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RANSOM_LOCKY.IC

September 02, 2016
 Analysis by: Pearl Charlaine Espejo
 ALIASES:

Win32/Filecoder.Locky.C (ESET-NOD32); Trojan.Locky.bfy (Jiangmin); Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Locky.bkf (Kaspersky); Ransom:Win32/Locky (Microsoft); Trojan.Win32.S.Locky.262416[h] (ViRobot)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW


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 connects to certain websites to send and receive information. It deletes the initially executed copy of itself. It is capable of encrypting files in the affected system.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

262,416 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

19 Aug 2016

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 files:

  • {folders containing encrypted files}\_{count of dropped note per folder}_HELP_instructions.html - ransom note

It drops and executes the following files:

  • %Desktop%\_HELP_instructions.html - ransom note
  • %Desktop%\_HELP_instructions.bmp - image used as wallpaper

(Note: %Desktop% is the desktop folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Desktop in Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop in Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
Wallpaper = %Desktop%\_HELP_instructions.bmp

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • http://{Domain}/php/upload.php
    where {Domain} can be any of the following:
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.148.19
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.210.183
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.247.211
    • {Domain Generated Algorithm}.{ru, info, biz, click, su, work, pl, org, pw, xyz>

It renames encrypted files using the following names:

  • {unique ID per victim}-{identifier}.zepto

It deletes the initially executed copy of itself

It is capable of encrypting files in the affected system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.800

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

12.724.05

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

19 Aug 2016

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

12.725.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

20 Aug 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

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.  
  • {folders containing encrypted files}\_{count of dropped note per folder}_HELP_instructions.html
  • %Desktop%\_HELP_instructions.html
  • %Desktop%\_HELP_instructions.bmp

Step 5

Reset your Desktop properties

[ Learn More ]

Step 6

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as RANSOM_LOCKY.IC. 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 7

Restore encrypted files from backup.


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