Overview: Inside the Zeus Trojan's source code

For the curious, here is an overview of the code keeping the security industry awake at night.

The Tech Herald sat down recently with Rapid 7’s Josh Abraham to examine Zeus’s source code. It’s a twisted, interconnected mix, consisting of one part basic design and one part mad scientist. To visualize this, examine a diagram for Zeus’ source [ seen here ], and look at just how connected the internals are. As the diagram shows, the internals are a vast web of processes only a truly hardened programmer could fully understand and appreciate.

All of that complexity boils down into a few core functions, including protection, which keep the Malware traffic hidden and harder to detect. In addition, it allows server-side functionality for remote connections, Web traffic interception on Internet Explorer and Firefox, interception of traffic for TCP and UDP connections, collection of stored usernames and passwords, script execution, and for networks with more than one system infected, there’s the ability to split the botnet into sub-botnets.

The code also allows additional modules to be installed by the criminal who purchased the kit. For example, there is a module to bypass two-factor authentication used by banks. It allowed Zeus to steal mTANs (mobile transaction authentication number), ignoring the added security completely.

The version of Zeus leaked to the Web this week is 2.0.8.9, and Abraham stressed that there is a possibility that some of the people downloading the code might have modified it. “We have no MD5 hashsum or something similar to prove this is the original source,” he explained.

“With that said, it’s unlikely that anyone was able to make major changes to the code, and it would be easy to determine changes by comparing the MD5 sums between the versions in your possession as researcher.”

Digging into the code, the first thing that jumps out is the balance between platforms. The attacker’s command and control is almost pure PHP, while the client side of the Malware is in C++. In version 2.0, the developers began the process of overhauling Zeus’ code.

Documentation shipped with the kit that we examined lists 25 separate enhancements and fixes in version 2.0.0.0 alone, with an additional 15 modifications throughout 2010, and one this past March.

One of the interesting things that stands out is the support for IPv6, and support for Jabber, FTP, and POP3 protocols.

Abraham noted that it was somewhat scary to see the support for IPv6. His personal opinion is that mass adoption of the protocol is several years away, but seeing this feature now “…implies that they are targeting newer versions and the newer operating systems.

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Overview: Inside the Zeus Trojan's source code
Overview: Inside the Zeus Trojan's source code

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