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RANSOM_FANTOMCRYPT.A

September 16, 2016
 Analysis by: Cris Nowell Pantanilla
 ALIASES:

Ransom:MSIL/Fantomcrypt.A (Microsoft); Trojan-Ransom.MSIL.Tear.bf (Kaspersky)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet

This Trojan arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It connects to certain websites to send and receive information.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

267,776 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

25 Aug 2016

Payload:

Connects to URLs/IPs, Displays message/message boxes, Encrypts files

Arrival Details

This Trojan arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

Installation

This Trojan drops and executes the following files:

  • %User Temp%\WindowsUpdate.exe - Fake update display
  • %Application Data%\delback.bat - deletes shadow copies
  • {Malware Path}\update.bat - deletes WindowsUpdate.exe

(Note: %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.. %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
DisableTaskMgr = 1

It sets the system's desktop wallpaper to the following image:

Download Routine

This Trojan accesses the following websites to download files:

  • http://content.{BLOCKED}encast.com/users/Gurudrag/folders/Default/media/9289aabe-7b4a-4c7f-b3bb-bdf3407e7a2f/fantom1.jpg

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • http://{BLOCKED}toolsforyou.com/themes/prestashop/cache/stats.php
  • http://templatesupdates.{BLOCKED}dns.com/falssk/fksgieksi.php

It encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • .001
  • .1cd
  • .3d
  • .3d4
  • .3df8
  • .3fr
  • .3g2
  • .3gp
  • .3gp2
  • .3mm
  • .7z
  • .aac
  • .abk
  • .abw
  • .ac3
  • .accdb
  • .ace
  • .act
  • .ade
  • .adi
  • .adpb
  • .adr
  • .adt
  • .ai
  • .aim
  • .aip
  • .ais
  • .amf
  • .amr
  • .amu
  • .amx
  • .amxx
  • .ans
  • .ap
  • .ape
  • .api
  • .apk
  • .arc
  • .arch00
  • .ari
  • .arj
  • .aro
  • .arr
  • .arw
  • .asa
  • .asc
  • .ascx
  • .ase
  • .asf
  • .ashx
  • .asmx
  • .asp
  • .aspx
  • .asr
  • .asset
  • .avi
  • .avs
  • .bak
  • .bar
  • .bay
  • .bc6
  • .bc7
  • .bck
  • .bdp
  • .bdr
  • .bib
  • .bic
  • .big
  • .bik
  • .bkf
  • .bkp
  • .blob
  • .blp
  • .bmc
  • .bmf
  • .bml
  • .bmp
  • .boc
  • .bp2
  • .bp3
  • .bpl
  • .bsa
  • .bsp
  • .cag
  • .cam
  • .cap
  • .car
  • .cas
  • .cbr
  • .cbz
  • .cc
  • .ccd
  • .cch
  • .cd
  • .cdr
  • .cer
  • .cfg
  • .cfr
  • .cgf
  • .chk
  • .clr
  • .cms
  • .cod
  • .col
  • .cp
  • .cpp
  • .cr2
  • .crd
  • .crt
  • .crw
  • .cs
  • .csi
  • .cso
  • .css
  • .csv
  • .ctt
  • .cty
  • .cwf
  • .d3dbsp
  • .dal
  • .dap
  • .das
  • .dayzprofile
  • .dazip
  • .db0
  • .dbb
  • .dbf
  • .dbfv
  • .dbx
  • .dcp
  • .dcr
  • .dcu
  • .ddc
  • .ddcx
  • .dem
  • .der
  • .desc
  • .dev
  • .dex
  • .dic
  • .dif
  • .dii
  • .dir
  • .disk
  • .divx
  • .diz
  • .djvu
  • .dmg
  • .dmp
  • .dng
  • .dob
  • .doc
  • .docm
  • .docx
  • .dot
  • .dotm
  • .dotx
  • .dox
  • .dpk
  • .dpl
  • .dpr
  • .dsk
  • .dsp
  • .dvd
  • .dvi
  • .dvx
  • .dwg
  • .dxe
  • .dxf
  • .dxg
  • .elf
  • .epk
  • .eps
  • .eql
  • .erf
  • .err
  • .esm
  • .euc
  • .evo
  • .ex
  • .exif
  • .f90
  • .faq
  • .fcd
  • .fdr
  • .fds
  • .ff
  • .fla
  • .flac
  • .flp
  • .flv
  • .for
  • .forge
  • .fos
  • .fpk
  • .fpp
  • .fsh
  • .gam
  • .gdb
  • .gho
  • .gif
  • .grf
  • .gthr
  • .gz
  • .gzig
  • .gzip
  • .h3m
  • .h4r
  • .hkdb
  • .hkx
  • .hplg
  • .htm
  • .html
  • .hvpl
  • .ibank
  • .icxs
  • .idx
  • .ifo
  • .img
  • .indd
  • .ink
  • .ipa
  • .isu
  • .isz
  • .itdb
  • .itl
  • .itm
  • .iwd
  • .iwi
  • .jar
  • .jav
  • .java
  • .jc
  • .jfif
  • .jgz
  • .jif
  • .jiff
  • .jpc
  • .jpe
  • .jpeg
  • .jpf
  • .jpg
  • .jpw
  • .js
  • .json
  • .kdb
  • .kdc
  • .kf
  • .kmz
  • .kwd
  • .kwm
  • .layout
  • .lbf
  • .lbi
  • .lcd
  • .lcf
  • .ldb
  • .lgp
  • .litemod
  • .log
  • .lp2
  • .lrf
  • .ltm
  • .ltr
  • .ltx
  • .lvl
  • .m2
  • .m2v
  • .m3u
  • .m4a
  • .mag
  • .man
  • .map
  • .max
  • .mbox
  • .mbx
  • .mcd
  • .mcgame
  • .mcmeta
  • .md
  • .md3
  • .mdb
  • .mdbackup
  • .mddata
  • .mdf
  • .mdl
  • .mdn
  • .mds
  • .mef
  • .menu
  • .mic
  • .mip
  • .mkv
  • .mlx
  • .mod
  • .mov
  • .moz
  • .mp3
  • .mp4
  • .mpeg
  • .mpg
  • .mpqge
  • .mrw
  • .mrwref
  • .msg
  • .msp
  • .mxp
  • .nav
  • .ncd
  • .ncf
  • .nds
  • .nef
  • .nfo
  • .now
  • .nrg
  • .nri
  • .nrw
  • .ntl
  • .odb
  • .odc
  • .odf
  • .odi
  • .odm
  • .odp
  • .ods
  • .odt
  • .odtb .oft
  • .oga
  • .ogg
  • .opf
  • .orf
  • .owl
  • .oxt
  • .p12
  • .p7b
  • .p7c
  • .pab
  • .pak
  • .pbf
  • .pbp
  • .pbs
  • .pcv
  • .pdd
  • .pdf
  • .pef
  • .pem
  • .pfx
  • .php
  • .pkb
  • .pkh
  • .pkpass
  • .pl
  • .plc
  • .pli
  • .pm
  • .png
  • .pot
  • .potm
  • .potx
  • .ppd
  • .ppf
  • .pps
  • .ppsm
  • .ppsx
  • .ppt
  • .pptm
  • .pptx
  • .prc
  • .prt
  • .psa
  • .psd
  • .psk
  • .pst
  • .ptx
  • .puz
  • .pwf
  • .pwi
  • .pwm
  • .pxp
  • .py
  • .qbb
  • .qdf
  • .qel
  • .qic
  • .qif
  • .qpx
  • .qtq
  • .qtr
  • .r3d
  • .ra
  • .raf
  • .rar
  • .raw
  • .rb
  • .re4
  • .res
  • .rev
  • .rgn
  • .rgss3a
  • .rim
  • .rng
  • .rofl
  • .rrt
  • .rsrc
  • .rsw
  • .rte
  • .rtf
  • .rts
  • .rtx
  • .rum
  • .run
  • .rv
  • .rw2
  • .rwl
  • .sad
  • .saf
  • .sav
  • .sb
  • .sc2save
  • .scm
  • .scn
  • .scx
  • .sdb
  • .sdc
  • .sdn
  • .sds
  • .sdt
  • .sen
  • .sfs
  • .sfx
  • .sh
  • .shar
  • .shr
  • .shw
  • .sid
  • .sidd
  • .sidn
  • .sie
  • .sis
  • .slm
  • .sln
  • .slt
  • .snp
  • .snx
  • .so
  • .spr
  • .sql
  • .sqx
  • .sr2
  • .srf
  • .srt
  • .srw
  • .ssa
  • .std
  • .stt
  • .stx
  • .sud
  • .sum
  • .svg
  • .svi
  • .svr
  • .swd
  • .swf
  • .syncdb
  • .t12
  • .t13
  • .tar
  • .tax
  • .tax2015
  • .tax2016
  • .tbz2
  • .tch
  • .tcx
  • .text
  • .tg
  • .thmx
  • .tif
  • .tlz
  • .tor
  • .tpu
  • .tpx
  • .trp
  • .tu
  • .tur
  • .txd
  • .txf
  • .txt
  • .uax
  • .udf
  • .umx
  • .unity3d
  • .unr
  • .unx
  • .uop
  • .upk
  • .upoi
  • .url
  • .usa
  • .usx
  • .ut2
  • .ut3
  • .utc
  • .utx
  • .uvx
  • .uxx
  • .val
  • .vc
  • .vcd
  • .vdf
  • .vdo
  • .ver
  • .vfs0
  • .vhd
  • .vmf
  • .vmt
  • .vob
  • .vpk
  • .vpp_pc
  • .vsi
  • .vtf
  • .w3g
  • .w3x
  • .wad
  • .war
  • .wav
  • .wave
  • .waw
  • .wb2
  • .wbk
  • .wdgt
  • .wks
  • .wm
  • .wma
  • .wmd
  • .wmdb
  • .wmmp
  • .wmo
  • .wmv
  • .wmx
  • .wotreplay
  • .wow
  • .wpd
  • .wpk
  • .wpl
  • .wps
  • .wsh
  • .wtd
  • .wtf
  • .wvx
  • .x3f
  • .xf
  • .xl
  • .xla
  • .xlam
  • .xlc
  • .xlk
  • .xll
  • .xlm
  • .xlr
  • .xls
  • .xlsb
  • .xlsm
  • .xlsx
  • .xltx
  • .xlv
  • .xlwx
  • .xml
  • .xpi
  • .xpt
  • .xvid
  • .xwd
  • .xxx
  • .yab
  • .yps
  • .z02
  • .z04
  • .zap
  • .zip
  • .zipx
  • .zoo
  • .ztmp

It renames encrypted files using the following names:

  • {filename}.fantom

NOTES:

This ransomware displays the following Fake Update screen while encrypting files in the background:

It has the following ransom note:

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.800

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

12.736.03

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

25 Aug 2016

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

12.737.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

26 Aug 2016

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

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\Policies\System
    • DisableTaskMgr = 1

Step 4

Search and delete this file

[ Learn More ]
There may be some files that are hidden. Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the "More advanced options" option to include all hidden files and folders in the search result.
%Application Data%\delback.bat
{Malware Path}\update.bat
%User Temp%\WindowsUpdate.exe

Step 5

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

Step 6

Restore encrypted files from backup.

Step 7

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as RANSOM_FANTOMCRYPT.A. 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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