Analysis by: Raighen Sanchez
ALIASES:

Ransom:Win64/DarkPower.CT!MTB (MICROSOFT)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Ransomware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • 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: 1,428,162 bytes
Initial Samples Received Date: 27 Mar 2023
Payload: Disables AV, Encrypts files, 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.

Process Termination

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

  • backup
  • memtas
  • mepocs
  • mssql
  • sophos
  • sql
  • svc$
  • veeam
  • vss → prevent from creating system backup

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

  • agntsvc.exe
  • dbeng50.exe
  • dbsnmp.exe
  • encsvc.exe
  • excel.exe
  • firefox.exe
  • infopath.exe
  • isqlplussvc.exe
  • msaccess.exe
  • mspub.exe
  • mydesktopqos.exe
  • mydesktopservice.exe
  • ocautoupds.exe
  • ocomm.exe
  • ocssd.exe
  • onenote.exe
  • oracle.exe
  • outlook.exe
  • powerpnt.exe
  • sqbcoreservice.exe
  • sql.exe
  • steam.exe
  • synctime.exe
  • taskmgr.exe
  • tbirdconfig.exe
  • thebat.exe
  • thunderbird.exe
  • visio.exe
  • winword.exe
  • wordpad.exe
  • xfssvccon.exe

Other Details

This Ransomware does the following:

  • It displays the following after successful execution:

Ransomware Routine

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

  • autorun.inf
  • boot.ini
  • bootfont.bin
  • bootsec.bak
  • desktop.ini
  • ef.exe
  • iconcache.db
  • ntldr
  • ntuser.dat
  • ntuser.dat.log
  • ntuser.ini
  • readme.pdf
  • thumbs.db

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

  • $recycle.bin
  • appdata
  • application data
  • boot
  • google
  • intel
  • mozilla
  • msocache
  • perflogs
  • program files
  • program files (x86)
  • programdata
  • system volume information
  • tor browser
  • windows
  • windows.old
  • windows.~bt
  • windows.~ws

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

  • {Original filename}.{Original extension}.dark_power

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

  • {All affected directories}\readme.pdf

It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions:

  • 386
  • adv
  • ani
  • bat
  • bin
  • blf
  • cab
  • cmd
  • com
  • cpl
  • cur
  • dat
  • deskthemepack
  • diagcab
  • diagcfg
  • diagpkg
  • dll
  • drv
  • exe
  • hlp
  • hta
  • icl
  • icns
  • ico
  • ics
  • idx
  • ini
  • key
  • ldf
  • lib
  • lnk
  • lock
  • log1
  • log2
  • mod
  • mpa
  • msc
  • msi
  • msp
  • msstyles
  • msu
  • nls
  • nomedia
  • ocx
  • pack
  • prf
  • ps1
  • regtrans-ms
  • rom
  • rtp
  • scr
  • search-ms
  • shs
  • spl
  • sys
  • theme
  • themepack
  • vhdx
  • wpx

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 18.346.04
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 27 Mar 2023
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 18.347.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 28 Mar 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.XXPE50FFF071

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

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.
  • {All affected directories}\readme.pdf

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Ransom.Win64.DARKPOWER.THBBGBC. 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 6

Restore encrypted files from backup.


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