RANSOM_LOCKY.TH809

 Analysis by: Rheniel Rhay Ramos

 ALIASES:

Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Locky.dmm (Kaspersky); Ransom:Win32/Locky (Microsoft); Downloader.Ponik (Symantec)

 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:

Downloaded from the Internet, 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 connects to certain websites to send and receive information. It deletes itself after execution.

It encrypts files with specific file extensions.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

672,768 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Payload:

Encrypts files, Drops files, Connects to URLs/IPs, Displays message/message boxes

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:

  • {Folder containing encrypted files}\diablo6-{4 hex characters}.htm

It drops and executes the following files:

  • %User Profile%\Desktop\diablo6.htm -> ransom note
  • %User Profile%\Desktop\diablo6.bmp -> ransom note, also used as the background image

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)

Other System Modifications

This Ransomware modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Hardware Profiles\0001\Software\
Microsoft\windows\CurrentVersion\
Internet Settings
ProxyEnable = 1

It changes the desktop wallpaper by modifying the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
Wallpaper = "%User Profile%\Desktop\diablo6.bmp"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
TileWallpaper = 0

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
WallpaperStyle = 0

It sets the system's desktop wallpaper to the following image:

Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification

This Ransomware modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

Other Details

This Ransomware connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.35.106
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.130.9
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.8.61
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.35.106

It does the following:

  • It deletes shadow copies by executing following command:
    • vssadmin.exe Delete Shadows /Quiet /All

It deletes itself after execution.

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • .001
  • .002
  • .003
  • .004
  • .005
  • .006
  • .007
  • .008
  • .009
  • .01
  • .011
  • .123
  • .602
  • .1cd
  • .3dm
  • .3ds
  • .3fr
  • .3g2
  • .3gp
  • .3pr
  • .7z
  • .7zip
  • .aac
  • .ab4
  • .accdb
  • .accde
  • .accdr
  • .accdt
  • .ach
  • .acr
  • .act
  • .adb
  • .adp
  • .ads
  • .aes
  • .agdl
  • .ai
  • .aiff
  • .ait
  • .al
  • .aoi
  • .apj
  • .apk
  • .ARC
  • .arw
  • .asc
  • .asf
  • .asm
  • .asp
  • .aspx
  • .asset
  • .asx
  • .avi
  • .awg
  • .back
  • .backup
  • .backupdb
  • .bak
  • .bank
  • .bat
  • .bay
  • .bdb
  • .bgt
  • .bik
  • .bin
  • .bkp
  • .blend
  • .bmp
  • .bpw
  • .brd
  • .bsa
  • .bz2
  • .c
  • .cdf
  • .cdr
  • .cdr3
  • .cdr4
  • .cdr5
  • .cdr6
  • .cdrw
  • .cdx
  • .ce1
  • .ce2
  • .cer
  • .cfg
  • .cgm
  • .cib
  • .class
  • .cls
  • .cmd
  • .cmt
  • .config
  • .contact
  • .cpi
  • .cpp
  • .cr2
  • .craw
  • .crt
  • .crw
  • .cs
  • .csh
  • .csl
  • .csr
  • .css
  • .csv
  • .CSV
  • .d3dbsp
  • .dac
  • .das
  • .dat
  • .dat
  • .db
  • .db_journal
  • .db3
  • .dbf
  • .dbx
  • .dc2
  • .dch
  • .dcr
  • .dcs
  • .ddd
  • .ddoc
  • .ddrw
  • .dds
  • .der
  • .des
  • .design
  • .dgc
  • .dif
  • .dip
  • .dit
  • .djv
  • .djvu
  • .dng
  • .doc
  • .DOC
  • .docb
  • .docm
  • .docx
  • .dot
  • .DOT
  • .dotm
  • .dotx
  • .drf
  • .drw
  • .dtd
  • .dwg
  • .dxb
  • .dxf
  • .dxg
  • .edb
  • .eml
  • .eps
  • .erbsql
  • .erf
  • .exf
  • .fdb
  • .ffd
  • .fff
  • .fh
  • .fhd
  • .fla
  • .flac
  • .flf
  • .flv
  • .flvv
  • .forge
  • .fpx
  • .frm
  • .fxg
  • .gif
  • .gpg
  • .gray
  • .grey
  • .groups
  • .gry
  • .gz
  • .h
  • .hbk
  • .hdd
  • .hpp
  • .html
  • .hwp
  • .ibank
  • .ibd
  • .ibz
  • .idx
  • .iif
  • .iiq
  • .incpas
  • .indd
  • .iwi
  • .jar
  • .java
  • .jnt
  • .jpe
  • .jpeg
  • .jpg
  • .js
  • .kc2
  • .kdbx
  • .kdc
  • .keywallet
  • .kpdx
  • .kwm
  • .laccdb
  • .lay
  • .lay6
  • .lbf
  • .ldf
  • .lit
  • .litemod
  • .litesql
  • .log
  • .ltx
  • .lua
  • .m
  • .m2ts
  • .m3u
  • .m4a
  • .m4p
  • .m4u
  • .m4v
  • .mapimail
  • .max
  • .mbx
  • .md
  • .mdb
  • .mdc
  • .mdf
  • .mef
  • .mfw
  • .mid
  • .mkv
  • .mlb
  • .mml
  • .mmw
  • .mny
  • .moneywell
  • .mos
  • .mov
  • .mp3
  • .mp4
  • .mpeg
  • .mpg
  • .mrw
  • .ms11
  • .ms11 (Security copy)
  • .msg
  • .myd
  • .MYD
  • .MYI
  • .n64
  • .nd
  • .ndd
  • .ndf
  • .nef
  • .NEF
  • .nk2
  • .nop
  • .nrw
  • .ns2
  • .ns3
  • .ns4
  • .nsd
  • .nsf
  • .nsg
  • .nsh
  • .nvram
  • .nwb
  • .nx2
  • .nxl
  • .nyf
  • .oab
  • .obj
  • .odb
  • .odc
  • .odf
  • .odg
  • .odm
  • .odp
  • .ods
  • .odt
  • .ogg
  • .oil
  • .onetoc2
  • .orf
  • .ost
  • .otg
  • .oth
  • .otp
  • .ots
  • .ott
  • .p12
  • .p7b
  • .p7c
  • .pab
  • .pages
  • .PAQ
  • .pas
  • .pat
  • .pcd
  • .pct
  • .pdb
  • .pdd
  • .pdf
  • .pef
  • .pem
  • .pfx
  • .php
  • .pif
  • .pl
  • .plc
  • .plus_muhd
  • .png
  • .pot
  • .potm
  • .potx
  • .ppam
  • .pps
  • .ppsm
  • .ppsx
  • .ppt
  • .PPT
  • .pptm
  • .pptx
  • .prf
  • .ps
  • .psafe3
  • .psd
  • .pspimage
  • .pst
  • .ptx
  • .pwm
  • .py
  • .qba
  • .qbb
  • .qbm
  • .qbr
  • .qbw
  • .qbx
  • .qby
  • .qcow
  • .qcow2
  • .qed
  • .r3d
  • .raf
  • .rar
  • .rat
  • .raw
  • .rb
  • .rdb
  • .re4
  • .rm
  • .rtf
  • .RTF
  • .rvt
  • .rw2
  • .rwl
  • .rwz
  • .s3db
  • .safe
  • .sas7bdat
  • .sav
  • .save
  • .say
  • .sch
  • .sd0
  • .sda
  • .sdf
  • .sh
  • .sldm
  • .sldx
  • .slk
  • .sql
  • .sqlite
  • .sqlite3
  • .SQLITE3
  • .sqlitedb
  • .SQLITEDB
  • .sr2
  • .srf
  • .srt
  • .srw
  • .st4
  • .st5
  • .st6
  • .st7
  • .st8
  • .stc
  • .std
  • .sti
  • .stm
  • .stw
  • .stx
  • .svg
  • .swf
  • .sxc
  • .sxd
  • .sxg
  • .sxi
  • .sxm
  • .sxw
  • .tar
  • .tar
  • .tbk
  • .tex
  • .tga
  • .tgz
  • .thm
  • .tif
  • .tiff
  • .tlg
  • .txt
  • .uop
  • .uot
  • .upk
  • .vb
  • .vbox
  • .vbs
  • .vdi
  • .vhd
  • .vhdx
  • .vmdk
  • .vmsd
  • .vmx
  • .vmxf
  • .vob
  • .wab
  • .wad
  • .wallet
  • .wav
  • .wb2
  • .wk1
  • .wks
  • .wma
  • .wmv
  • .wpd
  • .wps
  • .x11
  • .x3f
  • .xis
  • .xla
  • .xlam
  • .xlc
  • .xlk
  • .xlm
  • .xlr
  • .xls
  • .XLS
  • .xlsb
  • .xlsm
  • .xlsx
  • .xlt
  • .xltm
  • .xltx
  • .xlw
  • .xml
  • .ycbcra
  • .yuv
  • .zip

It avoids encrypting files with the following strings in their file path:

  • @_HELP_instructions.html
  • _HELP_instructions.bmp
  • _HELP_instructions.txt
  • _Locky_recover_instructions.bmp
  • _Locky_recover_instructions.txt
  • $Recycle.Bin
  • AppData
  • Application Data
  • Boot
  • Program Files
  • Program Files (x86)
  • System Volume Information
  • temp
  • thumbs.db
  • tmp
  • Windows
  • winnt

It renames encrypted files using the following names:

  • {first 8 characters of ID}--{next 4 characters of ID}--{last 4 characters of ID}--{8 hex characters}--{12 hex characters}.diablo6

NOTES:

This ransomware opens the dropped %User Profile%\Desktop\diablo6.htm, which contains the ransom note.

It also opens the dropped %User Profile%\Desktop\diablo6.bmp, which is also the desktop wallpaper that contains the ransom note.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

13.584.08

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

09 Aug 2017

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

13.585.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

10 Aug 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

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as RANSOM_LOCKY.TH809. 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 5

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\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Hardware Profiles\0001\Software\Microsoft\windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
    • ProxyEnable = “1”

Step 6

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.  
  • %User Profile%\Desktop\diablo6.htm
  • %User Profile%\DesktopOSIRIS.bmp
  • {Folder containing encrypted files}\diablo6-{4 hex characters}.htm

Step 7

Reset your Desktop properties

[ Learn More ]

Step 8

Reset Internet security settings

[ Learn More ]

Step 9

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as RANSOM_LOCKY.TH809. 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 10

Restore encrypted files from backup.


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