Ransom.MSIL.CHAOS.D

 Analysis by: Jeffrey Francis Bonaobra

 ALIASES:

Ransom:MSIL/FileCoder.AD!MTB (MICROSOFT)

 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 with specific file extensions. It drops files as ransom note.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

223,744 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

21 Apr 2022

Payload:

Drops 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:

  • %Application Data%\Microsoft Edge.exe
  • {Available Drive aside C:}\Executer.exe

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

It drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\{9 random characters}.jpg → Used to replace wallpaper

(Note: %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:

  • to delete volume shadow copies:
    • C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet & wmic shadowcopy delete
  • to delete backup catalog:
    • C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C wbadmin delete catalog -quiet
  • to disable recovery mode:
    • C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C bcdedit /set {default} bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures & bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled no
  • to display ransom note:
    • C:\Windows\system32\NOTEPAD.EXE %Application Data%\READ_ME.txt

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

Autostart Technique

This Ransomware creates the following registry entries to enable automatic execution of dropped component at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Microsoft Store = %Application Data%\Microsoft Edge.exe

It drops the following shortcut pointing to its copy in the User Startup folder to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

  • %User Startup%\Microsoft Edge.url

(Note: %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows NT, C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 2003(32-bit), XP and 2000(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit), 10(64-bit).)

Other Details

This Ransomware does the following:

  • It encrypts files with file size below 2,117,152 bytes.
  • It randomly encrypts files with file size above 2,117,152 bytes rendering the file unusable.
  • It hijacks Windows clipboard to monitor crypto addresses; in event detected changes crypto address with the following:
    • {BLOCKED}118p9m8uezhqhyd7z459ajrk722yn8c5j4fg

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • .txt
  • .jar
  • .dat
  • .contact
  • .settings
  • .doc
  • .docx
  • .xls
  • .xlsx
  • .ppt
  • .pptx
  • .odt
  • .jpg
  • .mka
  • .mhtml
  • .oqy
  • .png
  • .csv
  • .py
  • .sql
  • .mdb
  • .php
  • .asp
  • .aspx
  • .html
  • .htm
  • .xml
  • .psd
  • .pdf
  • .xla
  • .cub
  • .dae
  • .indd
  • .cs
  • .mp3
  • .mp4
  • .dwg
  • .zip
  • .rar
  • .mov
  • .rtf
  • .bmp
  • .mkv
  • .avi
  • .apk
  • .lnk
  • .dib
  • .dic
  • .dif
  • .divx
  • .iso
  • .7zip
  • .ace
  • .arj
  • .bz2
  • .cab
  • .gzip
  • .lzh
  • .tar
  • .jpeg
  • .xz
  • .mpeg
  • .torrent
  • .mpg
  • .core
  • .pdb
  • .ico
  • .pas
  • .db
  • .wmv
  • .swf
  • .cer
  • .bak
  • .backup
  • .accdb
  • .bay
  • .p7c
  • .exif
  • .vss
  • .raw
  • .m4a
  • .wma
  • .flv
  • .sie
  • .sum
  • .ibank
  • .wallet
  • .css
  • .js
  • .rb
  • .crt
  • .xlsm
  • .xlsb
  • .7z
  • .cpp
  • .java
  • .jpe
  • .ini
  • .blob
  • .wps
  • .docm
  • .wav
  • .3gp
  • .webm
  • .m4v
  • .amv
  • .m4p
  • .svg
  • .ods
  • .bk
  • .vdi
  • .vmdk
  • .onepkg
  • .accde
  • .jsp
  • .json
  • .gif
  • .log
  • .gz
  • .config
  • .vb
  • .m1v
  • .sln
  • .pst
  • .obj
  • .xlam
  • .djvu
  • .inc
  • .cvs
  • .dbf
  • .tbi
  • .wpd
  • .dot
  • .dotx
  • .xltx
  • .pptm
  • .potx
  • .potm
  • .pot
  • .xlw
  • .xps
  • .xsd
  • .xsf
  • .xsl
  • .kmz
  • .accdr
  • .stm
  • .accdt
  • .ppam
  • .pps
  • .ppsm
  • .1cd
  • .3ds
  • .3fr
  • .3g2
  • .accda
  • .accdc
  • .accdw
  • .adp
  • .ai
  • .ai3
  • .ai4
  • .ai5
  • .ai6
  • .ai7
  • .ai8
  • .arw
  • .ascx
  • .asm
  • .asmx
  • .avs
  • .bin
  • .cfm
  • .dbx
  • .dcm
  • .dcr
  • .pict
  • .rgbe
  • .dwt
  • .f4v
  • .exr
  • .kwm
  • .max
  • .mda
  • .mde
  • .mdf
  • .mdw
  • .mht
  • .mpv
  • .msg
  • .myi
  • .nef
  • .odc
  • .geo
  • .swift
  • .odm
  • .odp
  • .oft
  • .orf
  • .pfx
  • .p12
  • .pl
  • .pls
  • .safe
  • .tab
  • .vbs
  • .xlk
  • .xlm
  • .xlt
  • .xltm
  • .svgz
  • .slk
  • .tar.gz
  • .dmg
  • .ps
  • .psb
  • .tif
  • .rss
  • .key
  • .vob
  • .epsp
  • .dc3
  • .iff
  • .onepkg
  • .onetoc2
  • .opt
  • .p7b
  • .pam
  • .r3d

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

  • .{4 random characters}

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

  • {Encrypted Folder}\READ_ME.txt
  • %Application Data%\READ_ME.txt

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.800

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

17.518.04

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

21 Apr 2022

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

17.519.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

22 Apr 2022

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.XXPE50FFF055

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Microsoft Store = %Application Data%\Microsoft Edge.exe

Step 6

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.
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft Edge.exe
  • {Available Drive aside C:}\Executer.exe
  • %User Temp%\{9 random characters}.jpg
  • %User Startup%\Microsoft Edge.url
  • {Encrypted Folder}\READ_ME.txt
  • %Application Data%\READ_ME.txt

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Ransom.MSIL.CHAOS.D. 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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