Ransom.Win64.HEXALOCK.THGCOBD

January 07, 2025
 Analysis by: John Rainier Navato
 ALIASES:

Ransom:Win32/Filecoder!MSR (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 found in specific folders. It drops files as ransom note.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

7,461,888 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

30 Jul 2024

Payload:

Connects to URLs/IPs, Encrypts files, Steals information

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:

  • wmic csproduct get UUID
  • notepad %Desktop%\ReadMe.txt

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

Information Theft

This Ransomware gathers the following data:

  • Machine UUID
  • Machine IP Address
  • Computer Name

Stolen Information

This Ransomware sends the gathered information via HTTP POST to the following URL:

  • https://{BLOCKED}ategray-baboon-853641.hostingersite.com/index.php

Other Details

This Ransomware encrypts files with the following extensions:

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

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware encrypts files found in the following folders:

  • %System Root%\Users

(Note: %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.)

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

  • .hexalocker

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

  • %Desktop%\ReadMe.txt

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.800

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

19.498.04

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

30 Jul 2024

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

19.499.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

31 Jul 2024

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.XXPE50FFF088

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

Search and delete this file

[ 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.
  • %Desktop%\ReadMe.txt

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Ransom.Win64.HEXALOCK.THGCOBD. 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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