➔
search
✕

RANSOM_GPAA.A

February 13, 2018
 Analysis by: Mio Fidel Villena
 ALIASES:

Ransom:Win32/Genasom (MICROSOFT), Gen:Win32.FileInfector.kmGfa8hwnmfi (BITDEFENDER), Ransom.GPAA (QUICKHEAL)

 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, 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 deletes itself after execution.

It encrypts files with specific file extensions. It drops files as ransom note.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

178,688 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

12 Jun 2017

Payload:

Drops files, Encrypts files, Displays graphics/image

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:

  • {Removable Drive Letter}:\!READ.htm
  • {Encrypted Folder}!READ.htm
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\Network Shortcut\!READ.htm
  • %Application Data%\!READ.htm
  • %AppDataLocal%\!READ.htm

(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.. %AppDataLocal% is the Application Data folder found in Local Settings, where it is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local 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.)

Autostart Technique

This Ransomware drops the following file(s) in the Windows User Startup folder to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

  • %User Startup%\!READ.htm

(Note: %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 Ransomware deletes itself after execution.

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • .123
  • .3dm
  • .3dmap
  • .3ds
  • .3dxml
  • .3g2
  • .3gp
  • .602
  • .7z
  • .accdb
  • .act
  • .aes
  • .ai
  • .arc
  • .asc
  • .asf
  • .asm
  • .asp
  • .assets
  • .avi
  • .backup
  • .bak
  • .bat
  • .bdf
  • .blendl
  • .bmp
  • .brd
  • .bz2
  • .c
  • .c4dl
  • .catalog
  • .catanalysis
  • .catdrawing
  • .catfct
  • .catmaterial
  • .catpart
  • .catprocess
  • .catproduct
  • .catresource
  • .catshape
  • .catswl
  • .catsystem
  • .cdd
  • .cgm
  • .class
  • .cmd
  • .config
  • .cpp
  • .crt
  • .cs
  • .csr
  • .csv
  • .dae
  • .db
  • .dbf
  • .dch
  • .deb
  • .der
  • .dif
  • .dip
  • .djvu
  • .doc
  • .docb
  • .docm
  • .docx
  • .dot
  • .dotm
  • .dotx
  • .dwg
  • .dxf
  • .edb
  • .eml
  • .fbx
  • .fla
  • .flv
  • .frm
  • .gif
  • .gl
  • .gl2
  • .gpg
  • .gz
  • .h
  • .hpgl
  • .hwp
  • .ibd
  • .icem
  • .idf
  • .ig2
  • .igs
  • .ipt
  • .iso
  • .jar
  • .jasl
  • .java
  • .jpeg
  • .jpg
  • .js
  • .jsp
  • .key
  • .lay
  • .lay6
  • .ldf
  • .library
  • .m3u
  • .m4u
  • .mal
  • .max
  • .maxl
  • .mb
  • .mdb
  • .mdf
  • .mid
  • .mkv
  • .mml
  • .model
  • .mov
  • .mp3
  • .mp4
  • .mpeg
  • .mpg
  • .msg
  • .myd
  • .myi
  • .nef
  • .obj
  • .odb
  • .odg
  • .odp
  • .ods
  • .odt
  • .onetoc2
  • .ost
  • .otg
  • .otp
  • .ots
  • .ott
  • .p12
  • .paq
  • .pas
  • .pdf
  • .pem
  • .pfx
  • .php
  • .pl
  • .png
  • .pot
  • .potm
  • .potx
  • .ppam
  • .pps
  • .ppsm
  • .ppsx
  • .ppt
  • .pptm
  • .pptx
  • .ps
  • .ps1
  • .psd
  • .pst
  • .rar
  • .raw
  • .rb
  • .rtf
  • .sch
  • .session
  • .sh
  • .sldm
  • .sldx
  • .slk
  • .sln
  • .snt
  • .sql
  • .sqlite3
  • .sqlitedb
  • .stc
  • .std
  • .step
  • .sti
  • .stp
  • .stw
  • .suo
  • .svg
  • .swf
  • .sxc
  • .sxd
  • .sxi
  • .sxm
  • .sxw
  • .tar
  • .tbk
  • .tdg
  • .tgz
  • .tif
  • .tiff
  • .txt
  • .unity3d
  • .uop
  • .uot
  • .vb
  • .vbs
  • .vcd
  • .vdi
  • .vmdk
  • .vmx
  • .vob
  • .vsd
  • .vsdx
  • .wav
  • .wb2
  • .wk1
  • .wks
  • .wma
  • .wmv
  • .wrl
  • .xl
  • .xlc
  • .xlm
  • .xls
  • .xlsb
  • .xlsm
  • .xlsx
  • .xlt
  • .xltm
  • .xltx
  • .xlw
  • .xml
  • .zip
  • .xmind

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

  • \windows
  • \progra
  • \intel
  • \appdata
  • \temp

It renames encrypted files using the following names:

  • {16 random characters}.cerber6

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

  • !READ.htm

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

13.466.08

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

12 Jun 2017

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

13.467.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

13 Jun 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

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.
  • {Removable Drive Letter}:\!READ.htm
  • {Encrypted Folder}!READ.htm
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\Network Shortcut\!READ.htm
  • %Application Data%\!READ.htm
  • %AppDataLocal%\!READ.htm
  • %User Startup%\!READ.htm

Step 4

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as RANSOM_GPAA.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 the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:

Step 5

Restore encrypted files from backup.


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.