Ransom_TERMITE.THHBIAH

September 06, 2018
 Analysis by: John Rey Canon
 ALIASES:

Trojan-Ransom.Termite (Ikarus); Ransom.Termite (Malwarebytes)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Ransomware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Dropped by other malware, Downloaded from the Internet

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 is capable of encrypting files in the affected system.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

1,957,888 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

29 Aug 2018

Payload:

Displays windows, Encrypts files

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 copies of itself into the affected system and executes them:

  • %Windows%\Termite.exe

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

It drops and executes the following files:

  • %Desktop%\Payment.exe

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

It adds the following processes:

  • takeown /f "%Windows%\SysNative\mswsock.dll"
  • icacls "%Windows%\SysNative\mswsock.dll" /grant administrators:F
  • takeown /f "%Windows%\SysWOW64\mswsock.dll"
  • icacls "%Windows%\SysWOW64\mswsock.dll" /grant administrators:F

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

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

  • Termite
  • Payment

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
Termite.exe = %Windows%\Termite.exe

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Payment.exe = %Desktop%\Payment.exe

Other System Modifications

This Ransomware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
aaaaaa

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
aaaaaa\Shell

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
aaaaaa\Shell\Open

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
aaaaaa\Shell\Open\
Command

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
aaaaaa\DefaultIcon

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
.aaaaaa

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
Title = IOS hacker tissue

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
Content = {Text}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
PassWord = {Random Text}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
Tail = aaaaaa

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
savetime = {Date}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
aaaaaa
(Default) =

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
aaaaaa
EditFlags = 2

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
aaaaaa\Shell\Open\
Command
(Default) = "%Desktop%\Payment.exe" "%1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
aaaaaa\DefaultIcon
(Default) = %Desktop%\Payment.exe,0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
.aaaaaa
(Default) = aaaaaa

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
GlobalAssocChangedCounter = {Random Numbers}

Other Details

This Ransomware does the following:

  • It displays the following window as its ransom note:
  • It avoids encrypting files with the following extensions:
    • .exe
    • .dll
    • .lnk
    • .ini
    • .log
    • .tmp
    • .dat
  • It avoids encrypting in the following folder names:
    • %Windows%

It is capable of encrypting files in the affected system.

NOTES:

To decrypt the infected machine, use the password located in the registry:

  • Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft
  • Value: PassWord
  • Data: {your password}

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

14.472.03

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

29 Aug 2018

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

14.473.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

30 Aug 2018

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 key

[ 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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes
    • aaaaaa
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes
    • .aaaaaa

Step 5

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
    • Title = IOS hacker tissue
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
    • Content = {Text}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
    • PassWord = {Random Text}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
    • Tail = aaaaaa
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
    • savetime = {Date}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
    • GlobalAssocChangedCounter = {Random Numbers}

Step 6

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.
  • %Windows%\Termite.exe
  • %Desktop%\Payment.exe

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Ransom_TERMITE.THHBIAH. 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 8

Restore encrypted files from backup.


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