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TROJ_RANSOM.PHP

October 26, 2013
 Analysis by: Rika Joi Gregorio
 ALIASES:

Trojan.Ransomlock.Q(Symantec), Win32/TrojanDownloader.Zurgop.AZ trojan(Eset)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware


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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

129,024 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

25 Oct 2013

Payload:

Connects to URLs/IPs, Displays graphics/image

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 the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Application Data%\skype.dat

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

It stays resident in memory by creating the following process(es):

  • svchost.exe

It injects threads into the following normal process(es):

  • created svchost.exe

Autostart Technique

This Trojan adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
shell = "explorer.exe,%Application Data%\skype.dat"

NOTES:

This Trojan locks the user's screen and loads the following site on the screen: http://{BLOCKED}rkbook.us/o/eluqfplgsncexczj-uspaquynjw-laig_prphnq-ihiigjlxqzcg-rzpyshihko_jhebcdcroasuxx-bfwi-frtf_qcus_.php

However, as of this writing, the said site is no longer contains the ransomware page.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

10.364.04

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

25 Oct 2013

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

10.365.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

26 Oct 2013

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

Identify and delete files detected as TROJ_RANSOM.PHP using either the Startup Disk or Recovery Console

[ Learn More ]

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\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
    • shell = "explorer.exe,%Application Data%\skype.dat"

Step 4

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_RANSOM.PHP. 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.


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