Ransom.MSIL.HONEY.A

June 23, 2023
 Analysis by: John Rainier Navato
 ALIASES:

Gen:Heur.Ransom.HiddenTears.1 (BITDEFENDER)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Ransomware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware

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 encrypts files found in specific folders.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

26,624 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

22 Jun 2023

Payload:

Drops files, Displays message/message boxes, 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 files:

  • %AppDataLocal%\key.bin ← file attribute set to hidden; used in generating decryption key (deleted after decryption)
  • %AppDataLocal%\iv.bin ← file attribute set to hidden; used in generating decryption key (deleted after decryption)
  • %AppData%\PersonalKey2.bin ← decryption key
  • %Desktop%\key.bin ← used in generating decryption key
  • %Desktop%\iv.bin ← used in generating decryption key

(Note: %AppDataLocal% is the Local Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %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).)

Other Details

This Ransomware does the following:

  • It displays a GUI showing the ransom note and file decryptor.


  • It can also list the files that it has encrypted.

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware encrypts files found in the following folders:

  • %Desktop%

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

  • .Honey

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.800

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

18.524.05

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

22 Jun 2023

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

18.525.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

23 Jun 2023

Step 1

Trend Micro Predictive Machine Learning detects and blocks malware at the first sign of its existence, before it executes on your system. When enabled, your Trend Micro product detects this malware under the following machine learning name:

     
    • TROJ.Win32.TRX.XXPE50FFF069

Step 2

Before doing any scans, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.

Step 3

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 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.
  • %AppDataLocal%\key.bin
  • %AppDataLocal%\iv.bin
  • %AppData%\PersonalKey2.bin
  • %Desktop%\key.bin
  • %Desktop%\iv.bin

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Ransom.MSIL.HONEY.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 the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:


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