Analysis by: Mohammed Malubay
ALIASES:

Ransom:PowerShell/Ftcode.A!MSR(MICROSOFT); Ransom.PowerShell.Ftcode(IKARUS); PowerShell/Agent.KP trojan(NOD32);

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Ransomware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • 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.

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

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

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 42,488 bytes
File Type: PS1
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 30 Jan 2020
Payload: Encrypts files, Connects to URLs/IPs, Displays message/message boxes, Steals information

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 adds the following folders:

  • %Public%\OracleKit

(Note: %Public% is the folder that serves as a repository of files or folders common to all users, which is usually C:\Users\Public in Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

It drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\quanto00.tmp → contains date/time logs
  • %User Temp%\{system generated}.tmp → contains malware's powershell logs
  • %Public%\OracleKit\w00log03.tmp → contains GUID

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %Public% is the folder that serves as a repository of files or folders common to all users, which is usually C:\Users\Public in Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

It adds the following processes:

  • bcdedit /set ijgaxiv bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures → disable Windows Error Recovery
  • bcdedit /set ijgaxiv → disable Windows Automatic Repair
  • wbadmin delete catalog -quiet → delete backup catalog
  • wbadmin delete systemstatebackups → delete system state backups
  • wbadmin delete backup → delete other backups
  • vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet → delete shadow copies

Autostart Technique

This Ransomware drops the following shortcut pointing to its copy in the User Startup folder to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

  • WindowsApplicationService.lnk

Download Routine

This Ransomware accesses the following websites to download files:

  • http://dbi.{BLOCKED}ges.com/?need=aegzfej&vid=dpec22&

It saves the files it downloads using the following names:

  • %Public%\Libraries\WindowsIndexingService.vbs

(Note: %Public% is the folder that serves as a repository of files or folders common to all users, which is usually C:\Users\Public in Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

Information Theft

This Ransomware attempts to get stored information such as user names, passwords, and hostnames from the following browsers:

  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Google Chrome
  • Internet Explorer

It attempts to steal stored email credentials from the following:

  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Mozilla Thunderbird

Stolen Information

This Ransomware sends the gathered information via HTTP POST to the following URL:

  • http://books.{BLOCKED}lebooks.com/ - updates about ransom routine
  • http://stats.{BLOCKED}tudelistproject.org/ - updates about information stealing routine

Other Details

This Ransomware does the following:

  • It encrypts drives with free disk space greater than 50MB
  • It won't proceed to its encryption routine and terminate itself if the following condition is met:
    • If %User Temp%\quanto00.tmp creation time is less than 30 minutes.
    • If http://books.{BLOCKED}lebooks.com is inaccessible
  • It gathers the following information and reports it to its servers:
    • Appended File Extension
    • Encryption Key
    • Error Log
    • GUID
    • Malware Version
    • Number of Encrypted Files
    • Powershell Version
    • Status

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

It adds the following scheduled tasks:

  • Task Name: WindowsApplicationService
    • Schedule: DAILY
    • StartTime: 00:00
    • Interval: 15 minutes
    • Duration: 23:59
    • TaskRun: "%Public%\Libraries\WindowsIndexingService.vbs"

(Note: %Public% is the folder that serves as a repository of files or folders common to all users, which is usually C:\Users\Public in Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • .3fr
  • .7z
  • .accdb
  • .ai
  • .apk
  • .arch00
  • .arw
  • .asset
  • .avi
  • .bar
  • .bay
  • .bc6
  • .bc7
  • .bigwallet
  • .bik
  • .bkf
  • .bkp
  • .blob
  • .bsa
  • .cas
  • .cdr
  • .cer
  • .cfr
  • .cr2
  • .crt
  • .crw
  • .css
  • .csv
  • .d3dbsp
  • .das
  • .dazip
  • .db0
  • .dba
  • .dbf
  • .dcr
  • .der
  • .desc
  • .dmp
  • .dng
  • .doc
  • .docm
  • .docx
  • .dwg
  • .dxg
  • .epk
  • .eps
  • .erf
  • .esm
  • .ff
  • .flv
  • .forge
  • .fos
  • .fpk
  • .fsh
  • .gdb
  • .gho
  • .hkdb
  • .hkx
  • .hplg
  • .hvpl
  • .ibank
  • .icxs
  • .indd
  • .itdb
  • .itl
  • .itm
  • .iwd
  • .iwi
  • .jpe
  • .jpeg
  • .jpg
  • .js
  • .kdb
  • .kdc
  • .kf
  • .layout
  • .lbf
  • .litemod
  • .lrf
  • .ltx
  • .lvl
  • .m2
  • .m3u
  • .m4a
  • .map
  • .mcmeta
  • .mdb
  • .mdbackup
  • .mddata
  • .mdf
  • .mef
  • .menu
  • .mlx
  • .mov
  • .mp4
  • .mpqge
  • .mrwref
  • .ncf
  • .nrw
  • .ntl
  • .odb
  • .odc
  • .odm
  • .odp
  • .ods
  • .odt
  • .orf
  • .p12
  • .p7b
  • .p7c
  • .pak
  • .pdd
  • .pdf
  • .pef
  • .pem
  • .pfx
  • .pkpass
  • .png
  • .ppt
  • .pptm
  • .pptx
  • .psd
  • .psk
  • .pst
  • .ptx
  • .py
  • .qdf
  • .qic
  • .r3d
  • .raf
  • .rar
  • .raw
  • .rb
  • .re4
  • .rgss3a
  • .rim
  • .rofl
  • .rtf
  • .rw2
  • .rwl
  • .sav
  • .sb
  • .sid
  • .sidd
  • .sidn
  • .sie
  • .sis
  • .slm
  • .snx
  • .sql
  • .sr2
  • .srf
  • .srw
  • .sum
  • .svg
  • .syncdb
  • .t12
  • .t13
  • .tax
  • .tor
  • .txt
  • .upk
  • .vcf
  • .vdf
  • .vfs0
  • .vpk
  • .vpp_pc
  • .vtf
  • .w3x
  • .wb2
  • .wma
  • .wmo
  • .wmv
  • .wotreplay
  • .wpd
  • .wps
  • .x3f
  • .xf
  • .xlk
  • .xls
  • .xlsb
  • .xlsm
  • .xlsx
  • .xxx
  • .zip
  • .ztmp

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

  • .{6 random characters}

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

  • {Encrypted Directory}\READ_ME_NOW.htm

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 15.676.04
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 10 Feb 2020
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 15.677.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 11 Feb 2020

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

Deleting Scheduled Tasks

The following {Task Name} - {Task to be run} listed should be used in the steps identified below:

  • WindowsApplicationService = "%Public%\Libraries\WindowsIndexingService.vbs"

For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:

  1. Open the Windows Scheduled Tasks. Click Start>Programs>Accessories>
    System Tools>Scheduled Tasks.
  2. Locate each {Task Name} values listed above in the Name column.
  3. Right-click on the said file(s) with the aforementioned value.
  4. Click on Properties. In the Run field, check for the listed {Task to be run}.
  5. If the strings match the list above, delete the task.

For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012:

  1. Open the Windows Task Scheduler. To do this:
    • On Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008, click Start, type taskschd.msc in the Search input field, then press Enter.
    • On Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, click Run, type taskschd.msc, then press Enter.
  2. In the left panel, click Task Scheduler Library.
  3. In the upper-middle panel, locate each {Task Name} values listed above in the Name column.
  4. In the lower-middle panel, click the Actions tab. In the Details column, check for the {Task to be run} string.
  5. If the said string is found, delete the task.

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.
  • %Public%\OracleKit\w00log03.tmp
  • %Public%\Libraries\WindowsIndexingService.vbs
  • %User Temp%\quanto00.tmp
  • %User Startup%\WindowsApplicationService.lnk
  • {Encrypted Directory}\READ_ME_NOW.htm

Step 5

Search and delete this folder

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden folders in the search result.
  • %Public%\OracleKit\

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Ransom.PS1.FTCODE.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 7

Enabling Windows Error Recovery

  1. Run the command prompt (cmd.exe) as administrator.
  2. Enable Windows Error Recovery Screen on Startup by typing the following command:
    bcdedit /set {default} bootstatuspolicy displayallfailures

Step 8

Enabling Volume Shadow Service

  1. Run the command prompt (cmd.exe) as administrator.
  2. Enable Volume Shadow Service by typing the following command:
    net start vss

Step 9

Enabling Startup Repair

  1. Run the command prompt (cmd.exe) as administrator.
  2. Enable Startup Repair by typing the following command:
    /bcedit /set {default} recoveryenabled Yes

Step 10

Restore encrypted files from backup.

NOTES:

Restoring Backup Catalog

  1. Run the command prompt (cmd.exe) as administrator.
  2. Restore backup catalog using the following command:
    wbadmin restore catalog


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