Ransom.Win32.GOLDENAXE.THCAHAI

 Analysis by: Jay Bradley Nebre

 ALIASES:

Trojan.Win32.DelShad.as(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 encrypts files with specific file extensions. It drops files as ransom note.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

1,685,520 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

18 Mar 2019

Payload:

Modifies system registry

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:

  • System}\cmd.exe /C vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet;
  • {System}\cmd.exe /C taskkill.exe /f /im sql*;
  • {System}\cmd.exe /C taskkill.exe /f /im backup*;
  • {System}\cmd.exe /C taskkill.exe /f /im anti*;
  • {System}\cmd.exe /C taskkill.exe /f /im malware*;
  • {System}\cmd.exe /C ping 127.0.0.1 -n 3 > NUL && del /Q /F "{Malware Path\Malware Name}.exe";

Other System Modifications

This Ransomware modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
SystemCertificates\AuthRoot\Certificates\
{certificate name} - modifies all certificates found
Blob = {hex value}

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • .3dm
  • .3ds
  • .3fr
  • .3g2
  • .3gp
  • .3pr
  • .ab4
  • .ach
  • .acr
  • .act
  • .adb
  • .ads
  • .ait
  • .apj
  • .arw
  • .asf
  • .asm
  • .asp
  • .asx
  • .avi
  • .awg
  • .bak
  • .bay
  • .bdb
  • .bgt
  • .bik
  • .bin
  • .bkf
  • .bkp
  • .bpw
  • .cab
  • .cdf
  • .cdr
  • .cdx
  • .ce1
  • .ce2
  • .cer
  • .cfp
  • .cgm
  • .chm
  • .cib
  • .cls
  • .cmt
  • .cnf
  • .cpi
  • .cpp
  • .cr2
  • .crt
  • .crw
  • .csh
  • .csl
  • .css
  • .csv
  • .dac
  • .dat
  • .db3
  • .dbf
  • .dbx
  • .dc2
  • .dcr
  • .dcs
  • .ddd
  • .dds
  • .der
  • .des
  • .dgc
  • .dng
  • .doc
  • .dot
  • .drf
  • .drw
  • .dtd
  • .dwg
  • .dxb
  • .dxf
  • .dxg
  • .eml
  • .eps
  • .erf
  • .exf
  • .fdb
  • .ffd
  • .fff
  • .fhd
  • .fla
  • .flv
  • .fmb
  • .fpx
  • .fxg
  • .gif
  • .gry
  • .hbk
  • .hpp
  • .htm
  • .ibd
  • .ibz
  • .idx
  • .iif
  • .iiq
  • .jar
  • .jin
  • .jpe
  • .jpg
  • .jse
  • .jsp
  • .kc2
  • .kdc
  • .key
  • .log
  • .lua
  • .m4v
  • .max
  • .mdb
  • .mdc
  • .mdf
  • .mef
  • .mfw
  • .mmw
  • .mos
  • .mov
  • .mp3
  • .mp4
  • .mpg
  • .mrw
  • .msg
  • .myd
  • .ndd
  • .nef
  • .nk2
  • .nop
  • .nrw
  • .ns2
  • .ns3
  • .ns4
  • .nsd
  • .nsf
  • .nsg
  • .nsh
  • .nwb
  • .nx2
  • .nxl
  • .nyf
  • .oab
  • .obj
  • .odb
  • .odc
  • .odf
  • .odg
  • .odm
  • .odp
  • .ods
  • .odt
  • .oil
  • .orf
  • .ost
  • .otg
  • .oth
  • .otp
  • .ots
  • .ott
  • .p12
  • .p7b
  • .p7c
  • .pab
  • .pas
  • .pat
  • .pbl
  • .pcd
  • .pct
  • .pdb
  • .pdd
  • .pdf
  • .pef
  • .pem
  • .pfx
  • .php
  • .plc
  • .png
  • .pot
  • .pps
  • .ppt
  • .prf
  • .psd
  • .pst
  • .ptx
  • .qba
  • .qbb
  • .qbm
  • .qbr
  • .qbw
  • .qbx
  • .qby
  • .r3d
  • .raf
  • .rar
  • .rat
  • .raw
  • .rdb
  • .rtf
  • .rw2
  • .rwl
  • .rwz
  • .say
  • .sd0
  • .sda
  • .sdf
  • .sql
  • .sr2
  • .srf
  • .srt
  • .srw
  • .st4
  • .st5
  • .st6
  • .st7
  • .st8
  • .std
  • .sti
  • .stw
  • .stx
  • .svg
  • .swf
  • .sxc
  • .sxd
  • .sxg
  • .sxi
  • .sxm
  • .sxw
  • .tex
  • .tga
  • .thm
  • .tif
  • .tlg
  • .txt
  • .vbs
  • .vmx
  • .vob
  • .war
  • .wav
  • .wb2
  • .wmv
  • .wpd
  • .wps
  • .x11
  • .x3f
  • .xis
  • .xla
  • .xlk
  • .xlm
  • .xlr
  • .xls
  • .xlt
  • .xlw
  • .xml
  • .yuv
  • .zip

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

  • .{5 random letters}

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

  • # instructions-{5 random letters}.png - drops in all folders encrypted
  • # instructions-{5 random letters}.txt - drops in all folders encrypted
  • # instructions-{5 random letters}.vbs - drops in all folders encrypted

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

14.878.03

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

18 Mar 2019

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

14.879.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

19 Mar 2019

Step 1

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 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

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\AuthRoot\Certificates\{certificate name} -- modifies all certicates found
    • Blob = {default}

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.  
  • # instructions-{5 random letters}.png - drops in all folders encrypted
  • # instructions-{5 random letters}.txt - drops in all folders encrypted
  • # instructions-{5 random letters}.vbs - drops in all folders encrypted

Step 6

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Ransom.Win32.GOLDENAXE.THCAHAI. 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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