RANSOM_AURORA.THECOAH
HEUR:Trojan-Spy.Win32.Generic (Kaspersky), Trojan:Win32/Skeeyah.A!rfn (Microsoft)
Windows
Threat Type: Ransomware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: No
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
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 connects to certain websites to send and receive information. However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
It encrypts files found in specific folders. It drops files as ransom note.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
262,144 bytes
EXE
Yes
30 May 2018
Connects to URLs/IPs, Displays message/message boxes, 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.
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
MSFEEDITOR = {Malware Location}\{Malware File Name}.exe
Other Details
This Ransomware connects to the following URL(s) to get the affected system's IP address:
- http://www.geoplugin.net/php.gp
It connects to the following website to send and receive information:
- http://host1681251.{BLOCKED}nd.pro/gen.php?generate=1953054457/1891270299&hwid=1461208967
It encrypts files with the following extensions:
- .123
- .1CD
- .3dm
- .3ds
- .3g2
- .3gp
- .602
- .7z
- .ARC
- .PAQ
- .accdb
- .aes
- .ai
- .asc
- .asf
- .asm
- .asp
- .avi
- .backup
- .bak
- .bat
- .bmp
- .brd
- .bz2
- .c
- .cf
- .cgm
- .class
- .cmd
- .cpp
- .crt
- .cs
- .csr
- .csv
- .db
- .dbf
- .dch
- .der
- .dif
- .dip
- .djvu
- .doc
- .docb
- .docm
- .docx
- .dot
- .dotm
- .dotx
- .dt
- .dwg
- .edb
- .eml
- .fla
- .flv
- .frm
- .gif
- .gpg
- .gz
- .h
- .hwp
- .ibd
- .iso
- .jar
- .java
- .jpeg
- .jpg
- .js
- .jsp
- .key
- .lay
- .lay6
- .ldf
- .m3u
- .m4u
- .max
- .mdb
- .mdf
- .mid
- .mkv
- .mml
- .mov
- .mp3
- .mp4
- .mpeg
- .mpg
- .msg
- .myd
- .myi
- .nef
- .odb
- .odg
- .odp
- .ods
- .odt
- .onetoc2
- .ost
- .otg
- .otp
- .ots
- .ott
- .p12
- .pas
- .pem
- .pfx
- .php
- .pl
- .png
- .pot
- .potm
- .potx
- .ppam
- .pps
- .ppsm
- .ppsx
- .ppt
- .pptm
- .pptx
- .ps1
- .psd
- .pst
- .rar
- .raw
- .rb
- .rtf
- .sch
- .sh
- .sldm
- .sldx
- .slk
- .sln
- .snt
- .sql
- .sqlite3
- .sqlitedb
- .stc
- .std
- .sti
- .stw
- .suo
- .svg
- .swf
- .sxc
- .sxd
- .sxi
- .sxm
- .sxw
- .tar
- .tbk
- .tgz
- .tif
- .tiff
- .txt
- .uop
- .uot
- .vb
- .vbs
- .vcd
- .vdi
- .vmdk
- .vmx
- .vob
- .vsd
- .vsdx
- .wav
- .wb2
- .wk1
- .wks
- .wma
- .wmv
- .xlc
- .xlm
- .xls
- .xlsb
- .xlsm
- .xlsx
- .xlt
- .xltm
- .xltx
- .xlw
- .zip
It does the following:
- It locates if the infected system has an IP address that is located in Russia and proceeds to its malicious routine if found that the system has no Russian IP address.
However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
Ransomware Routine
This Ransomware encrypts files found in the following folders:
- %Desktop%
- %All Users Profile%
- %Temp%
(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.. %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.. %Temp% is the Windows temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\Temp on all Windows operating system versions.)
It appends the following extension to the file name of the encrypted files:
- .aurora
It drops the following file(s) as ransom note:
- {Encrypted Directory}\HOW_TO_DECRYPT_YOUR_FILES{1-6}.txt
It leaves text files that serve as ransom notes containing the following text:
SOLUTION
9.850
14.284.03
23 May 2018
14.285.00
24 May 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
Step 4
Delete this registry value
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
- MSFEEDITOR = {Malware Location}\{Malware File Name}.exe
- MSFEEDITOR = {Malware Location}\{Malware File Name}.exe
Step 5
Search and delete these files
- {Encrypted Directory}\HOW_TO_DECRYPT_YOUR_FILES{1-6).txt
Step 6
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as RANSOM_AURORA.THECOAH. 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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