RANSOM_CRYPTESLA.YUYAJK

March 16, 2016
 Analysis by: Janus Agcaoili
 ALIASES:

Ransom:Win32/Tescrypt.H (Microsoft), Ransom.TeslaCrypt (Malwarebytes), Win32.Trojan.Crypt.Glw (Tencent)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware

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 deletes itself after execution. It is capable of encrypting files in the affected system.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

347,278 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

15 Mar 2016

Payload:

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 the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Windows%\{random file name}.exe

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{random characters} = "C:\WINDOWS\system32\CMD.EXE /c start %Windows%\{random file name}.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
system
EnableLinkedConnections = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\zzzsys
ID = "{hex values}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{random alphanumeric characters}
data = "{hex values}"

Dropping Routine

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %User Profile%\My Documents\recover_file_{random characters}.txt
  • {directory with encrypted files}\_ReCoVeRy_+{5 random characters}.html
  • {directory with encrypted files}\_ReCoVeRy_+{5 random characters}.txt
  • {directory with encrypted files}\_ReCoVeRy_+{5 random characters}.png

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.95.93/~deveconomytravel/cache/binstr.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}2.com/wp-content/plugins/ajax-admin/binstr.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}our.com/blog//wp-content/themes/berlinproof/binstr.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}lfreaknetworks.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/binstr.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}raining.com/wp-includes/theme-compat/wcspng.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}lfreaknetworks.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/wcspng.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}lfreaknetworks.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/wcspng.php

It renames encrypted files using the following names:

  • {filepath}\{file name}.{extension}.mp3

It deletes itself after execution.

It is capable of encrypting files in the affected system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.8

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

12.402.07

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

14 Mar 2016

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

12.403.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

15 Mar 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

Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.

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
    • {random characters} = "C:\WINDOWS\system32\CMD.EXE /c start %Windows%\{random file name}.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
    • EnableLinkedConnections = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\zzzsys
    • ID = "{random values}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{random alphanumeric characters}
    • data = "{random values}"

Step 5

Search and delete these components

[ Learn More ]
There may be some components 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.
  • {directory with encrypted files}\_ReCoVeRy_+{5 random characters}.html
  • {directory with encrypted files}\_ReCoVeRy_+{5 random characters}.txt
  • {directory with encrypted files}\_ReCoVeRy_+{5 random characters}.png
  • %User Profile%\My Documents\recover_file_{random characters}.txt

Step 6

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