Analysis by: Joshua John Bantayan
ALIASES:

Ransom:MSIL/Ryzerlo.A (MICROSOFT); HEUR:Trojan-Ransom.MSIL.Encoder.gen (KASPERSKY)

 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: 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 connects to certain websites to send and receive information.

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

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 978,432 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 01 Jun 2020
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Encrypts files, Steals information, Displays message/message boxes, 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 copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %System Root%\{user name}\Rand123\local.exe

(Note: %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.)

It drops the following files:

  • %System Root%\{user name}\ransom.jpg

(Note: %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
Wallpaper = %System Root%\{user name}\ransom.jpg

Information Theft

This Ransomware gathers the following data:

  • Computer name
  • User name

Other Details

This Ransomware connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.210.127/write.php

It encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • .001
  • .7-zip
  • .ace
  • .apk
  • .arj
  • .asp
  • .aspx
  • .avi
  • .bmp
  • .bz2
  • .c
  • .cab
  • .contact
  • .core
  • .cpp
  • .crproj
  • .cs
  • .csv
  • .dat
  • .db
  • .dll
  • .doc
  • .docx
  • .dwg
  • .exe
  • .f3d
  • .gzip
  • .htm
  • .html
  • .ico
  • .iso
  • .jar
  • .jpg
  • .lnk
  • .lzh
  • .mdb
  • .mkv
  • .mov
  • .mp3
  • .mp3
  • .mp4
  • .mpeg
  • .mpg
  • .odt
  • .pas
  • .pdb
  • .pdf
  • .php
  • .png
  • .ppt
  • .pptx
  • .psd
  • .py
  • .rar
  • .rtf
  • .settings
  • .sln
  • .sql
  • .tar
  • .torrent
  • .txt
  • .uue
  • .xls
  • .xlsx
  • .xml
  • .xz
  • .z
  • .zip

It does the following:

  • After its encryption routine, it will display a GUI:
  • It will also change the desktop wallapaper:

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware encrypts files found in the following folders:

  • C:\Users\{User name}\Desktop
  • C:\Users\{User name}\Links
  • C:\Users\{User name}\Contacts
  • C:\Users\{User name}\Desktop
  • C:\Users\{User name}\Documents
  • C:\Users\{User name}\Downloads
  • C:\Users\{User name}\Pictures
  • C:\Users\{User name}\Music
  • C:\Users\{User name}\OneDrive
  • C:\Users\{User name}\Saved Games
  • C:\Users\{User name}\Favorites
  • C:\Users\{User name}\Searches
  • C:\Users\{User name}\Videos

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

  • %Desktop%\READ_IT.txt

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 15.918.05
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 08 Jun 2020
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 15.919.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 09 Jun 2020

Step 1

Trend Micro Predictive Machine Learning detects and blocks malware at the first sign of its existence, before it executes on your system. When enabled, your Trend Micro product detects this malware under the following machine learning name:

     
    • Troj.Win32.TRX.XXPE50FFF035

Step 2

Before doing any scans, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.

Step 3

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 4

Identify and terminate files detected as Ransom.MSIL.FUNICORN.A

[ Learn More ]
  1. Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
  2. If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
  3. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

Step 5

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\Control Panel\Desktop
    • From: Wallpaper = %System Root%\{user name}\ransom.jpg
      To: Wallpaper = {your wallpaper}

Step 6

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.
  • %System Root%\{user name}\Rand123\local.exe
  • %Desktop%\READ_IT.txt
  • %System Root%\{user name}\ransom.jpg

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Ransom.MSIL.FUNICORN.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 8

Restore encrypted files from backup.


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