Analysis by: Robert Nicole Malagad
 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: Spammed via email, Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware

This Ransomware arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users. It arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It is capable of encrypting files in the affected system.

It drops files as ransom note.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 411,136 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 16 Oct 2018
Payload: Drops files

Arrival Details

This Ransomware arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users.

It 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 processes:

  • cmd.exe / c vssadmin delete shadows / all / quiet & wmic shadowcopy delete & bcdedit / set{ default } bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures & bcdedit / set{ default } recoveryenabled no & wbadmin delete catalog - quiet

Other Details

This Ransomware does the following:

  • It displays the following ransom note:

It is capable of encrypting files in the affected system.

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware appends the following extension to the file name of the encrypted files:

  • .altdelete@cock.li.district

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

  • {Encrypted File Directory}\READ_IT.district

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 14.594.04
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 29 Oct 2018
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 14.595.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 30 Oct 2018

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

Identify and terminate files detected as Ransom.Win32.DISTRICT.THJAGAH

[ 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 3

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}\READ_IT.district

Step 4

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Ransom.Win32.DISTRICT.THJAGAH. 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 5

Restore encrypted files from backup.


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