RANSOM_CATLOCKER.A

 Analysis by: Ryan Paolo Maglaque

 ALIASES:

Mal/Lockat-A(Sophos)

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

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

72,704 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

01 Sep 2017

Payload:

Connects to URLs/IPs, Displays windows, 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.

Other System Modifications

This Ransomware adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\c4tl0ck3r
mutex = 1

Other Details

This Ransomware does the following:

  • Display the following window:

  • Connects to http://demo4.{BLOCKED}i.com/generar.php to download a key

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • .txt

It encrypts files found in the following folders:

  • P:\Prueba

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

  • .c4tl0ck3d

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

  • {Encrypted file directory}\ENCRIPTADO.txt

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

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

13.632.02

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

01 Sep 2017

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

13.633.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

02 Sep 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\c4tl0ck3r
    • mutex = 1

Step 4

Search and delete these files

[ 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.
  • {Encrypted file directory}\ENCRIPTADO.txt

Step 5

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

Restore encrypted files from backup.


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