RANSOM_LIGHTNING.A

September 26, 2017
 Analysis by: Ryan Paolo Maglaque
 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 found in specific folders. It drops files as ransom note.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

537,600 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

25 May 2017

Payload:

Connects to URLs/IPs, Displays graphics/image, 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.

Installation

This Ransomware drops the following files:

  • %Desktop%\LightningCrypt_UniqueID.txt

(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.)

Other System Modifications

This Ransomware creates the following registry key/entry to trick users into thinking that it is a legitimate application:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Direct3D\MostRecentApplication
Name = {Malware file path}

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
Wallpaper = %Desktop%\LightningCrypt_Recover_Instructions.png

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {user preference}.)

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

Stolen Information

This Ransomware sends the gathered information via HTTP POST to the following URL:

  • http://arizonacode.{BLOCKED}d.net/rnsm/add.php?type=add&data={data}

Other Details

This Ransomware does the following:

  • Displays the following window as ransom note:

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware encrypts files found in the following folders:

  • Desktop
  • Documents
  • Downloads
  • Music
  • Pictures
  • Videos
  • {All drives}

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

  • .LIGHTNING

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

  • %Desktop%\LightningCrypt_Recover_Instructions.png
  • %Desktop%\LightningCrypt_Recover_Instructions.txt

(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 leaves text files that serve as ransom notes containing the following text:

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

13.430.01

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

25 May 2017

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

13.431.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

26 May 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

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\Direct3D\MostRecentApplication
    • Name = {Malware file path}

Step 4

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.
  • %Desktop%\LightningCrypt_Recover_Instructions.png
  • %Desktop%\LightningCrypt_Recover_Instructions.txt
  • %Desktop%\LightningCrypt_UniqueID.txt

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as RANSOM_LIGHTNING.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 this Knowledge Base page for more information.

Step 6

Reset your Desktop properties

[ Learn More ]

Step 7

Restore encrypted files from backup.


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.