Analysis by: Leidryn Saludez

ALIASES:

Ransom:Win32/Lockbit.AK!ibt (MICROSOFT)

 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, Dropped by other malware

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: 150,528 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 18 Jun 2024
Payload: Deletes files, Disables AV, Drops files, Encrypts files, Terminates processes

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%\{Random}.tmp → used to delete the malware, deleted afterwards

(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) and XP.)

It adds the following processes:

  • %ProgramData%\{Random}.tmp
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" /C DEL /F /Q %ProgramData%\{Random}.tmp >> NUL

(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) and XP.. %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)

It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:

  • Global\{Generated Hash}

Process Termination

This Ransomware terminates the following services if found on the affected system:

  • securityhealthservice
  • sense
  • sppsvc
  • wdboot
  • wdfilter
  • wdnisdrv
  • wdnissvc
  • windefend
  • wscsvc
  • vmicvss
  • vss

Other Details

This Ransomware does the following:

  • It encrypts fixed, removable and network shares
  • It deletes the following services:
    • securityhealthservice
    • sense
    • sppsvc
    • wdboot
    • wdfilter
    • wdnisdrv
    • wdnissvc
    • windefend
    • wscsvc
    • vmicvss
    • vss
  • It deletes files in recycle bin folder for removable and fixed drives

It accepts the following parameters:

  • -safe →Reboots in safeboot, then encrypts the user's machine
  • -wall → Print ransom note on printers then deletes itself after renaming for 26 times.
  • -path {target} → Specifically encrypt the target, can be file or folder
  • -del → Deletes itself after renaming for 26 times.

Ransomware Routine

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

  • autorun.inf
  • boot.ini
  • bootfont.bin
  • bootsect.bak
  • d3d9caps.dat
  • desktop.ini
  • GDIPFONTCACHEV1.DAT
  • iconcache.db
  • ntldr
  • ntuser.dat
  • ntuser.dat.log
  • ntuser.ini
  • thumbs.db

It avoids encrypting files found in the following folders:

  • $recycle.bin
  • $windows.~bt
  • $windows.~ws
  • all users
  • boot
  • config.msi
  • default
  • intel
  • microsoft
  • msocache
  • perflogs
  • program files
  • program files (x86)
  • programdata
  • public
  • system volume information
  • tor browser
  • windows
  • windows.old
  • x64dbg

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

  • {7 Random Alphanumeric Characters}.sYMY1N6ah

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

  • {Encrypted Directory}\sYMY1N6ah.README.txt

It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions:

  • 386
  • adv
  • ani
  • bat
  • bin
  • cab
  • cmd
  • com
  • cpl
  • cur
  • deskthemepack
  • diagcab
  • diagcfg
  • diagpkg
  • dll
  • drv
  • exe
  • hlp
  • hta
  • icl
  • icns
  • ico
  • ics
  • idx
  • key
  • ldf
  • lnk
  • lock
  • mod
  • mpa
  • msc
  • msi
  • msp
  • msstyles
  • msu
  • nls
  • nomedia
  • ocx
  • pdb
  • prf
  • ps1
  • rom
  • rtp
  • scr
  • search-ms
  • shs
  • spl
  • sys
  • theme
  • themepack
  • wpx

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 19.468.03
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 15 Jul 2024
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 19.469.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 16 Jul 2024

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.XXPE50FFF083

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

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 Directory}\sYMY1N6ah.README.txt

Step 5

Restore encrypted files from backup.

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Ransom.Win32.BRAINCIPHER.THGAEBD. 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

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. DATA_GENERIC
  • Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
    *Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 (R2).

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