Ransom.Win32.MAZE.AG
N/A
Windows
Threat Type: Ransomware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: Yes
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
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 generates a beeping sound.
It drops files as ransom note. It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
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:
- %All Users Profile%\memes.tmp
- %User Temp%\111.bmp
(Note: %All Users Profile% is the common user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\ProgramData on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit). . %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).)
It adds the following processes:
- "C:\b\..\Windows\s\bi\..\..\system32\gurg\..\wbem\or\..\wmic.exe" shadowcopy delete → deletes shadow copies
It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:
- Global\{Generated String from System Information}
Other System Modifications
This Ransomware changes the desktop wallpaper by modifying the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
Wallpaper = %User Temp%\111.bmp
It sets the system's desktop wallpaper to the following image:
Process Termination
This Ransomware terminates the following processes if found running in the affected system's memory:
- ida.exe
- ida64.exe
- x32dbg.exe
- x64dbg.exe
- python.exe
- fiddler.exe
- dumpcap.exe
- procmon.exe
- procexp.exe
- procmon64.exe
- procexp64.exe
Information Theft
This Ransomware gathers the following data:
- User Name
- Computer Name
- Process Integrity Level
- Installed AVs
- OS Name
- Machine Role
- Number of Drives
- Shared Folders
- User Language
- System Language
- System Uptime
Stolen Information
This Ransomware sends the gathered information via HTTP POST to the following URL:
- http://{IP Adress}/{String1}/{Random Characters}.{Extension}
- where:
- IP Address:
- {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.114.4
- {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.114.11
- {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.114.25
- {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.114.26
- {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.114.31
- {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.114.32
- {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.114.37
- {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.114.38
- {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.114.77
- {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.114.79
- String1:
- news
- login
- register
- logout
- edit
- content
- private
- messages
- account
- view
- webauth
- webaccess
- archive
- forum
- post
- signin
- signout
- update
- support
- ticket
- task
- tracker
- analytics
- check
- checkout
- payout
- withdrawal
- sepa
- create
- transfer
- wire
- Extension:
- php
- asp
- aspx
- cgi
- jsp
- jspx
- action
- html
- phtml
- shtml
Other Details
This Ransomware generates a beeping sound.
It does the following:
- It detects the role of the machine infected and displays the appropriate string in the wallpaper:
- standalone server
- server in corporate network
- workstation in corporate network
- home computer
- primary domain controller
- backup server
- very valuable for you
- It uses Windows Text-to-Speech functionality to play the following message:
- {Username}! Alert! {Username}! Alert! Dear {Username}, your files have been encrypted by Maze Ransomware! Attention! You need to buy decryptor in order to restore the files.
Ransomware Routine
This Ransomware avoids encrypting files with the following strings in their file name:
- DECRYPT-FILES.txt
- autorun.inf
- boot.ini
- desktop.ini
- ntuser.dat
- iconcache.db
- bootsect.bak
- ntuser.dat.log
- thumbs.db
- Bootfont.bin
It avoids encrypting files with the following strings in their file path:
- \ProgramFiles
- :\Windows
- \Games\
- \Tor Browser\
- \ProgramData\
- \cache2\entries\
- \Low\Content.IE5\
- \User Data\Default\Cache\
- \All Users
- \IETldCache\
- \Local Settings\
- \AppData\Local
- AhnLab
- {GUID}
It appends the following extension to the file name of the encrypted files:
- {Original Filename}.{Original File Extension}.{Random Characters}
It drops the following file(s) as ransom note:
- {Encrypted Directory}\DECRYPT-FILES.txt
It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions:
- .lnk
- .exe
- .sys
- .dll
SOLUTION
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
Step 4
Search and delete these files
- %All Users Profile%\memes.tmp
- %User Temp%\111.bmp
- {Encrypted directory}\DECRYPT-FILES.txt
Step 5
Reset your Desktop properties
Step 6
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Ransom.Win32.MAZE.AG. 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 7
Restore encrypted files from backup.
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