Skip to content

Threat Encyclopedia
Export page to PDF
TSPY_ZBOT.SMQH
Aliases: PWS:Win32/Zbot.gen!AF (Microsoft); Mal/FakeAV-NS (Sophos); PWS-Zbot.gen.jn (Mcafee)
Malware type: Spyware
Destructive: No
Platform: Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
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 may be downloaded by other malware/grayware/spyware from remote sites. It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.

It may be injected into processes running in memory.

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.

It deletes itself after execution.

Technical Details


File size: 174,080 bytes
File type: EXE
Memory resident: Yes
Initial samples received date: 07 Sep 2011

Arrival Details

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

It may be downloaded by other malware/grayware/spyware from remote sites.

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

It may be downloaded from the following remote sites:

  • http://{BLOCKED}emical.com/w.php?f=55&e=3

Installation

This spyware drops the following files:

  • %User Profile%\Application Data\{random2}\{random filename}.{random} - contains encrypted stolen data

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

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

  • %User Profile%\Application Data\{random1}\{random filename}.exe

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

It creates the following folders:

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

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

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 of mount point of %Windows%} = %User Profile%\Application Data\{random1}\{random filename}.exe

Other System Modifications

This spyware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
{random}

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:

  • *.facebook.com/*
  • *.microsoft.com/*
  • *.myspace.com/*
  • *.twitter.com/*
  • *.youtube.com/*
  • *abcjmp.com*
  • *bebo.com*
  • *chat.*
  • *erate/eventreport.asp*
  • *hi5.com
  • *hotbar.com*
  • *http://musicservices.myspacecdn.com*
  • *mcafee.com*
  • *mochiads.com
  • *mochiads.com!*nasza-klasa.pl*
  • *musicservices.myspacecdn.com*
  • *my-etrust.com*
  • *nasza-klasa.pl*
  • *punjabijanta.com/*
  • *scanscout.com*
  • *streamstats1.blinkx.com*
  • https://*.cedacri.it/*
  • https://*.ebanking-services.com/*/signin.aspxauthTkn
  • https://*.mcafee.com/*
  • https://53.com/
  • https://accountonline.com/
  • https://authmaster.nationalcity.com/tmgmt/
  • https://bancopostaimpresaonline.poste.it/bpiol/lastFortyMovementsBalance.do?method=loadLastFortyMovementList
  • https://banking.sparda.de/wps/spardamodern-banking
  • https://bankofamerica.com/
  • https://chase.com/
  • https://chatserver.comm100.com/*
  • https://citibank.com/
  • https://client.schwab.com/accounts/summary/summary.aspx
  • https://clients4.google.com/*
  • https://cm.netteller.com/login2008/Authentication/Views/Login.aspx
  • https://dbonline.deutsche-bank.it/*
  • https://fx.sbisec.co.jp/*
  • https://hbnet1.cedacri.it/06045/*
  • https://it.mcafee.com*
  • https://login.yahoo.com/
  • https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=
  • https://mail.goole.com/*
  • https://market.android.com/account
  • https://match2.me.dium.com/*
  • https://mfasa.chase.com/
  • https://online.wellsfargo.com/das/cgi-bin/session.cgi
  • https://onlinebanking.capitalone.com/
  • https://onlinebanking.wachovia.com/myAccounts.aspx
  • https://paypal.com/
  • https://pnc.com/
  • https://qweb.quercia.com/*
  • https://regions.com/
  • https://server.iad.liveperson.net/*
  • https://suntrust.com/PersonalBanking
  • https://suntrust.com/portal
  • https://telematici.agenziaentrate.gov.it*
  • https://us.hsbc.com/
  • https://usaa.com/
  • https://usbank.com/
  • https://wellsfargo.com/
  • https://www.1fbusa.com/
  • https://www.autobus.it*
  • https://www.bancagenerali.it/*
  • https://www.csebo.it/*
  • https://www.direktprint.de/*
  • https://www.macys.com/
  • https://www.myaccountaccess.com/onlineCard/
  • https://www.myaccountaccess.com/onlineCard/AcctSummary.aspx
  • https://www.myaccountaccess.com/onlineCard/postLogin.do?phase=start
  • https://www.mycardstatement.com/AcctSummary.aspx
  • https://www.nordstromcard.com/fdr_nr.service?TRANTYPE
  • https://www.nordstromcard.com/fdr_nr.service?TRANTYPEU
  • https://www.partnercardservices.com/ecare/control/generic.js
  • https://www.partnercardservices.com/ecare/customerservice/updatepersonalinfo?&locale=en_US&brand=RZ_500_501
  • https://www.partnercardservices.com/ecare/viewaccount
  • https://www.partnercardservices.com/ecare/viewaccount?
  • https://www.paypal.com/
  • https://www.pnccardservicesonline.com/pages/AccountSummary.aspx
  • https://www.sparkasse.it/*
  • https://www.statementlook.com/fdr_ge.service?TRANTYPE
  • https://www.statementlook.com/fdr_ge.service?TRANTYPEU
  • https://www.usbank.com/internetBanking/RequestRouter
  • https://www.vodafone.it/*
  • https://www3.csebo.it/*
  • www.gbw-gruppe.de

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:

  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.4.120
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.108.227
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.2.142
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.33.213
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.82.126
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.186.114
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.114.123
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.118.167
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.41.162
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.105.183
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.219.203
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.119.48
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.226.168
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.220.62
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.17.22
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.116.164
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.61.110
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.153.19
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.142.187
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.211.100

Note that the list may change anytime.

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

  • Auto Bus
  • Banca Generali
  • Bebo
  • Blinx
  • CA Technologies
  • Comm100
  • Csebo
  • Deutsche Bank
  • Facebook
  • Gruppo Cedacri
  • HB-Next
  • Hi5
  • Hotbar
  • McAfee
  • Microsoft
  • Mochi Media
  • Myspace
  • NK Community Service
  • Online CopyShop
  • PosteItaliane
  • Punjabi Janta Forums
  • Revenue Agency
  • SBI Securities
  • SEB
  • ScanScout
  • South Tyrolean Sparkasse AG
  • Twitter
  • Vodafone
  • Youtube
  • db Corporate Banking Web
  • 1FBUSA
  • Android Market
  • Bank of America
  • Capital One Online Banking
  • Charles Schwab
  • Chase
  • Citibank
  • Citi® Credit Cards
  • Fifth Third Bank
  • GBW-Gruppe
  • GEMoney
  • Google
  • HSBC
  • Macys
  • NetTeller
  • Nordstrom Card Services
  • Online Account Access
  • PNC Bank
  • PNC Card Services Online
  • Partner Card Services
  • Paypal
  • Regions
  • Sparda Net Banking
  • Sun Trust
  • U.S. Bank
  • U.S. Bank Internet Banking
  • USAA
  • Wells Fargo
  • Yahoo

Stolen Information

This spyware sends the gathered information via HTTP POST to the following URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}lertmos.com/gameover2.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}ncientmos.com/gameover2.php

Other Details

This spyware deletes itself after execution.

Solution


Minimum scan engine: 9.200
First VSAPI Pattern File: 8.462.17
First VSAPI Pattern Release Date: 30 Sep 2011
VSAPI OPR Pattern Version: 8.463.00
VSAPI OPR Pattern Release Date: 30 Sep 2011

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

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.SMQH

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn more ]

Step 4

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%} = %User Profile%\Application Data\{random1}\{random filename}.exe

Step 5

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. Before you could do this, you must restart in Safe Mode. For instructions on how to do this, you may refer to this page If the preceding step requires you to restart in safe mode, you may proceed to edit the system registry.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
    • {random}

Step 6

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.
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\{random1}

Step 7

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


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.
Analysis By: Automation
Modified By: Marfel Tiamzon

Connect with us on