Ransom.Win64.MEGAZORD.THHBIBC

September 19, 2023
 Analysis by: Jayvee Mark Villaroman
 ALIASES:

Ransom:Win32/Megazord.A!dha (MICROSOFT),

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Ransomware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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 drops files as ransom note.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

1,475,584 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

29 Aug 2023

Payload:

Disables AV, Encrypts files, Terminates processes

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 adds the following processes:

  • cmd.exe /c powershell-command \"Get-VM | Stop-VM -Force\"/C"

Process Termination

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

  • MSSQL$ISARS
  • MSSQL$MSFW
  • SQLAgent$ISARS
  • SQLAgent$MSFW
  • SQLBrowser
  • ReportServer$ISARS
  • SQLWriter
  • WinDefend
  • mr2kserv
  • MSExchangeADTopology
  • MSExchangeFBA
  • MSExchangeIS
  • MSExchangeSA
  • ShadowProtectSvc
  • SPAdminV4
  • SPTimerV4
  • SPTraceV4
  • SPUserCodeV4
  • SPWriterV4
  • SPSearch4
  • MSSQLServerADHelper100
  • IISADMIN
  • firebirdguardiandefaultinstance
  • ibmiasrw
  • QBCFMonitorService
  • QBVSS
  • QBPOSDBServiceV12
  • IBM Domino Server
  • IBM Domino Diagnostics
  • Simply Accounting Database Connection Manager
  • QuickBooks

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

  • veeam*
  • chrome*
  • iexplore*
  • firefox*
  • outlook*
  • excel*
  • taskmgr*
  • tasklist*
  • Ntrtscan*
  • ds_monitor*
  • Notifier*
  • putty*
  • ssh*
  • TmListen*
  • iVPAgent*
  • CNTAoSMgr*
  • IBM*
  • bes10*
  • black*
  • robo*
  • copy*
  • store.exe
  • sql*
  • vee*
  • wrsa*
  • wrsa.exe
  • postg*
  • sage*
  • mysql*

Other Details

This Ransomware accepts the following parameters:

  • --path : Start path
  • --id : Build ID
  • --threads : Number of threads (1-1000). Default value is the number of logical CPU cores
  • --ep : Encryption percentage. Default 15%
  • --logs : Print logs. Valid values for: trace, debug, error, info, warn. Default: off
  • -h, --help : Show help

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware appends the following extension to the file name of the encrypted files:

  • .powerranges

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

  • {Encrypted directory}\powerranges.txt

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.800

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

18.664.02

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

29 Aug 2023

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

18.665.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

30 Aug 2023

Step 1

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 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

Identify and terminate files detected as Ransom.Win64.MEGAZORD.THHBIBC

[ Learn More ]
  1. Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
  2. If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
  3. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

Step 4

Search and delete these files

[ 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.
  • {Encrypted directory}\powerranges.txt 

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Ransom.Win64.MEGAZORD.THHBIBC. 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:

Step 6

Restore encrypted files from backup.


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