Ransom.Win32.MIMIC.SMZTJJ-A

February 02, 2023

Analysis by: Jayvee Mark Villaroman

ALIASES:

UDS:Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Mimic.gen (KASPERSKY), Trojan-Ransom.Mimic (IKARUS)

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, 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 deletes registry entries, causing some applications and programs to not function properly.

It drops files as ransom note.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 2,453,740 bytes

File Type: EXE

Memory Resident: Yes

Initial Samples Received Date: 17 Jan 2023

Payload: Drops files, Terminates processes, Deletes files, Encrypts files

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 affected directories}\Decrypt_me.txt
%User Temp%\session.tmp
%AppDataLocal%\{GUID}\bestplacetolive.exe
%AppDataLocal%\{GUID}\session.tmp
%User Temp%\{random letters}.{random letters}.ps1
%User Temp%\{random letters}.{random letters}.psm1
%AppDataLocal%\{GUID}\Everything32.dll

(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).. %AppDataLocal% is the Local Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It adds the following processes:

"%AppDataLocal%\{GUID}\bestplacetolive.exe"
"%AppDataLocal%\{GUID}\bestplacetolive.exe" -e watch -pid {PID of bestplacetolive.exe} -!
"%AppDataLocal%\{GUID}\bestplacetolive.exe" -e ul1
"%AppDataLocal%\{GUID}\bestplacetolive.exe" -e ul2
powercfg.exe -H off
powercfg.exe -SETACVALUEINDEX {Power scheme GUID} {GUID Subgroup} {GUID Setting 1} 0
powercfg.exe -SETACVALUEINDEX {Power scheme GUID} {GUID Subgroup} {GUID Setting 2} 0
powercfg.exe -SETACVALUEINDEX {Power scheme GUID} {GUID Subgroup} {GUID Setting 3} 0
powercfg.exe -SETDCVALUEINDEX {Power scheme GUID} {GUID Subgroup} {GUID Setting 1} 0
powercfg.exe -SETDCVALUEINDEX {Power scheme GUID} {GUID Subgroup} {GUID Setting 2} 0
powercfg.exe -SETDCVALUEINDEX {Power scheme GUID} {GUID Subgroup} {GUID Setting 3} 0
powercfg.exe -SETACVALUEINDEX {Power scheme GUID 2} {GUID Subgroup} {GUID Setting 1} 0
powercfg.exe -SETACVALUEINDEX {Power scheme GUID 2} {GUID Subgroup} {GUID Setting 2} 0
powercfg.exe -SETACVALUEINDEX {Power scheme GUID 2} {GUID Subgroup} {GUID Setting 3} 0
powercfg.exe -SETDCVALUEINDEX {Power scheme GUID 2} {GUID Subgroup} {GUID Setting 1} 0
powercfg.exe -SETDCVALUEINDEX {Power scheme GUID 2} {GUID Subgroup} {GUID Setting 2} 0
powercfg.exe -SETDCVALUEINDEX {Power scheme GUID 2} {GUID Subgroup} {GUID Setting 3} 0
powercfg.exe -S {Power scheme GUID}
powercfg.exe -S {Power scheme GUID 2}
powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass "Get-VM | Stop-VM"
powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass "Get-VM | Select-Object vmid | Get-VHD | %{Get-DiskImage -ImagePath $_.Path; Get-DiskImage -ImagePath $_.ParentPath} | Dismount-DiskImage"
powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass "Get-Volume | Get-DiskImage | Dismount-DiskImage"
cmd.exe /c DC.exe /D

(Note: %AppDataLocal% is the Local Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It creates the following folders:

%AppDataLocal%\{GUID}
%System Root%\temp

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

iitiitLavvoiteaieii

Autostart Technique

This Ransomware adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
bestplacetolive = "%AppDataLocal%\{GUID}\bestplacetolive.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Ransomware modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\VSS
Start = 4