RANSOM_DETNOTE.A

 Analysis by: Mio Fidel Villena

 ALIASES:

Ransom:Win32/Hatecrypt (MICROSOFT); TrojanRansom.Cryrar (QUICKHEAL)

 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:

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.

However, due to errors in its code, it fails to perform its intended routine.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

6,960,762 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

09 Jan 2018

Payload:

Drops files, Displays windows

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:

  • %Application Data%\batches\death.bat -> encrypter
  • %Application Data%\batches\deathnote.bat - > UI
  • %Application Data%\batches\WIFI-CONNECT.bat -> downloader
  • %Application Data%\batches\windows defender.bat -> renames the copy of itself as New Folder.exe and copy it to Drive D:\ to Z:\
  • %Application Data%\hitler\regen\{malware name} -> copy of itself
  • %Application Data%\hitler\bg.mp3
  • %Application Data%\hitler\cmdc.exe -> silent cmd
  • %Application Data%\hitler\death.lnk -> points to death.bat
  • %Application Data%\hitler\mp3play.exe
  • %Application Data%\hitler\note.vbs -> ransom note
  • %Application Data%\hitler\Rar.exe -> encrypter
  • %Application Data%\hitler\Warning.vbs -> messagebox
  • %Application Data%\hitler\wget.exe -> downloader

It creates the following folders:

  • %User Temp%\afolder
  • %User Temp%\ytmp ->hidden
  • %Application Data%\batches
  • %Application Data%\hitler -> hidden

(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.. %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming 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.)

Autostart Technique

This Ransomware drops the following file(s) in the Windows User Startup folder to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

  • deathnote.lnk -> points to deathnote.bat
  • WIFI.lnk -> points to WIFI-CONNECT.bat
  • WIFIDEFEND.lnk -> points to windows defender.bat

Other Details

However, due to errors in its code, it fails to perform its intended routine.

It does the following:

  • Execute the .bat files once the user restarted the affected machine
  • Displays an error message in locating %Application Data%\hitler\processmon.exe
  • It plays the %Application Data\hitler\bg.mp3 sound

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

13.896.04

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

10 Jan 2018

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

13.897.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

11 Jan 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_DETNOTE.A

[ 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

Search and delete these folders

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden folders in the search result.
  • %Application Data%\batches\death.bat
  • %Application Data%\batches\deathnote.bat
  • %Application Data%\batches\WIFI-CONNECT.bat
  • %Application Data%\batches\windows defender.bat
  • %Application Data%\hitler\regen\{malware name}
  • %Application Data%\hitler\bg.mp3
  • %Application Data%\hitler\cmdc.exe
  • %Application Data%\hitler\death.lnk
  • %Application Data%\hitler\mp3play.exe
  • %Application Data%\hitler\note.vbs
  • %Application Data%\hitler\Rar.exe
  • %Application Data%\hitler\Warning.vbs
  • %Application Data%\hitler\wget.exe
  • %User Startup%\deathnote.lnk
  • %User Startup%\WIFI.lnk
  • %User Startup%\WIFIDEFEND.lnk

Step 5

Search and delete these folders

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the "More advanced options" option to include all hidden folders in the search result.
  • %User Temp%\afolder
  • %User Temp%\ytmp
  • %Application Data%\batches
  • %Application Data%\hitler

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as RANSOM_DETNOTE.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 the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:


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