Analysis by: Elton Rondero
 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

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 itself after execution.

It drops files as ransom note. It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 288,944 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 15 Mar 2020
Payload: Encrypts files, Displays message/message boxes, Disables services, 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 adds the following processes:

  • %System%\vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all /quiet

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

Other System Modifications

This Ransomware adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{8 Random Characters}
{8 Random Characters} = {Hex Values}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{8 Random Characters}
{8 Random Characters} = {Hex Values}

Process Termination

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

  • Lotus*
  • veeam*
  • cbvscserv*
  • hMailServer
  • backup*
  • *backup*
  • apach*,"firebird*
  • ibmiasrw
  • IBM Domino*
  • Simply Accounting Database Connection Manager
  • IASJet
  • QB*
  • *sql*
  • sql*
  • QuickBooksDB*
  • IISADMIN
  • omsad
  • dc*32
  • server Administrator
  • wbengine
  • mr2kserv
  • MSExchange*
  • ShadowProtectSvc
  • SP*4
  • teamviewer
  • MMS
  • AcronisAgent
  • ARSM
  • AcrSch2Svc
  • vsnapvss
  • SPXService
  • StorageCraft ImageManager
  • wrsvc
  • stc_endpt_svc
  • acrsch2svc*

It terminates the following processes if found running in the affected system's memory:

  • nslsvice.exe
  • pg*
  • nservice.exe
  • cbvscserv*
  • ntrtscan.exe
  • cbservi*
  • hMailServer*
  • IBM*
  • bes10*
  • black*
  • apach*
  • bd2*
  • db*
  • ba*
  • be*
  • QB*
  • oracle*
  • wbengine*
  • vee*
  • postg*
  • sage*
  • sap*
  • b1*
  • fdlaunch*
  • msmdsrv*
  • report*
  • msdtssr*
  • coldfus*
  • cfdot*
  • swag*
  • swstrtr*
  • jetty.exe
  • wrsa.exe
  • team*
  • agent*
  • store.exe
  • sql*
  • sqbcoreservice.exe
  • thunderbird.exe
  • ocssd.exe
  • encsvc.exe
  • excel.exe
  • synctime.exe
  • mspub.exe
  • ocautoupds.exe
  • thebat.exe
  • dbeng50.exe
  • *sql*
  • mydesktopservice.exe
  • onenote.exe
  • outlook.exe
  • powerpnt.exe
  • msaccess.exe
  • tbirdconfig.exe
  • wordpad.exe
  • ocomm.exe
  • dbsnmp.exe
  • thebat64.exe
  • winword.exe
  • oracle.exe
  • xfssvccon.exe
  • firefoxconfig.exe
  • visio.exe
  • mydesktopqos.exe
  • infopath.exe
  • agntsvc.exe

Other Details

This Ransomware does the following:

  • It encrypts all drives.
  • It terminates itself after the encryption routine.

It deletes itself after execution.

Ransomware Routine

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

  • ntuser.dat*
  • iconcache.db
  • gdipfont*.dat
  • ntuser.ini
  • usrclass.dat
  • usrclass.dat*
  • boot.ini
  • bootmgr
  • bootnxt
  • desktop.ini
  • ntuser.dat
  • autorun.inf
  • ntldr
  • thumbs.db
  • bootsect.bak
  • bootfont.bin

It avoids encrypting files with the following strings in their file path:

  • *system volume information
  • *windows.old
  • *:\users\*\*temp mp
  • *msocache
  • *:\winnt
  • *$windows.~ws
  • *perflogs
  • *boot
  • *:\windows
  • *:\program file*\vmware e
  • \*\users\*\*temp temp
  • \*\winnt nt
  • \*\windows ws
  • *\programfile*\vmware e
  • *appdata*microsoft
  • *appdata*packages
  • *microsoft\provisioning
  • *dvd maker
  • *Internet Explorer
  • *Mozilla
  • *Mozilla*
  • *Old Firefox data
  • *\program file*\windows media* *
  • *\program file*\windows portable* *
  • *windows defender
  • *\program file*\windows nt t
  • *\program file*\windows photo* *
  • *\program file*\windows side* *
  • *\program file*\windowspowershell l
  • *\program file*\cuass* *
  • *\program file*\microsoft games s
  • *\program file*\common files\system em
  • *\program file*\common files\*shared ed
  • *\program file*\common files\reference ass* s*
  • *\windows\cache* *
  • *temporary internet*
  • *media player
  • *:\users\*\appdata\*\microsoft soft
  • \*\users\*\appdata\*\microsoft rosoft

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

  • .{6 Random Characters}

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

  • {Encrypted Directory}\{6 Random Characters}-Readme.txt

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

It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions:

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

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 15.744.03
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 15 Mar 2020
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 15.745.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 16 Mar 2020

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.XXPE50FFF034

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

Delete this registry value

[ Learn More ]

Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{8 Random Characters}
    • {8 Random Characters} = {Hex Values}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{8 Random Characters}
    • {8 Random Characters} = {Hex Values}

Step 5

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.
  • {Encrypted Directory}\{6 Random Characters}-Readme.txt

Step 6

Restore encrypted files from backup.

Step 7

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Ransom.Win32.NETWALKER.A. 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:


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