Analysis by: Warren Adam Sto. Tomas

ALIASES:

Ransom:Win32/Jemd!MSR (Microsoft)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Ransomware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • 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 drops files as ransom note. It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 1,036,288 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 25 Nov 2019
Payload: Encrypts files, Displays message/message boxes

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:

  • %ProgramData%\.SaveTheQueen.LOG -> log file

(Note: %ProgramData% is a version of the Program Files folder where any user on a multi-user computer can make changes to programs. This contains application data for all users. This is usually C:\ProgramData on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit), or C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows Server 2003(32-bit), 2000(32-bit), XP.)

It adds the following processes:

  • cmd.exe

It injects codes into the following process(es):

  • cmd.exe (first instance of cmd.exe it finds)

Other Details

This Ransomware does the following:

  • It encrypts files found in all available drives
  • It renames files it will encrypt to {file name and extension}.SaveTheQueenING first then it renames it to {file name and extension}.SaveTheQueen after encrypting the file's contents

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware avoids encrypting files with the following strings in their file name:

  • explorer.exe

It avoids encrypting files found in the following folders:

  • C:\inetpub
  • %Program Files%
  • %ProgramData%

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000(32-bit), Server 2003(32-bit), XP, Vista(64-bit), 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit) , or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP(64-bit), Vista(64-bit), 7(64-bit), 8(64-bit), 8.1(64-bit), 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %ProgramData% is a version of the Program Files folder where any user on a multi-user computer can make changes to programs. This contains application data for all users. This is usually C:\ProgramData on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit), or C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows Server 2003(32-bit), 2000(32-bit), XP.)

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

  • .SaveTheQueen

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

  • {Drive letter}:\.SaveTheQueen.HelpMe.TXT

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

It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions:

  • exe
  • dll
  • msi
  • iso
  • sys
  • cab

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 15.528.03
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 29 Nov 2019
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 15.529.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 30 Nov 2019

Step 1

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 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.  
  • %ProgramData%\.SaveTheQueen.LOG
  • {Drive letter}:\.SaveTheQueen.HelpMe.TXT

Step 5

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

Step 7

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Ransom.MSIL.SAVEQUEEN.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:


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