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Ransom.Win32.DARKSIDE.YXAH-THA

August 17, 2020
 Analysis by: Alyssa Christelle Ramos
 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:

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 drops files as ransom note. It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

17,408 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

12 Aug 2020

Payload:

Encrypts files, Displays message/message boxes, 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 drops the following files:

  • {Malware Directory}\LOG.{Appended Extension}.TXT ? Log File

Process Termination

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

  • vss
  • sql
  • svc$
  • memtas
  • mepocs
  • sophos
  • veeam
  • backup

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

  • sql
  • oracle
  • ocssd
  • dbsnmp
  • synctime
  • agntsvc
  • isqlplussvc
  • xfssvccon
  • mydesktopservice
  • ocautoupds
  • encsvc
  • firefox
  • tbirdconfig
  • mydesktopqos
  • ocomm
  • dbeng50
  • sqbcoreservice
  • excel
  • infopath
  • msaccess
  • mspub
  • onenote
  • outlook
  • powerpnt
  • steam
  • thebat
  • thunderbird
  • visio
  • winword
  • wordpad
  • notepad

Other Details

This Ransomware does the following:

  • It checks if its privilege level is on SYSTEM level. If it is, it will impersonate the user that ran the first explorer.exe it has found.
  • It searches for files to encrypt in fixed drives, removable drives, and network resources.
  • It is capable of deleting shadow copies.
  • It is capable of emptying Recycle Bin.

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware avoids encrypting files with the following strings in their file name:

  • autorun.inf
  • boot.ini
  • bootfont.bin
  • bootsect.bak
  • desktop.ini
  • iconcache.db
  • ntldr
  • ntuser.dat
  • ntuser.dat.log
  • ntuser.ini
  • thumbs.db
  • LOG.{Appended Extension}.TXT
  • README.{Appended extension}.TXT

It avoids encrypting files with the following strings in their file path:

  • $recycle bin
  • config.msi
  • $windows.~bt
  • $windows.~ws
  • windows
  • appdata
  • application data
  • boot
  • google
  • mozilla
  • program files
  • program files (x86)
  • program data
  • system volume information
  • tor browser
  • windows.old
  • intel
  • msocache
  • perflogs
  • x64dbg
  • public
  • all users
  • default

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

  • .{Generated Characters from Mac Address}

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

  • {Encrypted Directory}\README.{Appended Extension}.TXT

It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions:

  • .386
  • .adv
  • .ani
  • .bat
  • .cab
  • .cmd
  • .com
  • .cpl
  • .cur
  • .deskthemepack
  • .diagcab
  • .diagcfg
  • .diagpkg
  • .dll
  • .drv
  • .exe
  • .hlp
  • .icl
  • .icns
  • .ico
  • .ics
  • .idx
  • .ldf
  • .lnk
  • .mod
  • .mpa
  • .msc
  • .msp
  • .msstyles
  • .msunls
  • .nomedia
  • .ocx
  • .prf
  • .ps1
  • .rom
  • .rtp
  • .scr
  • .sys
  • .theme
  • .themepack
  • .wpx
  • .lock
  • .key
  • .hta
  • .msi
  • .pdb
  • .{Appended Extension}

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

16.170.06

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

17 Aug 2020

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

16.171.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

18 Aug 2020

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.XXPE50FFF036

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

Identify and terminate files detected as Ransom.Win32.DARKSIDE.YXAH-THA

[ 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 5

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.
  • LOG.{Appended Extension}.TXT
  • README.{Appended extension}.TXT

Step 6

Restore encrypted files from backup.


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