Ransom.Win32.LOCKBIT.EOC

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

It executes then deletes itself afterward.

It does not have any backdoor routine.

It does not have any information-stealing capability.

It drops files as ransom note. It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions.

Arrival Details

This Ransomware 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 Ransomware drops the following files:

• {Drive Letter}:\{Random characters}.lock
• %System%\{Random characters}.ico → icon used for encrypted files
• %User Temp%\{Random characters}.tmp.bmp → image used as wallpaper after encryption

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.. %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It adds the following processes:

• "%System%\cmd.exe" /c vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet & wmic shadowcopy delete & bcdedit /set {default} bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures & bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled no
• "%System%\mshta.exe" "%Desktop%\LockBit_Ransomware.hta" {1E460BD7-F1C3-4B2E-88BF-4E770A288AF5}{1E460BD7-F1C3-4B2E-88BF-4E770A288AF5}
• "%System%\cmd.exe" /C ping 127.0.0.7 -n 3 > Nul & fsutil file setZeroData offset=0 length=524288 "{Malware Path}\{Malware Filename}.exe" & Del /f /q "{Malware Path}\{Malware Filename}.exe"

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.. %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It executes then deletes itself afterward.

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

• {2616EB00-2616-3573-8C49-ECBDBD33ECCC}

Autostart Technique

This Ransomware adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{GUID} = "{Malware Path}\{Malware File Name}" → deleted after successful encryption

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{GUID} = "%Desktop%\LockBit_Ransomware.hta" → to enable automatic display of dropped .hta file

Other System Modifications

This Ransomware adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lockbit
(Default) = LockBit

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Lockbit
(Default) = LockBit Class

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Lockbit\DefaultIcon
(Default) = %System%\{random}.ico

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Lockbit\shell\
Open\Command
(Default) = %System%\mshta.exe %Desktop%\LockBit_Ransomware.hta

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\40D9EB00167349
Private = {Generated session key}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\40D9EB00167349
Public = {Generated session key}

It changes the desktop wallpaper by modifying the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
WallpaperStyle = 2

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
TileWallpaper = 0

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
Wallpaper = %User Temp%\{4 Random Characters}.tmp.bmp

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

Backdoor Routine

This Ransomware does not have any backdoor routine.

Rootkit Capabilities

This Ransomware does not have rootkit capabilities.

Process Termination

This Ransomware terminates the following services if found on the affected system:

• AcronisAgent
• AcrSch2Svc
• ARSM
• backup
• BackupExecAgentAccelerator
• BackupExecAgentBrowser
• BackupExecDiveciMediaService
• BackupExecJobEngine
• BackupExecManagementService
• BackupExecRPCService
• BackupExecVSSProvider
• bedbg
• CAARCUpdateSvc
• CASAD2DWebSvc
• ccEvtMgr
• ccSetMgr
• Culserver
• dbeng8
• dbsrv12
• DefWatch
• FishbowlMySQL
• Intuit.QuickBooks.FCS
• memtas
• mepocs
• MSExchange
• MSExchange$
• msftesql-Exchange
• msmdsrv
• MSSQL
• MSSQL$
• MSSQL$KAV_CS_ADMIN_KIT
• MSSQL$MICROSOFT##SSEE
• MSSQL$MICROSOFT##WID
• MSSQL$MICROSOFT##WID
• MSSQL$SBSMONITORING
• MSSQL$SHAREPOINT
• MSSQL$VEEAMSQL2012
• MSSQLFDLauncher$SBSMONITORING
• MSSQLFDLauncher$SHAREPOINT
• MSSQLServerADHelper100
• MVArmor
• MVarmor64
• MySQL57
• PDVFSService
• QBCFMonitorService
• QBFCService
• QBIDPService
• QBVSS
• RTVscan
• SavRoam
• sophos
• sql
• sqladhlp
• SQLADHLP
• sqlagent
• SQLAgent$KAV_CS_ADMIN_KIT
• SQLAgent$SBSMONITORING
• SQLAgent$SHAREPOINT
• SQLAgent$VEEAMSQL2012
• sqlbrowser
• SQLBrowser
• Sqlservr
• SQLWriter
• stc_raw_agent
• svc$
• tomcat6
• veeam
• VeeamDeploymentService
• VeeamNFSSvc
• VeeamTransportSvc
• vmware-converter
• vmware-usbarbitator64
• VSNAPVSS
• vss
• wrapper
• WSBExchange
• YooBackup
• YooIT
• zhudongfangyu

It terminates the following processes if found running in the affected system's memory:

• 360doctor
• 360se
• acwebbrowser
• ADExplorer
• ADExplorer64
• ADExplorer64a
• Adobe CEF
• Adobe Desktop Service
• AdobeCollabSync
• AdobeIPCBroker
• agntsvc
• AutodeskDesktopApp
• Autoruns
• Autoruns64
• Autoruns64a
• Autorunsc
• Autorunsc64
• Autorunsc64a
• avz
• axlbridge
• bedbh
• benetns
• bengien
• beserver
• BrCcUxSys
• BrCtrlCntr
• CagService
• CoreSync
• Creative Cloud
• Culture
• dbeng50
• dbsnmp
• Defwatch
• DellSystemDetect
• dumpcap
• encsvc
• EnterpriseClient
• excel
• fbguard
• fbserver
• fdhost
• fdlauncher
• GDscan
• GlassWire
• GWCtlSrv
• Helper
• httpd
• infopath
• InputPersonalization
• isqlplussvc
• j0gnjko1
• java
• koaly-exp-engine-service
• msaccess
• MsDtSrvr
• mspub
• mydesktopqos
• mydesktopservice
• mysqld
• node
• notepad
• notepad++
• ocautoupds
• ocomm
• ocssd
• onenote
• ONENOTEM
• oracle
• outlook
• powerpnt
• ProcessHacker
• Procexp
• Procexp64
• procexp64a
• procmon
• procmon64
• procmon64a
• pvlsvr
• QBDBMgr
• QBDBMgrN
• QBIDPService
• qbupdate
• QBW32
• Raccine
• Raccine_x86
• RaccineElevatedCfg
• RaccineSettings
• RAgui
• raw_agent_svc
• RdrCEF
• RTVscan
• sam
• Simply
• SimplyConnectionManager
• sqbcoreservice
• sqlbrowser
• sqlmangr
• Sqlservr
• Ssms
• steam
• supervise
• sync-taskbar
• synctime
• sync-worker
• Sysmon
• Sysmon64
• SystemExplorer
• SystemExplorerService
• SystemExplorerService64
• SystemTrayIcon
• tbirdconfig
• tcpview
• tcpview64
• tcpview64a
• tdsskiller
• TeamViewer
• TeamViewer_Service
• thebat
• thunderbird
• TitanV
• tomcat6
• Totalcmd
• Totalcmd64
• tv_w32
• tv_x64
• VeeamDeploymentSvc
• visio
• vsnapvss
• vxmon
• wdswfsafe
• winword
• WireShark
• wordpad
• wsa_service
• wxServer
• wxServerView
• xfssvccon
• ZhuDongFangYu

Information Theft

This Ransomware does not have any information-stealing capability.

Other Details

This Ransomware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\40D9EB00167349

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lockbit

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Lockbit

It does the following:

• It retrieves the computer's default language and geoID, then terminates itself if any of the following languages or locations are found:
  • Azerbaijani (Cyrillic, Azerbaijan)
  • Azerbaijani (Latin, Azerbaijan)
  • Armenian (Armenia)
  • Belarusian (Belarus)
  • Georgian (Georgia)
  • Kazakh (Kazakhstan)
  • Kyrgyz (Kyrgyzstan)
  • Russian (Moldova)
  • Russian (Russia)
  • Tajik (Cyrillic, Tajikistan)
  • Turkmen (Turkmenistan)
  • Uzbek (Cyrillic, Uzbekistan)
  • Uzbek (Latin, Uzbekistan)
  • Ukrainian (Ukraine)
• It encrypts files found in the following drive types:
  • Fixed drive
  • Removable drive
  • Network drive
  • RAM Disks
• It enumerates printers in the network to print the ransom note.
• It retrieves connected machines in the network using LDAP queries.
• It performs a group policy update to connected machines for propagation and execution.
• It creates a scheduled task with random file name to execute the copied ransomware and terminate processes.
• It bypasses UAC to escalate its privileges on infected machines.
• It modifies the following files inside the SYSVOL folder for modification of group policies:
  • Registry.pol
  • comment.cmtx
  • NetworkShares.xml
  • Services.xml
  • ScheduledTasks.xml
• It pushes the following group policy updates to disable malware protection on queried machines:
  • [Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender;DisableAntiSpyware]
  • [Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection;DisableRealtimeMonitoring]
  • [Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Spynet;SubmitSamplesConsent]
  • [Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Threats;Threats_ThreatSeverityDefaultAction]
  • [Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Threats\ThreatSeverityDefaultAction]
  • [Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\UX Configuration;Notification_Suppress]
• It drops copies of itself in the following directory of connected machines.
  • %Desktop%\{Random characters}.exe

(Note: %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It accepts the following parameters:

• {File Name or File Path to Encrypt} → if unspecified, the malware will infect all files except for the avoided ones.

It does not exploit any vulnerability.

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware avoids encrypting files with the following strings in their file name:

• autorun.inf
• bootsect.bak
• iconcache.db
• ntldr
• ntuser.dat.log
• Restore-My-Files.txt
• thumbs.db

It avoids encrypting files with the following strings in their file path:

• $recycle.bin
• $windows.~bt
• $windows.~ws
• all users
• appdata
• application data
• boot
• common files
• google
• intel
• internet explorer
• microsoft
• microsoft shared
• microsoft.net
• mozilla
• msbuild
• msocache
• opera
• perflogs
• system volume information
• tor browser
• windows
• windows journal
• windows nt
• windows.old

It appends the following extension to the file name of the encrypted files:

• .lockbit

It drops the following file(s) as ransom note:

• %Desktop%\LockBit_Ransomware.hta
  

It leaves text files that serve as ransom notes containing the following text:

• {Encrypted Directory}\Restore-My-Files.txt
  

It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions:

• .386
• .adv
• .ani
• .apk
• .app
• .bat
• .bin
• .cmd
• .com
• .cpl
• .cur
• .diagcab
• .diagcgf
• .diagpkg
• .dll
• .dmg
• .dmp
• .drv
• .exe
• .fnt
• .fon
• .gadget
• .hlp
• .hta
• .icns
• .ico
• .ics
• .idx
• .ini
• .ipa
• .iso
• .key
• .lnk
• .lock
• .lockbit
• .mod
• .mp3
• .mp4
• .mpa
• .msc
• .msi
• .msstyles
• .msp
• .msu
• .nls
• .ocx
• .otf
• .part
• .pif
• .prf
• .rdp
• .reg
• .rom
• .rtp
• .sfcache
• .shs
• .spl
• .sys
• .theme
• .tmp
• .ttf
• .wad
• .wav
• .wma
• .woff
• .wpx
• .xex