Analysis by: Jemimah Mae Molina
ALIASES:

Trojan-Ransom.FileCoder (IKARUS); Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Farmobuk.a (KASPERSKY)

 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

This Ransomware deletes files in certain folders, disabling programs and applications from properly running.

It connects to certain websites to send and receive information.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 294,464 bytes
File Type: EXE
File Compression: UPX
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 04 Jan 2019
Payload: Displays message/message boxes, Connects to URLs/IPs

Other System Modifications

This Ransomware deletes files in the following folders:

  • %User Profile%\Documents
  • %Desktop%
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent
  • %Favorites%
  • %User Profile%\Music
  • %User Profile%\Videos
  • %Public%\Desktop
  • {All drives, except drive C}

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.. %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.. %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.. %Favorites% is the current user's Favorites folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Favorites on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\Favorites on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.. %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.)

Other Details

This Ransomware connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • https://s.{BLOCKED}7.xyz/u3/w

It does the following:

  • It formats all drives, except drive C, using the following command:
    cmd.exe /c format {Drive Letter}: /fs:ntfs /q /y

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware leaves text files that serve as ransom notes containing the following text:

  • {Directory of Deleted Files}\Warning.txt

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 14.730.04
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 04 Jan 2019
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 14.731.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 05 Jan 2019

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

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.
  • {Directory of Deleted Files}\Warning.txt

Step 4

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Ransom.Win32.MONGOLOCK.THOAODAI. 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 these deleted files from backup

*Note: Only Microsoft-related keys/values will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted registry keys/values related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on your computer.

  • %User Profile%\Documents
  • %Desktop%
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent
  • %Favorites%
  • %User Profile%\Music
  • %User Profile%\Videos
  • %Public%\Desktop
  • {All drives, except drive C}


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