RANSOM_FURY.R011C0DBD18

 Analysis by: Christian Noel Olalia

 ALIASES:

Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Fury.qe (KASPERSKY); Ransom:Win32/Cryptomix.A (MICROSOFT); Gen:Variant.Strictor.153133 (BITDEFENDER)

 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


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 modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

It drops files as ransom note.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

257,024 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

12 Feb 2018

Payload:

Modifies 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 a copy of itself in the following folders using different file names:

  • %ProgramData%\BC{username converted 8 hex values}.exe

(Note: %ProgramData% is the Program Data folder, where it usually is C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\ProgramData 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.)

It drops the following files:

  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Crypto\RSA\{random folder name}\random file name} - contains RSA key
  • %ProgramData%\F06C3C509054X0B7D28ZCDDBB17087B9C3E.0000 - contains public key

(Note: %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.. %ProgramData% is the Program Data folder, where it usually is C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\ProgramData 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 Ransomware adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
BC{username converted 8 hex values} = "%ProgramData%\BC{username converted 8 hex values}.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
*BC{username converted 8 hex values} = "%ProgramData%\BC{username converted 8 hex values}.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Ransomware adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion
BC{username converted 8 hex values} = {GUID}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\BCD00000000\Objects\
{{GUID}}\Elements\250000e0
Element = 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\BCD00000000\Objects\
{{GUID}}\Elements\16000009
Element = 00

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion
{username converted 8 hex values} = {1 - number of encrypted files}

Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification

This Ransomware modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

Other Details

This Ransomware does the following:

  • It executes the following commands:
    • sc stop VVS
    • sc stop wscsvc
    • sc stop WinDefend
    • sc stop wuauserv
    • sc stop BITS
    • sc stop ERSvc
    • sc stop WerSvc
    • vssadmin.exe Delete Shadows /All /Quiet
    • bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled No
    • bcdedit /set {default} bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware avoids encrypting files found in the following folders:

  • %Desktop%

(Note: %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.)

It renames encrypted files using the following names:

  • {random 32 hex values}.0000

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

  • {encrypted file path}\_HELP_INSTRUCTION.txt

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

13.965.05

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

13 Feb 2018

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

13.966.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

14 Feb 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

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
    • BC{username converted 8 hex values} = {GUID}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\BCD00000000\Objects\{{GUID}}\Elements\250000e0
    • Element = 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\BCD00000000\Objects\{{GUID}}\Elements\16000009
    • Element = 00
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
    • {username converted 8 hex values} = {1 - number of encrypted files}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • BC{username converted 8 hex values} = "%ProgramData%\BC{username converted 8 hex values}.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
    • *BC{username converted 8 hex values} = "%ProgramData%\BC{username converted 8 hex values}.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.
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Crypto\RSA\{random folder name}\random file name}
  • %ProgramData%\F06C3C509054X0B7D28ZCDDBB17087B9C3E.0000
  • {encrypted file path}\_HELP_INSTRUCTION.txt

Step 6

Search and delete this folder

[ 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%\Microsoft\Crypto\RSA\{random folder name}

Step 7

Reset Internet security settings

[ Learn More ]

Step 8

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as RANSOM_FURY.R011C0DBD18. 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 9

Restore encrypted files from backup.

NOTES:

1. Enable services that are disabled using the command prompt.

2. Run cmd.exe as administrator.

3. To enable Windows Error Recovery Screen on Startup, use the following command:

  • bcdedit /set {default} bootstatuspolicy displayallfailures

4. To enable Startup Repair, use the following command:

  • bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled Yes


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