Analysis by: Marfel Tiamzon

 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

Once users access any of the monitored sites, it starts logging keystrokes. It attempts to steal information, such as user names and passwords, used when logging into certain banking or finance-related websites.

It checks for the presence of the following processes which are related to Outpost Personal Firewall and ZoneLabs Firewall Client:

  • outpost.exe
  • zlclient.exe

It terminates if either of the said processes exist. This is to ensure that it runs uninterrupted. It also has rootkit capabilities, which enables it to hide its processes and files from the user.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 92,672 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 17 Aug 2010
Payload: Disables services, Terminates processes

Infection Points

This spyware arrives as a file downloaded from the following URLs:

  • http://{BLOCKED}rvice.net/dircp/cqi/be.exe

Installation

This spyware drops copies of itself in the Windows system folder and appends garbage code to the dropped copy to avoid easy detection. The dropped copies uses the following file names:

  • sdra64.exe

It then creates the following non-malicious file(s):

  • %System%\lowsec\local.ds - copy of the encrypted downloaded file
  • %System%\lowsec\user.ds - used to save the gathered information

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.)

It creates the following folders with attributes set to System and Hidden to prevent users from discovering and removing its components:

  • %System%\lowsec

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.)

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

  • _AVIRA_2108
  • _AVIRA_2109

It injects itself into the following processes as part of its memory residency routine:

  • SVCHOST.EXE
  • WINLOGON.EXE

Autostart Technique

This spyware modifies the following registry entries to ensure it automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Userinit = %System%\userinit.exe, %System%\sdra64.exe,

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is %System%\userinit.exe, .)

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
UID = {Computer name}_{Random numbers}

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
EnableFirewall = 0

Information Theft

This spyware accesses the following site to download its configuration file:

  • http://{BLOCKED}rvice.net/dircp/cqi/damp.bin

Once users access any of the monitored sites, it starts logging keystrokes.

The downloaded file contains information where the malware can download an updated copy of itself, and where to send its stolen data.

It targets the following websites:

  • *.ebay.com/*eBayISAPI.dll?*
  • *//mail.yandex.ru/
  • *//mail.yandex.ru/index.xml
  • *//money.yandex.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 *//money.yandex.ru/index.xml
  • 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.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://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.gruposantander.es/bog/sbi*?ptns=acceso*
  • https://www.gruppocarige.it/grps/vbank/jsp/login.jsp
  • https://www.halifax-online.co.uk/MyAccounts/MyAccounts.aspx*
  • https://www.halifax-online.co.uk/_mem_bin/*
  • https://www.halifax-online.co.uk/_mem_bin/formslogin.asp*
  • 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*

Note that the contents of the file, hence the list of websites to monitor, may change any time.

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

  • AIB
  • ANZ
  • Alliance & Leicester
  • BBVA
  • BG Net Plus
  • Banca Intesa
  • Bancaja
  • Banco Herrero
  • Banco Pastor
  • Banco Popular
  • Banco de Sadabell
  • Banesto
  • Banif
  • Bank of America
  • Banque Populaire
  • Barclays
  • BrokerCreditService
  • CCM
  • Caixa Girona
  • Caixa Laietana
  • Caixa Ontinyent
  • Caixa Tarragona
  • Caja Badajoz
  • Caja Canarias
  • Caja Circulo
  • Caja Granada
  • Caja Laboral
  • Caja Madrid
  • Caja Murcia
  • Caja Vital
  • Caja de Avila
  • Caja de Jaen
  • Cajarioja
  • Cajasol
  • Chase
  • Citibank
  • Citizens
  • Clavenet
  • Clydesdale
  • Co-Operativebank
  • DAB
  • E-Gold
  • Ebay
  • Fibanc Mediolanum
  • Fifth Third
  • First Direct
  • Gruppo Carige
  • HSBC
  • Halifax
  • IS Bank
  • IW Bank
  • Iside
  • Lloyds
  • National City
  • Nationwide
  • Natwest
  • OSPM
  • Openbank
  • PayPal
  • PosteItaliane
  • Procredit
  • Qui UBI
  • RBS
  • Rupay
  • Sabadell Atlantico
  • Santander
  • Scrigno
  • Secservizi
  • Smile
  • Suntrust
  • TD Canada Trust
  • US Bank
  • Unicaja
  • Uno-E
  • Wachovia
  • Washington Mutual
  • Webmoney Keeper Light
  • Wells Fargo
  • Yandex
  • Yorkshire

Stolen Information

This spyware saves the stolen information in the following file:

  • %System%\lowsec\user.ds

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.)

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

  • http://{BLOCKED}rvice.net/dircp/cqi/index.php

Other Details

This spyware checks for the presence of the following processes which are related to Outpost Personal Firewall and ZoneLabs Firewall Client:

  • outpost.exe
  • zlclient.exe

It terminates if either of the said processes exist. This is to ensure that it runs uninterrupted. It also has rootkit capabilities, which enables it to hide its processes and files from the user.

Variant Information

This spyware has the following MD5 hashes:

  • cbfeb191e781b22236513f27109eea0c

It has the following SHA1 hashes:

  • 532892df083ed3857dec51876159c2c394857426

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 8.900
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 7.391.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 17 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

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, %System%\sdra64.exe,
      To: Userinit = %System%\userinit.exe,

Step 3

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
    • UID = {Computer name}_{Random numbers}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
    • EnableFirewall = 0

Step 4

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. %System%\lowsec

Step 5

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