Malicious Software Encyclopedia: Win32/Spyboter
Published:
August 5, 2005
Win32/Spyboter is a family of backdoor Trojans that targets certain versions of Microsoft Windows. The Trojan injects code into the explorer.exe process of a computer and allows attackers to control the computer through an IRC channel.
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Threat Overview
| Class/type | Trojan - Backdoor
|
| Discovered | April 16, 2003 |
| Circulating | No |
| Affected operating systems | Windows NT 4.0
Windows 95
Windows 2000
Windows XP
|
| Affected software |
Not specified
|
| Infection rating | Low |
| Recovery difficulty | Moderate |
| Damage rating | Medium |
| Transmission rating | Low |
Aliases (Also Known As)
Different antivirus vendors may be using different names to refer to this malicious software. Here are some of the names currently in use by antivirus software vendors participating in the Microsoft Virus Information Alliance (VIA):
McAfee:
W32/Spybot.worm.genSymantec:
W32.Spybot.WormSymantec:
Backdoor.SpyboterTrend Micro:
WORM_SPYBOT.GEN
Learn more about the
Microsoft Virus Information Alliance.
Technical Analysis
When Win32/Spyboter runs, it may take the following actions:
Copy itself to a new file in the system folder and run the file.
Exit and delete the original Trojan file.
Add a value to the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
These changes cause the Trojan to run each time Windows starts. Some Win32/Spyboter variants create a Windows service to attain similar results.
Terminate security-related services and processes.
Inject code into the explorer.exe process space and run the code.
Connect to an IRC server and joins a specific channel to receive commands from attackers. These commands instruct the Trojan to perform operations such as the following:
Drop copies of itself to Windows startup folders.
Drop copies of itself to the share folder of a file-sharing application.
Gather system information such as CPU speed, memory usage, Windows operating system, connection type, IP address, and Windows logon information.
Add, modify, or delete registry keys.
Send e-mail to other attackers.
Conduct denial of service (DoS) attacks.
Download and run files.
Create and delete network shares.
Redirect connections.
Enable DCOM protocol.
Scan for computers with weak administrator passwords.
Scan a range of IP addresses on certain open ports.
Set up an HTTP proxy.
Set up a TFTP server or an HTTPd server.
Download files using FTP or HTTP and run the files.
Log keystrokes.
Gather CD keys of various games.
Gather Windows product keys.
Gather e-mail addresses.
List or terminate certain processes and services.
Remove the worm.
How to Prevent Infection
Take the following steps to help prevent infection on your system:
Enable a firewall on your computer.
Get the latest computer updates.
Use up-to-date antivirus software.
Enable a firewall on your computer
Use a third-party firewall product or turn on the Microsoft Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall.
To turn on the Internet Connection Firewall in Windows XP
Click Start, and click Control Panel.
Click Network and Internet Connections, and click Network Connections. If you do not see Network and Internet Connections, click Switch to Category View.
Highlight a connection that you want to help protect, and click Change settings of this connection.
Click Advanced, and select Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet.
Click OK.
Get the latest computer updates
Updates help protect your computer from viruses, worms, and other threats as they are discovered. You can use the Automatic Updates feature in Microsoft Windows XP to automatically download future Microsoft security updates while your computer is on and connected to the Internet.
To turn on Automatic Updates in Windows XP
Click Start, and click Control Panel.
Click Performance and Maintenance. If you do not see Performance and Maintenance, click Switch to Category View.
Click System.
Click Automatic Updates, and select Keep my computer up to date.
Select a setting. Microsoft recommends selecting Automatically download the updates, and install them on the schedule that I specify and setting a regular update time.
If you choose to have Automatic Updates notify you in step 5, you will see a notification balloon when new downloads are available to install. Click the notification balloon to review and install updates.
Use up-to-date antivirus software
Most antivirus software can detect and prevent infection by known malicious software. You should always run antivirus software on your computer that is updated with the latest signature files to automatically help protect you from infection. If you don't have antivirus software installed, you can get it from one of several companies. For more information, see http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/downloads/default.mspx
How to Tell If Your Computer Is Infected
There are no readily apparent indications that your computer is infected by Win32/Spyboter.
How to Recover from Infection
Automatic Recovery
To attempt to automatically remove this threat, run one of the following removal tools:
Payload Information
| Payload type | Trigger | Description |
|---|
| Creates files | Execution | Copies itself to the system folder, Windows startup folders, and the share folder of a file-sharing application. |
| Compromises Security | Execution | - Terminates security-related processes.
- Injects code into the explorer.exe process.
- Connects to an IRC server to receive commands from attackers.
|
| Release information | Execution | Releases: - System information such as CPU speed, memory usage, Windows operating system, connection type, IP address, and Windows logon information
Keystroke logs Windows product keys CD keys of various games
|
Changed Processes
| Modified processes | explorer.exe
|
