RANSOM_HERMES.A

 Analysis by: Marvelous Pelin

 ALIASES:

Ransom.Hermes(Malwarebytes);

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Dropped by other malware, Downloaded from the Internet


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 deletes the initially executed copy of itself.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

111,896 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

16 Feb 2017

Payload:

Displays message/message boxes, Encrypts files

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 copies of itself into the affected system and executes them:

  • %All Users Profile%\Reload.exe

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\ProgramData 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 drops the following files:

  • %All Users Profile%\system_.bat
  • %All Users Profile%\shade.bat
  • {folders containing encrypted files}\UNIQUE_ID_DO_NOT_REMOVE
  • {folders containing encrypted files}\DECRYPT_INFORMATION.html - ransom note
  • {%Desktop%}\UNIQUE_ID_DO_NOT_REMOVE
  • {%Desktop%}\DECRYPT_INFORMATION.html - ransom note

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\ProgramData 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.. %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.)

Autostart Technique

This Trojan adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
sysrep = %All Users Profile%\Reload.exe

Other Details

This Trojan encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • .1cd
  • .3dm
  • .3ds
  • .4db
  • .4dl
  • .4mp
  • .7z
  • .a3d
  • .abm
  • .abs
  • .abw
  • .accdb
  • .act
  • .adn
  • .adp
  • .af2
  • .af3
  • .aft
  • .afx
  • .agif
  • .agp
  • .ahd
  • .ai
  • .aic
  • .aim
  • .albm
  • .alf
  • .ani
  • .ans
  • .apd
  • .apm
  • .apng
  • .aps
  • .apt
  • .apx
  • .art
  • .arw
  • .asc
  • .ase
  • .ask
  • .asw
  • .asy
  • .aty
  • .awdb
  • .awp
  • .awt
  • .aww
  • .azz
  • .bad
  • .bak
  • .bay
  • .bbs
  • .bdb
  • .bdp
  • .bdr
  • .bean
  • .bib
  • .bm2
  • .bmp
  • .bmx
  • .bna
  • .bnd
  • .boc
  • .bok
  • .brk
  • .brn
  • .brt
  • .bss
  • .btd
  • .bti
  • .btr
  • .c4
  • .c4d
  • .cal
  • .cals
  • .can
  • .cd
  • .cd5
  • .cdb
  • .cdc
  • .cdg
  • .cdmm
  • .cdmt
  • .cdmz
  • .cdr
  • .cdr3
  • .cdr4
  • .cdr6
  • .cdrw
  • .cdt
  • .cf
  • .cfu
  • .cgm
  • .cimg
  • .cin
  • .cit
  • .ckp
  • .clkw
  • .cma
  • .cmx
  • .cnm
  • .cnv
  • .colz
  • .cpc
  • .cpd
  • .cpg
  • .cps
  • .cpt
  • .cpx
  • .cr2
  • .crd
  • .crwl
  • .css
  • .csv
  • .csy
  • .ct
  • .cv5
  • .cvg
  • .cvi
  • .cvs
  • .cvx
  • .cwt
  • .cxf
  • .cyi
  • .dad
  • .daf
  • .dat
  • .db
  • .db2
  • .db3
  • .dbc
  • .dbf
  • .dbk
  • .dbs
  • .dbt
  • .dbv
  • .dbx
  • .dc2
  • .dca
  • .dcb
  • .dcr
  • .dcs
  • .dct
  • .dcx
  • .ddl
  • .ddoc
  • .dds
  • .ded
  • .df1
  • .dgn
  • .dgs
  • .dgt
  • .dhs
  • .dib
  • .diz
  • .djv
  • .djvu
  • .dm3
  • .dmi
  • .dmo
  • .dnc
  • .dne
  • .doc
  • .docm
  • .docx
  • .docz
  • .dot
  • .dotm
  • .dotx
  • .dp1
  • .dpp
  • .dpx
  • .dqy
  • .drw
  • .drz
  • .dsk
  • .dsn
  • .dsv
  • .dt
  • .dt2
  • .dta
  • .dtsx
  • .dtw
  • .dvi
  • .dvl
  • .dwg
  • .dx
  • .dxb
  • .dxf
  • .dxl
  • .eco
  • .ecw
  • .ecx
  • .edb
  • .efd
  • .egc
  • .eio
  • .eip
  • .eit
  • .emd
  • .emf
  • .emlx
  • .ep
  • .epf
  • .epp
  • .eps
  • .epsf
  • .eql
  • .erf
  • .err
  • .etf
  • .etx
  • .euc
  • .exr
  • .fal
  • .faq
  • .fax
  • .fb2
  • .fb3
  • .fbl
  • .fbx
  • .fcd
  • .fcf
  • .fdf
  • .fdr
  • .fds
  • .fdt
  • .fdx
  • .fdxt
  • .fes
  • .fft
  • .fh10
  • .fh11
  • .fh3
  • .fh4
  • .fh5
  • .fh6
  • .fh7
  • .fh8
  • .fic
  • .fid
  • .fif
  • .fig
  • .fil
  • .flc
  • .fli
  • .flr
  • .fm5
  • .fmv
  • .fodt
  • .fol
  • .fp3
  • .fp4
  • .fp5
  • .fp7
  • .fpos
  • .fpt
  • .fpx
  • .frm
  • .frt
  • .frx
  • .ft10
  • .ft11
  • .ft7
  • .ft8
  • .ft9
  • .ftn
  • .fwdn
  • .fxc
  • .fxg
  • .fzb
  • .fzv
  • .g3
  • .gcdp
  • .gdb
  • .gdoc
  • .gem
  • .geo
  • .gfb
  • .gfie
  • .ggr
  • .gif
  • .gih
  • .gim
  • .gio
  • .glox
  • .gpd
  • .gpn
  • .gro
  • .grob
  • .grs
  • .gsd
  • .gthr
  • .gtp
  • .gv
  • .gwi
  • .hbk
  • .hdb
  • .hdp
  • .hdr
  • .hht
  • .his
  • .hpg
  • .hpgl
  • .hpi
  • .hpl
  • .hs
  • .htc
  • .html
  • .hwp
  • .hz
  • .i3d
  • .ib
  • .icn
  • .icon
  • .icpr
  • .idc
  • .idea
  • .idx
  • .igt
  • .igx
  • .ihx
  • .iil
  • .iiq
  • .imd
  • .info
  • .ink
  • .ipf
  • .ipx
  • .itc2
  • .itdb
  • .itw
  • .iwi
  • .j
  • .j2c
  • .j2k
  • .jas
  • .jb2
  • .jbig
  • .jbmp
  • .jbr
  • .jfif
  • .jia
  • .jis
  • .jng
  • .joe
  • .jp1
  • .jp2
  • .jpe
  • .jpeg
  • .jpg
  • .jpg2
  • .jps
  • .jpx
  • .jrtf
  • .jtf
  • .jtx
  • .jwl
  • .jxr
  • .kdb
  • .kdbx
  • .kdc
  • .kdi
  • .kdk
  • .kes
  • .kic
  • .klg
  • .knt
  • .kon
  • .kpg
  • .kwd
  • .lbm
  • .lbt
  • .lgc
  • .lis
  • .lit
  • .ljp
  • .lmk
  • .lnt
  • .lp2
  • .lrc
  • .lst
  • .ltr
  • .ltx
  • .lue
  • .luf
  • .lwo
  • .lwp
  • .lws
  • .lyt
  • .lyx
  • .m3d
  • .ma
  • .mac
  • .man
  • .map
  • .maq
  • .mat
  • .max
  • .mb
  • .mbm
  • .mbox
  • .mdb
  • .mdf
  • .mdn
  • .mdt
  • .me
  • .mef
  • .mell
  • .mft
  • .mgcb
  • .mgmf
  • .mgmt
  • .mgmx
  • .mgtx
  • .min
  • .mmat
  • .mng
  • .mnr
  • .mnt
  • .mobi
  • .mos
  • .mpf
  • .mpo
  • .mrg
  • .mrxs
  • .msg
  • .mt9
  • .mud
  • .mwb
  • .mwp
  • .mxl
  • .myd
  • .myl
  • .ncr
  • .nct
  • .ndf
  • .nfo
  • .njx
  • .nlm
  • .now
  • .nrw
  • .ns2
  • .ns3
  • .ns4
  • .nsf
  • .nv2
  • .nyf
  • .nzb
  • .obj
  • .oc3
  • .oc4
  • .oc5
  • .oce
  • .oci
  • .ocr
  • .odb
  • .odm
  • .odo
  • .odp
  • .ods
  • .odt
  • .ofl
  • .oft
  • .omf
  • .oplc
  • .oqy
  • .ora
  • .orf
  • .ort
  • .orx
  • .ota
  • .otg
  • .oti
  • .ott
  • .ovp
  • .ovr
  • .owc
  • .owg
  • .oyx
  • .ozb
  • .ozj
  • .ozt
  • .p7s
  • .p96
  • .p97
  • .pal
  • .pan
  • .pano
  • .pap
  • .pbm
  • .pc1
  • .pc2
  • .pc3
  • .pcd
  • .pcs
  • .pcx
  • .pdb
  • .pdd
  • .pdf
  • .pdm
  • .pdn
  • .pds
  • .pdt
  • .pe4
  • .pef
  • .pff
  • .pfi
  • .pfs
  • .pfv
  • .pfx
  • .pgf
  • .pgm
  • .phm
  • .php
  • .pi1
  • .pi2
  • .pi3
  • .pic
  • .pict
  • .pix
  • .pjpg
  • .pjt
  • .pl
  • .plt
  • .pm
  • .pmg
  • .png
  • .pni
  • .pnm
  • .pntg
  • .pnz
  • .pobj
  • .pop
  • .pp4
  • .pp5
  • .ppm
  • .ppt
  • .pptm
  • .pptx
  • .prt
  • .prw
  • .ps
  • .psd
  • .psdx
  • .pse
  • .psid
  • .psp
  • .psw
  • .ptg
  • .pth
  • .ptx
  • .pu
  • .pvj
  • .pvm
  • .pvr
  • .pwa
  • .pwi
  • .pwr
  • .px
  • .pxr
  • .pz3
  • .pza
  • .pzp
  • .pzs
  • .qdl
  • .qmg
  • .qpx
  • .qry
  • .qvd
  • .rad
  • .rar
  • .ras
  • .raw
  • .rctd
  • .rcu
  • .rdb
  • .rdl
  • .rft
  • .rgb
  • .rgf
  • .rib
  • .ric
  • .riff
  • .ris
  • .rix
  • .rle
  • .rli
  • .rng
  • .rpd
  • .rpf
  • .rpt
  • .rri
  • .rs
  • .rsb
  • .rsd
  • .rsr
  • .rst
  • .rt
  • .rtd
  • .rtf
  • .rtx
  • .run
  • .rw2
  • .rwl
  • .rzk
  • .rzn
  • .s2mv
  • .s3m
  • .saf
  • .sai
  • .sam
  • .save
  • .sbf
  • .scad
  • .scc
  • .sci
  • .scm
  • .sct
  • .scv
  • .scw
  • .sdb
  • .sdf
  • .sdm
  • .sdoc
  • .sdw
  • .sep
  • .sfc
  • .sfw
  • .sgm
  • .sig
  • .sk1
  • .sk2
  • .skm
  • .sla
  • .sld
  • .sls
  • .smf
  • .smil
  • .sms
  • .sob
  • .spa
  • .spe
  • .sph
  • .spj
  • .spp
  • .spq
  • .spr
  • .sqb
  • .sql
  • .sr2
  • .srw
  • .ssa
  • .ssfn
  • .ssk
  • .st
  • .ste
  • .stm
  • .stn
  • .stp
  • .str
  • .stw
  • .sty
  • .sub
  • .sumo
  • .sva
  • .svf
  • .svg
  • .svgz
  • .swf
  • .sxd
  • .sxg
  • .sxw
  • .t2b
  • .tab
  • .tb0
  • .tbn
  • .tcx
  • .tdf
  • .tdt
  • .te
  • .tex
  • .text
  • .tfc
  • .tg4
  • .tga
  • .thm
  • .thp
  • .tif
  • .tiff
  • .tjp
  • .tlb
  • .tlc
  • .tm
  • .tm2
  • .tmd
  • .tmv
  • .tmx
  • .tn
  • .tne
  • .tpc
  • .tpi
  • .trm
  • .tvj
  • .txt
  • .u3d
  • .u3i
  • .udb
  • .ufo
  • .ufr
  • .uga
  • .unx
  • .uof
  • .uot
  • .upd
  • .usr
  • .utf8
  • .utxt
  • .v12
  • .vbr
  • .vct
  • .vda
  • .vdb
  • .vec
  • .vff
  • .vml
  • .vnt
  • .vpd
  • .vpe
  • .vrml
  • .vrp
  • .vsd
  • .vsdm
  • .vsdx
  • .vsm
  • .vst
  • .vstm
  • .vstx
  • .vue
  • .vw
  • .wb1
  • .wbc
  • .wbd
  • .wbk
  • .wbm
  • .wbmp
  • .wbz
  • .wcf
  • .wdb
  • .wdp
  • .webp
  • .wgz
  • .wire
  • .wmdb
  • .wmf
  • .wn
  • .wp
  • .wp4
  • .wp5
  • .wp6
  • .wp7
  • .wpa
  • .wpb
  • .wpd
  • .wpe
  • .wpg
  • .wpl
  • .wps
  • .wpt
  • .wpw
  • .wri
  • .wsc
  • .wsd
  • .wsh
  • .wtx
  • .wvl
  • .x
  • .x3d
  • .x3f
  • .xar
  • .xdb
  • .xdl
  • .xhtm
  • .xld
  • .xlf
  • .xlgc
  • .xls
  • .xlsb
  • .xlsm
  • .xlsx
  • .xpm
  • .xps
  • .xwp
  • .xy3
  • .xyp
  • .xyw
  • .y
  • .yal
  • .ybk
  • .yml
  • .ysp
  • .z3d
  • .zabw
  • .zdb
  • .zdc
  • .zif
  • .zip
  • .zw

It does the following:

  • This ransomware deletes all shadow copies by executing the following command:
    • vssadmin Delete Shadows /all /quiet
  • This ransomware avoids encrypting file with the following strings in their file path:
    • $Recycle.Bin
    • All Users
    • Default
    • esktop
    • Microsoft
    • microsoft
    • Program
    • Windows

It deletes the initially executed copy of itself

NOTES:

This ransomware displays the following ransom note:

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

13.226.00

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

16 Feb 2017

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

13.227.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

17 Feb 2017

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

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\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • sysrep = %All Users Profile%\Reload.exe

Step 5

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.
  • %All Users Profile%\system_.bat
  • %All Users Profile%\shade.bat
  • {folders containing encrypted files}\UNIQUE_ID_DO_NOT_REMOVE
  • {folders containing encrypted files}\DECRYPT_INFORMATION.html
  • {%Desktop%}\UNIQUE_ID_DO_NOT_REMOVE
  • {%Desktop%}\DECRYPT_INFORMATION.html

Step 6

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

Restore encrypted files from backup.


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