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RANSOM_SPORA.SMC

March 22, 2017
 Analysis by: Michael Jay Villanueva
 ALIASES:

Ransom:Win32/Spora.A (Microsoft)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW


This Trojan arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It is capable of encrypting files in the affected system.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

69,632 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

10 Mar 2017

Arrival Details

This Trojan 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 Trojan drops a copy of itself in the following folders using different file names:

  • {Fixed and Removable Drive Letter}:\{Random Values}.exe -> set attributes to Hidden
  • %User Temp%\{Random Values}.exe - set attributes to Hidden
  • %Desktop%\{Random Values}.exe -> set attributes to 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.. %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 drops the following files:

  • {Fixed and Removable Drive Letter}:\{Shortcut files with the filename of every folder in the removable and fixed drive}
    • The malware creates these shortcut files in order to trick the user due to its folder icon and legit filenames.
    • The target path of these shortcuts is set to: %System%\cmd.exe /c start explorer.exe "{folder name - where original files are stored}" & type "{Random Values}.exe - dropped copy of the malware" > "%temp%\{Random Values}.exe - dropped copy of the malware" && "%temp%\{Random Values}.exe - dropped copy of the malware"
  • %Application Data%\{10 digit number}
  • %Application Data%\{Unique ID}.html -> Ransom Note
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\Templates\{Unique ID}.html -> Ransom Note
  • %Desktop%\{Unique ID}.html -> Ransom Note
  • %User Profile%\{Unique ID}.html -> Ransom Note
  • %User Profile%\Favorites\{Unique ID}.html -> Ransom Note
  • %User Startup%\{Unique ID}.html -> Ransom Note, to enable automatic execution at system startup
  • %Desktop%\{9 digit number}
  • {Fixed and Removable Drive Letter}:\{9 digit number}

(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.. %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.. %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.. %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 2000 and XP, and C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

Other Details

This Trojan is capable of encrypting files in the affected system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

13.276.08

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

14 Mar 2017

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

13.277.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

15 Mar 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

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%\{9 digit number}
  • %Desktop%\{Unique ID}.html -> Ransom Note
  • %Application Data%\{10 digit number}
  • %Application Data%\{Unique ID}.html -> Ransom Note
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\Templates\{Unique ID}.html -> Ransom Note
  • %User Profile%\{Unique ID}.html -> Ransom Note
  • %User Profile%\Favorites\{Unique ID}.html -> Ransom Note
  • %User Startup%\{Unique ID}.html -> Ransom Note, to enable automatic execution at system startup
  • {Fixed and Removable Drive Letter}:\{9 digit number}
  • {Fixed and Removable Drive Letter}:\{Shortcut files with the filename of every folder in the removable and fixed drive}

Step 5

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as RANSOM_SPORA.SMC. 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

Restore encrypted files from backup.


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