Analysis by: Roland Marco Dela Paz

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This spyware attempts to steal information, such as user names and passwords, used when logging into certain banking or finance-related websites.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 92,672 bytes
File Type: PE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 11 Oct 2010
Payload: Disables services, , Downloads files

Arrival Details

This spyware may be downloaded from the following remote sites:

  • http://{BLOCKED}desjournal.com/apps/logos/des3.exe

Installation

This spyware adds the following folders:

  • %Application Data%\{random1}
  • %Application Data%\{random2}

(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 itself into the following processes running in the affected system's memory:

  • explorer.exe
  • taskhost.exe
  • taskeng.exe
  • Dwm.exe
  • wscntfy.exe
  • ctfmon.exe
  • rdpclip.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 of mount point of %Windows%} = %Application Data%\{random1}\{random}.exe

It drops the following files:

  • %Application Data%\{random1}\{random}.exe - copy of itself
  • %Application Data%\{random2}\{random} - contains encrypted stolen data

(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.)

Other System Modifications

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
{random character}
{Default} =

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

Information Theft

This spyware monitors the Internet Explorer (IE) activities of the affected system, specifically the address 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 and/or title bar:

  • *navyfcu.org*
  • *scottrade.com*
  • *wescom.org*
  • http*bankofamerica.com*
  • http*bankofamerica.com/js_tmp/*
  • http*chase.com*
  • http*chase.com/js_tmp/*
  • http*countrywide.com*
  • http*suntrust.com*
  • http*wellsfargo.com/js_tmp/*
  • http://armskeyboard.com/java/
  • https://*ameritrade.com*
  • https://*hb.growfinancial.org*
  • https://online.citibank.com/US/JPS/portal/Home.do
  • https://onlinebanking.nationalcity.com/OLB/secure/AccountList.aspx
  • https://onlineeast#.bankofamerica.com/cgi-bin/ias/*/CustomerServiceMenuEntryPoint?custAction=75
  • https://onlineeast#.bankofamerica.com/cgi-bin/ias/*/GotoCustomerServiceMenu
  • https://onlineeast#.bankofamerica.com/cgi-bin/ias/*/GotoWelcome
  • https://sitekey.bankofamerica.com/sas/maint.do
  • https://sitekey.bankofamerica.com/sas/sas-docs/js/commonscript.js
  • https://www#.citizensbankonline.com/*/index-wait.jsp
  • https://www.53.com/servlet/efsonline/index.html*

It accesses the following site to download its configuration file:

  • http://{BLOCKED}desjournal.com/apps/logos/awning3.jpg

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

  • Ameritrade
  • Bank of America
  • Chase
  • Citibank
  • Citizens
  • Fifth Third
  • National City
  • Suntrust
  • Wells Fargo

Drop Points

Stolen information is uploaded to the following websites:

  • http://{BLOCKED}ev.com/view.php

Other Details

This spyware does the following:

  • It adds the following registry entries to disable Internet Explorer:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\PhishingFilter Enabled=0

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\InternetExplorer\PhishingFilter EnabledV8 =0

  • Steals the following information:
    • Personal Certificates (MY)
    • FTP credentials for the following FTP applications:
      • flashxp
      • ghisler
      • ipswitch
      • filezilla
      • ftpfar
      • winscp
      • ftpcommander
      • coreftp
      • smartftp
    • Flashplayer data
    • Internet session cookies

Variant Information

This spyware has the following MD5 hashes:

  • 181aea20e3f50b5d0560f6f926943436

It has the following SHA1 hashes:

  • d406fee7f297b3248d3a965051931dc95d5cf927

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 8.900
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 7.531.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 11 Oct 2010

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

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.
  • %Application Data%\{random1}
  • %Application Data%\{random2}
  • 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\
      • {random character}

    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
      • {GUID of mount point of %Windows%} = %Application Data%\{random1}\{random}.exe
    • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List
      • %WINDOWS%\EXPLORER.EXE =%WINDOWS%\EXPLORER.EXE:*:Enabled:Windows Explorer
    • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\PhishingFilter
      • Enabled =0
    • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\InternetExplorer\PhishingFilter
      • EnabledV8 =0

    Step 6

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