RANSOM_CERBER.THAOBFL

 Analysis by: Carl Maverick Pascual

 ALIASES:

Ransom:Win32/FileCryptor (Microsoft) ; HEUR:Trojan.Win32.Generic (Kaspersky)

 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:

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 files as ransom note.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

281,123 bytes

File Type:

EXE

File Compression:

Nullsoft PiMP SFX

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

25 Mar 2018

Payload:

Terminates processes, Connects to URLs/IPs, 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 drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\tmp{4 random character}.bmp -> background image
  • %User Temp%\nav_left.png
  • %User Temp%\HPVH638AA.jpg
  • %User Temp%\xmlrpc.php1453586550.xml
  • %User Temp%\slicebox.css
  • %User Temp%\mat.3
  • %User Temp%\ns{5-random values}.tmp\System.dll

(Note: %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on 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.)

It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:

  • shell.{random values}

Other System Modifications

This Ransomware modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
Wallpaper = %User Temp%\tmp{4 random character}.bmp

Process Termination

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

  • agntsvc.exe
  • encsvc.exe
  • agntsvc.exe
  • isqlplussvc.exe
  • dbeng50.exe
  • dbsnmp.exe
  • fbserver.exe
  • firefoxconfig.exe
  • msftesql.exe
  • mydesktopqos.exe
  • mydesktopservice.exe
  • mysqld-nt.exe
  • mysqld-opt.exe
  • mysqld.exe
  • ocautoupds.exe
  • ocomm.exe
  • ocssd.exe
  • oracle.exe
  • sqbcoreservice.exe
  • sqlagent.exe
  • sqlbrowser.exe
  • sqlservr.exe
  • sqlwriter.exe
  • synctime.exe
  • tbirdconfig.exe
  • xfssvccon.exe

Other Details

This Ransomware encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • .123
  • .1cd
  • .3dm
  • .3ds
  • .3fr
  • .3g2
  • .3gp
  • .3pr
  • .602
  • .7z
  • .7zip
  • .aac
  • .ab4
  • .abd
  • .acc
  • .accdb
  • .accde
  • .accdr
  • .accdt
  • .ach
  • .acr
  • .act
  • .adb
  • .adp
  • .ads
  • .aes
  • .agdl
  • .ai
  • .aiff
  • .ait
  • .al
  • .aoi
  • .apj
  • .apk
  • .arc
  • .arw
  • .ascx
  • .asf
  • .asm
  • .asp
  • .aspx
  • .asset
  • .asx
  • .atb
  • .avi
  • .awg
  • .back
  • .backup
  • .backupdb
  • .bak
  • .bank
  • .bat
  • .bay
  • .bdb
  • .bgt
  • .bik
  • .bin
  • .bkp
  • .blend
  • .bmp
  • .bpw
  • .brd
  • .bsa
  • .bz2
  • .c
  • .cash
  • .cdb
  • .cdf
  • .cdr
  • .cdr3
  • .cdr4
  • .cdr5
  • .cdr6
  • .cdrw
  • .cdx
  • .ce1
  • .ce2
  • .cer
  • .cfg
  • .cfn
  • .cgm
  • .cib
  • .class
  • .cls
  • .cmd
  • .cmt
  • .config
  • .contact
  • .cpi
  • .cpp
  • .cr2
  • .craw
  • .crt
  • .crw
  • .cry
  • .cs
  • .csh
  • .csl
  • .csr
  • .css
  • .csv
  • .d3dbsp
  • .dac
  • .das
  • .dat
  • .db
  • .db3
  • .db_journal
  • .dbf
  • .dbx
  • .dc2
  • .dch
  • .dcr
  • .dcs
  • .ddd
  • .ddoc
  • .ddrw
  • .dds
  • .def
  • .der
  • .des
  • .design
  • .dgc
  • .dgn
  • .dif
  • .dip
  • .dit
  • .djv
  • .djvu
  • .dng
  • .doc
  • .docb
  • .docm
  • .docx
  • .dot
  • .dotm
  • .dotx
  • .drf
  • .drw
  • .dtd
  • .dwg
  • .dxb
  • .dxf
  • .dxg
  • .edb
  • .eml
  • .eps
  • .erbsql
  • .erf
  • .exf
  • .fdb
  • .ffd
  • .fff
  • .fh
  • .fhd
  • .fla
  • .flac
  • .flb
  • .flf
  • .flv
  • .forge
  • .fpx
  • .frm
  • .fxg
  • .gbr
  • .gho
  • .gif
  • .gpg
  • .gray
  • .grey
  • .groups
  • .gry
  • .gz
  • .h
  • .hbk
  • .hdd
  • .hpp
  • .html
  • .hwp
  • .ibank
  • .ibd
  • .ibz
  • .idx
  • .iif
  • .iiq
  • .incpas
  • .indd
  • .info
  • .info_
  • .iwi
  • .jar
  • .java
  • .jnt
  • .jpe
  • .jpeg
  • .jpg
  • .js
  • .json
  • .k2p
  • .kc2
  • .kdbx
  • .kdc
  • .key
  • .kpdx
  • .kwm
  • .laccdb
  • .lay
  • .lay6
  • .lbf
  • .lck
  • .ldf
  • .lit
  • .litemod
  • .litesql
  • .lock
  • .ltx
  • .lua
  • .m
  • .m2ts
  • .m3u
  • .m4a
  • .m4p
  • .m4u
  • .m4v
  • .ma
  • .mab
  • .mapimail
  • .max
  • .mbx
  • .md
  • .mdb
  • .mdc
  • .mdf
  • .mef
  • .mfw
  • .mid
  • .mkv
  • .mlb
  • .mml
  • .mmw
  • .mny
  • .money
  • .moneywell
  • .mos
  • .mov
  • .mp3
  • .mp4
  • .mpeg
  • .mpg
  • .mrw
  • .ms11
  • .msf
  • .msg
  • .mts
  • .myd
  • .myi
  • .nd
  • .ndd
  • .ndf
  • .nef
  • .nk2
  • .nop
  • .nrw
  • .ns2
  • .ns3
  • .ns4
  • .nsd
  • .nsf
  • .nsg
  • .nsh
  • .nvram
  • .nwb
  • .nx2
  • .nxl
  • .nyf
  • .oab
  • .obj
  • .odb
  • .odc
  • .odf
  • .odg
  • .odm
  • .odp
  • .ods
  • .odt
  • .ogg
  • .oil
  • .omg
  • .one
  • .onenotec2
  • .orf
  • .ost
  • .otg
  • .oth
  • .otp
  • .ots
  • .ott
  • .p12
  • .p7b
  • .p7c
  • .pab
  • .pages
  • .paq
  • .pas
  • .pat
  • .pbf
  • .pcd
  • .pct
  • .pdb
  • .pdd
  • .pdf
  • .pef
  • .pem
  • .pfx
  • .php
  • .pif
  • .pl
  • .plc
  • .plus_muhd
  • .pm
  • .pm!
  • .pmi
  • .pmj
  • .pml
  • .pmm
  • .pmo
  • .pmr
  • .pnc
  • .pnd
  • .png
  • .pnx
  • .pot
  • .potm
  • .potx
  • .ppam
  • .pps
  • .ppsm
  • .ppsx
  • .ppt
  • .pptm
  • .pptx
  • .prf
  • .private
  • .ps
  • .psafe3
  • .psd
  • .pspimage
  • .pst
  • .ptx
  • .pub
  • .pwm
  • .py
  • .qba
  • .qbb
  • .qbm
  • .qbr
  • .qbw
  • .qbx
  • .qby
  • .qcow
  • .qcow2
  • .qed
  • .qtb
  • .r3d
  • .raf
  • .rar
  • .rat
  • .raw
  • .rb
  • .rdb
  • .re4
  • .rm
  • .rtf
  • .rvt
  • .rw2
  • .rwl
  • .rwz
  • .s3db
  • .safe
  • .sas7bdat
  • .sav
  • .save
  • .say
  • .sch
  • .sd0
  • .sda
  • .sdb
  • .sdf
  • .secret
  • .sh
  • .sldm
  • .sldx
  • .slk
  • .slm
  • .sql
  • .sqlite
  • .sqlite-shm
  • .sqlite-wal
  • .sqlite3
  • .sqlitedb
  • .sr2
  • .srb
  • .srf
  • .srs
  • .srt
  • .srw
  • .st4
  • .st5
  • .st6
  • .st7
  • .st8
  • .stc
  • .std
  • .sti
  • .stl
  • .stm
  • .stw
  • .stx
  • .svg
  • .swf
  • .sxc
  • .sxd
  • .sxg
  • .sxi
  • .sxm
  • .sxw
  • .tar
  • .tax
  • .tbb
  • .tbk
  • .tbn
  • .tex
  • .tga
  • .tgz
  • .thm
  • .tif
  • .tiff
  • .tlg
  • .tlx
  • .txt
  • .uop
  • .uot
  • .upk
  • .usr
  • .vb
  • .vbox
  • .vbs
  • .vdi
  • .vhd
  • .vhdx
  • .vmdk
  • .vmsd
  • .vmx
  • .vmxf
  • .vob
  • .vpd
  • .vsd
  • .wab
  • .wad
  • .wallet
  • .war
  • .wav
  • .wb2
  • .wk1
  • .wks
  • .wma
  • .wmf
  • .wmv
  • .wpd
  • .wps
  • .x11
  • .x3f
  • .xis
  • .xla
  • .xlam
  • .xlc
  • .xlk
  • .xlm
  • .xlr
  • .xls
  • .xlsb
  • .xlsm
  • .xlsx
  • .xlt
  • .xltm
  • .xltx
  • .xlw
  • .xml
  • .xps
  • .xxx
  • .ycbcra
  • .yuv
  • .zip

It does the following:

  • This Ransomware connects to the following website to send and receive information:
    • ffoqr3ug7m726zou.{BLOCKED}i.top
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.20.0/27
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.12.0/27
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.24.0/23
  • It is configured to target related files under the following folders:
    • \bitcoin\
    • \excel\
    • \office\
    • \onenote\
    • \outlook\
    • \steam\
    • \word\
    • \microsoft\word\
    • \microsoft\powerpoint\
    • \microsoft\outlook\
    • \microsoft\office\
    • \microsoft\microsoft sql server\
    • \microsoft sql server\
    • \microsoft\excel
    • \powerpoint\
    • \the bat!\
    • \thunderbird\
  • It avoids infecting system with the following OS Language Code:
    • 1049 - Russian
    • 1058 - Ukrainian
    • 1059 - Belarusian
    • 1064 - Tajik (Cyrillic)
    • 1067 - Armenian
    • 1068 - Azeri (Latin)
    • 1079 - Georgian
    • 1087 - Kazakh
    • 1088 - Kyrgyz
    • 1090 - Turkmen
    • 1091 - Uzbek (Latin)
    • 1092 - Tatar
    • 2072 - Romanian (Moldova)
    • 2073 - Romanian (Romania)
    • 2092 - Azeri (Cyrillic)
    • 2115 - Uzbek (Cyrillic)
  • It avoids encrypting files with size less than 2560 bytes

Ransomware Routine

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

  • .hta
  • bootsect.bak
  • iconcache.db
  • ntuser.dat
  • thumbs.db

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

  • :\$getcurrent\
  • \$recycle.bin\
  • \$windows.~bt\
  • \$windows.~ws\
  • :\boot\
  • :\documents and settings\all users\
  • :\documents and settings\default user\
  • :\documents and settings\localservice\
  • :\documents and settings\networkservice\
  • :\intel\
  • :\msocache\
  • :\perflogs\
  • :\program files (x86)\
  • :\program files\
  • :\programdata\
  • :\recovery\
  • :\recycled\
  • :\recycler\
  • :\system volume information\
  • :\temp\
  • :\windows.old\
  • :\windows10upgrade\
  • :\windows\
  • :\winnt\
  • \appdata\local\
  • \appdata\locallow\
  • \appdata\roaming\
  • \local settings\
  • \public\music\sample music\
  • \public\pictures\samples pictures\
  • \public\videos\sample videos\
  • \tor browser\

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

  • {Encrypted directory}\_README_{random}.hta
  • {Encrypted directory}\_README_{random}.jpg

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

14.150.06

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

25 Mar 2018

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

14.151.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

26 Mar 2018

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

Identify and terminate files detected as RANSOM_CERBER.THAOBFL

[ 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 4

Restore this modified 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\Control Panel\Desktop
    • From: Wallpaper = %User Temp%\tmp{4 random characters}.bmp
      To: Wallpaper = ""

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.
  • %User Temp%\tmp{4 random character}.bmp
  • %User Temp%\nav_left.png
  • %User Temp%\HPVH638AA.jpg
  • %User Temp%\xmlrpc.php1453586550.xml
  • %User Temp%\slicebox.css
  • %User Temp%\mat.3
  • %User Temp%\ns{5-random values}.tmp\System.dll

Step 6

Restore encrypted files from backup.

Step 7

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as RANSOM_CERBER.THAOBFL. 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:


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