Ransom.MSIL.ZORAB.A

 Analysis by: Mohammed Malubay

 ALIASES:

Ransom:Win32/Zorba.AA!MTB(MICROSOFT); HEUR:Trojan.MSIL.DOTHETUK.gen(KASPERSKY); Ransom.Zorab(MALWAREBYTES);

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Ransomware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Dropped by other malware, 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 an AUTORUN.INF file to automatically execute the copies it drops when a user accesses the drives of an affected system.

It deletes itself after execution.

It encrypts files found in specific folders. It drops files as ransom note.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

Payload:

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 adds the following processes:

  • vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all /quiet
  • wmic.exe shadowcopy delete
  • bcdedit /set {default} bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures
  • bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled no
  • wbadmin delete catalog -quiet

Other System Modifications

This Ransomware adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ShortCutInfection
sp.sp = True

Propagation

This Ransomware drops the following copies of itself in all physical and removable drives:

  • {drive letter}:\bot.exe

It drops an AUTORUN.INF file to automatically execute the copies it drops when a user accesses the drives of an affected system.

The said .INF file contains the following strings:

[autorun]
open=C:\bot.exe
shellexecute=C:\

Other Details

This Ransomware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ShortCutInfection

It encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • .1cd
  • .3d
  • .3d4
  • .3df8
  • .3ds
  • .3fr
  • .3g2
  • .3gp
  • .3gp2
  • .3mm
  • .3pr
  • .7z
  • .7zip
  • .aac
  • .ab4
  • .abk
  • .abw
  • .ac3
  • .accdb
  • .accde
  • .accdr
  • .accdt
  • .ace
  • .ach
  • .acr
  • .act
  • .adb
  • .ade
  • .adi
  • .adp
  • .adpb
  • .adr
  • .ads
  • .adt
  • .aes
  • .agdl
  • .ai
  • .aiff
  • .aim
  • .aip
  • .ais
  • .ait
  • .al
  • .amf
  • .amr
  • .amu
  • .amx
  • .amxx
  • .ans
  • .aoi
  • .ap
  • .ape
  • .api
  • .apj
  • .arc
  • .ari
  • .arj
  • .aro
  • .arr
  • .arw
  • .asa
  • .asc
  • .ascx
  • .ase
  • .asf
  • .ashx
  • .asm
  • .asmx
  • .asp
  • .aspx
  • .asr
  • .asx
  • .avi
  • .avs
  • .awg
  • .back
  • .backup
  • .backupdb
  • .bak
  • .bat
  • .bay
  • .bck
  • .bdb
  • .bdp
  • .bdr
  • .bgt
  • .bib
  • .bic
  • .big
  • .bik
  • .bin
  • .bkf
  • .bkp
  • .blend
  • .blp
  • .bmc
  • .bmf
  • .bml
  • .bmp
  • .boc
  • .bp2
  • .bp3
  • .bpl
  • .bpw
  • .brd
  • .bsp
  • .bz2
  • .c
  • .cag
  • .cam
  • .cap
  • .car
  • .cbproj
  • .cbr
  • .cbz
  • .cc
  • .ccd
  • .cch
  • .cd
  • .cdf
  • .cdr
  • .cdr3
  • .cdr4
  • .cdr5
  • .cdr6
  • .cdrw
  • .cdx
  • .ce1
  • .ce2
  • .cer
  • .cfg
  • .cgf
  • .cgm
  • .chk
  • .cib
  • .class
  • .clr
  • .cls
  • .cmd
  • .cms
  • .cmt
  • .cod
  • .col
  • .com
  • .config
  • .contact
  • .cp
  • .cpi
  • .cpp
  • .cr2
  • .craw
  • .crd
  • .crt
  • .crw
  • .cs
  • .csh
  • .csi
  • .csl
  • .cso
  • .csproj
  • .csr
  • .css
  • .csv
  • .ctt
  • .cty
  • .cwf
  • .dac
  • .dal
  • .dap
  • .dat
  • .db
  • .db3
  • .db_journal
  • .dbb
  • .dbf
  • .dbx
  • .dc2
  • .dch
  • .dcp
  • .dcr
  • .dcs
  • .dcu
  • .ddc
  • .ddcx
  • .ddd
  • .ddoc
  • .ddrw
  • .dds
  • .dem
  • .der
  • .des
  • .design
  • .dev
  • .dex
  • .dgc
  • .dic
  • .dif
  • .dii
  • .dip
  • .dir
  • .disk
  • .dit
  • .divx
  • .diz
  • .djv
  • .djvu
  • .dll
  • .dmg
  • .dng
  • .dob
  • .doc
  • .docb
  • .docm
  • .docx
  • .dot
  • .dotm
  • .dotx
  • .dox
  • .dpk
  • .dpl
  • .dpr
  • .drf
  • .drw
  • .dsk
  • .dsp
  • .dtd
  • .dvd
  • .dvi
  • .dvx
  • .dwg
  • .dxb
  • .dxe
  • .dxf
  • .dxg
  • .edb
  • .elf
  • .eml
  • .eps
  • .eql
  • .erbsql
  • .erf
  • .err
  • .euc
  • .evo
  • .ex
  • .exe
  • .exf
  • .exif
  • .f90
  • .faq
  • .fcd
  • .fdb
  • .fdr
  • .fds
  • .ff
  • .ffd
  • .fff
  • .fh
  • .fhd
  • .fla
  • .flac
  • .flf
  • .flp
  • .flv
  • .flvv
  • .flvv
  • .for
  • .fpp
  • .fpx
  • .frm
  • .fxg
  • .gam
  • .gif
  • .gpg
  • .gray
  • .grey
  • .grf
  • .groups
  • .gry
  • .gthr
  • .gz
  • .gzig
  • .h
  • .h3m
  • .h4r
  • .hbk
  • .hdd
  • .hpp
  • .htm
  • .html
  • .hwp
  • .ibd
  • .ibz
  • .idx
  • .iif
  • .iiq
  • .img
  • .incpas
  • .indd
  • .ink
  • .ipa
  • .isu
  • .isz
  • .itdb
  • .itl
  • .iwd
  • .jar
  • .jav
  • .java
  • .jc
  • .jfif
  • .jgz
  • .jif
  • .jiff
  • .jnt
  • .jpc
  • .jpe
  • .jpeg
  • .jpf
  • .jpg
  • .jpw
  • .js
  • .kc2
  • .kdbx
  • .kdc
  • .key
  • .keywallet
  • .kmz
  • .kpdx
  • .kwd
  • .kwm
  • .laccdb
  • .lay
  • .lay6
  • .lbi
  • .lcd
  • .lcf
  • .ldb
  • .ldf
  • .lgp
  • .lit
  • .log
  • .lp2
  • .ltm
  • .ltr
  • .lua
  • .lvl
  • .m
  • .m2ts
  • .m3u
  • .m4p
  • .m4v
  • .mag
  • .man
  • .map
  • .max
  • .mbox
  • .mbx
  • .mcd
  • .md
  • .md3
  • .mdb
  • .mdc
  • .mdf
  • .mdl
  • .mdn
  • .mds
  • .mef
  • .mfw
  • .mic
  • .mid
  • .mip
  • .mkv
  • .mlb
  • .mlx
  • .mml
  • .mmw
  • .mny
  • .mod
  • .mos
  • .mov
  • .moz
  • .mp3
  • .mp4
  • .mpeg
  • .mpg
  • .mrw
  • .ms11
  • .msg
  • .msp
  • .mxp
  • .myd
  • .myi
  • .nav
  • .ncd
  • .nd
  • .ndd
  • .ndf
  • .nds
  • .nef
  • .nfo
  • .nk2
  • .nop
  • .now
  • .nrg
  • .nri
  • .nrw
  • .ns2
  • .ns3
  • .ns4
  • .nsd
  • .nsf
  • .nsg
  • .nsh
  • .nvram
  • .nwb
  • .nx2
  • .nxl
  • .nyf
  • .oab
  • .obj
  • .odb
  • .odc
  • .odf
  • .odg
  • .odi
  • .odm
  • .odp
  • .ods
  • .odt
  • .oft
  • .oga
  • .ogg
  • .oil
  • .opf
  • .orf
  • .ost
  • .otg
  • .oth
  • .otp
  • .ots
  • .ott
  • .owl
  • .oxt
  • .p12
  • .p7b
  • .p7c
  • .pab
  • .pages
  • .pak
  • .paq
  • .pas
  • .pat
  • .pbf
  • .pbp
  • .pbs
  • .pcd
  • .pct
  • .pcv
  • .pdb
  • .pdd
  • .pdf
  • .pef
  • .pem
  • .pfx
  • .php
  • .pif
  • .pkb
  • .pkh
  • .pl
  • .plc
  • .pli
  • .plus_muhd
  • .pm
  • .png
  • .pot
  • .potm
  • .potx
  • .ppam
  • .ppd
  • .ppf
  • .pps
  • .ppsm
  • .ppsx
  • .ppt
  • .pptm
  • .pptx
  • .prc
  • .prf
  • .prt
  • .ps
  • .psa
  • .psafe3
  • .psd
  • .pst
  • .ptx
  • .puz
  • .pwf
  • .pwi
  • .pwm
  • .pxp
  • .py
  • .python
  • .qba
  • .qbb
  • .qbm
  • .qbr
  • .qbw
  • .qbx
  • .qby
  • .qcow
  • .qcow2
  • .qdf
  • .qed
  • .qel
  • .qif
  • .qpx
  • .qtq
  • .qtr
  • .r3d
  • .ra
  • .raf
  • .rar
  • .rat
  • .raw
  • .rdb
  • .res
  • .rev
  • .rgn
  • .rm
  • .rng
  • .rrt
  • .rsrc
  • .rsw
  • .rte
  • .rtf
  • .rts
  • .rtx
  • .rum
  • .run
  • .rv
  • .rvt
  • .rw2
  • .rwl
  • .rwz
  • .s3db
  • .sad
  • .saf
  • .safe
  • .sas7bdat
  • .sav
  • .save
  • .say
  • .sch
  • .scm
  • .scn
  • .scx
  • .sd0
  • .sda
  • .sdb
  • .sdc
  • .sdf
  • .sdn
  • .sds
  • .sdt
  • .sen
  • .sfs
  • .sfx
  • .sh
  • .shar
  • .shr
  • .shw
  • .sldm
  • .sldx
  • .slk
  • .sln
  • .slt
  • .snp
  • .so
  • .spr
  • .sql
  • .sqlite
  • .sqlite3
  • .sqlitedb
  • .sqx
  • .sr2
  • .srf
  • .srt
  • .srw
  • .ssa
  • .st4
  • .st5
  • .st6
  • .st7
  • .st8
  • .stc
  • .std
  • .sti
  • .stm
  • .stt
  • .stw
  • .stx
  • .sud
  • .svg
  • .svi
  • .svr
  • .swd
  • .swf
  • .sxc
  • .sxd
  • .sxg
  • .sxi
  • .sxm
  • .sxw
  • .tar
  • .tax2013
  • .tax2014
  • .tbk
  • .tbz2
  • .tch
  • .tcx
  • .tex
  • .text
  • .tg
  • .tga
  • .tgz
  • .thm
  • .thmx
  • .tif
  • .tiff
  • .tlg
  • .tlz
  • .tpu
  • .tpx
  • .trp
  • .tu
  • .tur
  • .txd
  • .txf
  • .txt
  • .uax
  • .udf
  • .umx
  • .unr
  • .unx
  • .uop
  • .uot
  • .upoi
  • .url
  • .usa
  • .usx
  • .ut2
  • .ut3
  • .utc
  • .utx
  • .uvx
  • .uxx
  • .val
  • .vbox
  • .vbproj
  • .vbs
  • .vc
  • .vcd
  • .vdi
  • .vdo
  • .ver
  • .vhd
  • .vhdx
  • .vmdk
  • .vmf
  • .vmsd
  • .vmt
  • .vmx
  • .vmxf
  • .vob
  • .vsi
  • .vtf
  • .w3g
  • .w3x
  • .wab
  • .wad
  • .wallet
  • .war
  • .wav
  • .wave
  • .waw
  • .wb2
  • .wbk
  • .wdgt
  • .wks
  • .wm
  • .wma
  • .wmd
  • .wmdb
  • .wmmp
  • .wmv
  • .wmx
  • .wow
  • .wpd
  • .wpk
  • .wpl
  • .wps
  • .wsh
  • .wtd
  • .wtf
  • .wvx
  • .x11
  • .x3f
  • .xis
  • .xl
  • .xla
  • .xlam
  • .xlc
  • .xlk
  • .xll
  • .xlm
  • .xlr
  • .xls
  • .xlsb
  • .xlsb,3dm
  • .xlsm
  • .xlsx
  • .xlt
  • .xltm
  • .xltx
  • .xlv
  • .xlw
  • .xlwx
  • .xml
  • .xpi
  • .xpt
  • .xvid
  • .xwd
  • .yab
  • .ycbcra
  • .yps
  • .yuv
  • .z02
  • .z04
  • .zap
  • .zip
  • .zipx
  • .zoo

It does the following:

  • Encrypts all removable and network drives

It deletes itself after execution.

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware encrypts files found in the following folders:

  • %User Profile%

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name} 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:

  • .ZRB

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

  • {Encrypted Directory}\--DECRYPT--ZORAB.txt

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

15.908.06

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

03 Jun 2020

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

15.909.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

04 Jun 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.XXPE50FFF035

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

Search and delete AUTORUN.INF files created by Ransom.MSIL.ZORAB.A that contain these strings

[ Learn More ]
  • [autorun]
  • open=C:\bot.exe
  • shellexecute=C:\

Step 6

Delete this registry key

[ 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\ShortCutInfection
    • (null)

Step 7

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\ShortCutInfection
    • sp.sp = True

Step 8

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.
  • {Drive Letter}:\bot.exe
  • {Drive Letter}:\AUTORUN.INF
  • {Encrypted Directory}\--DECRYPT--ZORAB.txt

Step 9

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Ransom.MSIL.ZORAB.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 this Knowledge Base page for more information.

Step 10

Restore encrypted files from backup.


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