{random}

    Step 3

    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,%WINDOWS%\host32.exe,
        To: Userinit = %System%\userinit.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\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
      • {19127AD2-394B-70F5-C650-B97867BAA1F7}
    • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
      • {4B19E1F3-5B47-C615-C75A-E0FD63DB477F}
    • In HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
      • {19127AD2-394B-70F5-C650-B97867BAA1F7}
    • In HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
      • {4B19E1F3-5B47-C615-C75A-E0FD63DB477F}

    Step 5

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