Analysis by: Francesca Villasanta
ALIASES:

Ransom:Win32/Nokonoko.PB!MTB (MICROSOFT); Win32:Nokoyawa-A [Trj] (AVAST)

 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

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

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 25,088 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 12 Apr 2023
Payload: Encrypts files, Displays message/message boxes, Modifies system registry

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:

  • if --safe-mode commandline parameter is used:
    • "%System%\bcdedit.exe" /set {default} safeboot network
    • "%System%\shutdown.exe" -r

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

Autostart Technique

This Ransomware registers itself as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Control\SafeBoot\Network\
nokonoko → if --safe-mode commandline parameter is used.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\nokonoko → if --safe-mode commandline parameter is used.

Other System Modifications

This Ransomware modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Control\SafeBoot\Network\
nokonoko → if --safe-mode commandline parameter is used.
(Default) = Service

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Control → if --safe-mode commandline parameter is used.
ServicesPipeTimeout = 86400000

Other Details

This Ransomware does the following:

  • It encrypts files found in the following drives:
    • Fixed Drives
    • Removable Drives
    • Remote (Network) Drives
  • The following can be changed in the runtime configuration:
    • Directories to avoid
    • File extensions to avoid
    • Ransom note content
    • Ransom note filename
    • Appended extension of encrypted files
    The following can be enabled/disabled in the runtime configuration:
    • Encryption of network shares
    • Delete shadow copies
    • Loading of hidden drives
  • It shows the following message box when the --config argument is improperly encoded:
  • It adds the following service if --safe-mode commandline parameter is used:
      Service Name: nokonoko
      Display Name: shmokoshmoko
      Path to exectuable: {Malware File Path}\{Malware File Name}.exe --config {Base64 encoded config}
      Start Type: Auto start

It accepts the following parameters:

  • --config → {Base64 encoded config} → runtime configuration of the sample
  • --dir → encrypt selected directories and sub-directories
  • --file → encrypt selected files
  • --safe-mode → reboots and encrypts the user's machine in safe mode

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware avoids encrypting files found in the following folders:

  • windows
  • program files
  • program files (X86)
  • appdata
  • programdata
  • system volume information

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

  • .NOKONOKO

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

  • {Encrypted Directory}\NOKONOKO-readme.txt

It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions:

  • .exe
  • .dll
  • .ini
  • .lnk
  • .url

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 18.380.02
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 13 Apr 2023
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 18.381.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 14 Apr 2023

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.XXPE50FFF069

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 5

Restore this modified 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\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\SafeBoot\Network\nokonoko
    • (Default) = Service
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control
    • ServicesPipeTimeout = 86400000

Step 6

Delete this registry key

[ 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\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\SafeBoot\Network\nokonoko
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\nokonoko

Step 7

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 Directory}\NOKONOKO-readme.txt

Step 8

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Ransom.Win32.NOKO.THDABBC. 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 9

Restore encrypted files from backup.


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