Analysis by: John Rainier Navato
 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.

As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

It encrypts files found in specific folders. It drops files as ransom note.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 8,625,152 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 02 Jan 2025
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Collects system information, Drops files, Encrypts files, Steals information

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 a copy of itself in the following folders using different file names:

  • %Application Data%\MyApp\myapp.exe

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

It drops the following files:

  • %System Root%\error_log.txt
  • %AppDataLocal%\DataHexaLocker\data_{Random}.zip → contains stolen .pdf files

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

  • %System Root%\SGDYSRE67T43TVD6E5RD.exe
  • wmic csproduct get UUID
  • notepad %Desktop%\ReadMe.txt

(Note: %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.. %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Application Data%\MyApp
  • %AppDataLocal%\DataHexaLocker

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming 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).)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
MyAppAutostart = %Application Data%\MyApp\myapp.exe

Download Routine

This Ransomware connects to the following website(s) to download and execute a malicious file:

  • https://{BLOCKED}cker.xyz/SGDYSRE67T43TVD6E5RD.exe

It saves the files it downloads using the following names:

  • %System Root%\SGDYSRE67T43TVD6E5RD.exe

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

As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

Information Theft

This Ransomware gathers the following data:

  • Machine UUID
  • Machine IP Address
  • Computer Name
  • Salt and Key Used for Encryption
  • Files in all available drives with the following extensions:
    • .pdf

Stolen Information

This Ransomware sends the gathered information via HTTP POST to the following URL:

  • https://{BLOCKED}cker.xyz/receive.php → URL where %AppDataLocal%\DataHexaLocker\data_{Random}.zip is being sent
  • https://{BLOCKED}cker.xyz/index.php?method=new&hwid={Encoded UUID}&ip={Affected Machine's IP Address}&computername={Affected Machine's Computer Name}&password={Key}&sel={Salt} → URL where the affected system information and the salt and key used for encryption are being sent

    As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

Other Details

This Ransomware encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • .1cd
  • .3ds
  • .3fr
  • .3g2
  • .3gp
  • .7z
  • .7zip
  • .accda
  • .accdb
  • .accdc
  • .accde
  • .accdr
  • .accdt
  • .accdw
  • .ace
  • .adp
  • .ai
  • .ai3
  • .ai4
  • .ai5
  • .ai6
  • .ai7
  • .ai8
  • .amv
  • .apk
  • .arj
  • .arw
  • .ascx
  • .asm
  • .asmx
  • .asp
  • .aspx
  • .avi
  • .avs
  • .backup
  • .bak
  • .bat
  • .bay
  • .bin
  • .bk
  • .blob
  • .bmp
  • .bz2
  • .cab
  • .cer
  • .cfm
  • .cmd
  • .config
  • .contact
  • .core
  • .cpp
  • .crt
  • .cs
  • .css
  • .csv
  • .cub
  • .cvs
  • .dae
  • .dat
  • .db
  • .dbf
  • .dbx
  • .dc3
  • .dcm
  • .dcr
  • .dib
  • .dic
  • .dif
  • .divx
  • .djvu
  • .dll
  • .dmg
  • .doc
  • .docm
  • .docx
  • .dot
  • .dotx
  • .dwg
  • .dwt
  • .epsp
  • .exe
  • .exif
  • .exr
  • .f4v
  • .flp
  • .flv
  • .geo
  • .gif
  • .gsm
  • .gz
  • .gzip
  • .htm
  • .html
  • .ibank
  • .ico
  • .iff
  • .inc
  • .indd
  • .ini
  • .iso
  • .jar
  • .java
  • .jpe
  • .jpeg
  • .jpg
  • .js
  • .json
  • .jsp
  • .key
  • .kmz
  • .kwm
  • .lnk
  • .log
  • .lzh
  • .m1v
  • .m4a
  • .m4p
  • .m4v
  • .max
  • .mda
  • .mdb
  • .mde
  • .mdf
  • .mdw
  • .mht
  • .mhtml
  • .mka
  • .mkv
  • .mov
  • .mp3
  • .mp4
  • .mpeg
  • .mpg
  • .mpv
  • .msg
  • .msi
  • .myi
  • .nef
  • .obj
  • .odc
  • .odm
  • .odp
  • .ods
  • .odt
  • .oft
  • .onepkg
  • .onetoc2
  • .opt
  • .oqy
  • .orf
  • .p12
  • .p7b
  • .p7c
  • .pam
  • .pas
  • .pdb
  • .pdf
  • .pfx
  • .php
  • .pict
  • .pl
  • .pls
  • .png
  • .pot
  • .potm
  • .potx
  • .ppam
  • .pps
  • .ppsm
  • .ppt
  • .pptm
  • .pptx
  • .ps
  • .psb
  • .psd
  • .pst
  • .py
  • .r3d
  • .rar
  • .raw
  • .rb
  • .rgbe
  • .rss
  • .rtf
  • .safe
  • .settings
  • .sie
  • .slk
  • .sln
  • .sql
  • .stm
  • .sum
  • .svg
  • .svgz
  • .swf
  • .swift
  • .tab
  • .tar
  • .tar.gz
  • .tbi
  • .tif
  • .torrent
  • .txt
  • .vb
  • .vbs
  • .vdi
  • .vmdk
  • .vob
  • .vss
  • .wallet
  • .wav
  • .webm
  • .webp
  • .wma
  • .wmv
  • .wpd
  • .wps
  • .xla
  • .xlam
  • .xlk
  • .xlm
  • .xls
  • .xlsb
  • .xlsm
  • .xlsx
  • .xlt
  • .xltm
  • .xltx
  • .xlw
  • .xml
  • .xps
  • .xsd
  • .xsf
  • .xsl
  • .xz
  • .zip

It does the following:

  • It adds its stolen .pdf files to the following .zip file:
    • %AppDataLocal%\DataHexaLocker\data_{Random}.zip

(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).)

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware encrypts files found in the following folders:

  • %User Profile%

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

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

  • AppData

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

  • .HexaLockerV2

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

  • %Desktop%\ReadMe.txt

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 19.814.04
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 02 Jan 2025
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 19.815.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 03 Jan 2025

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.XXPE50FFF089

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

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • MyAppAutostart = %Application Data%\MyApp\myapp.exe

Step 6

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.
  • %Application Data%\MyApp\myapp.exe
  • %AppDataLocal%\DataHexaLocker\data_{Random}.zip
  • %System Root%\SGDYSRE67T43TVD6E5RD.exe
  • %System Root%:\error_log.txt
  • %Desktop%\ReadMe.txt

Step 7

Search and delete these folders

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden folders in the search result.
  • %Application Data%\MyApp
  • %AppDataLocal%\DataHexaLocker

Step 8

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Ransom.Win64.HEXALOCK.THAOBBE.go. 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.

Step 10

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Ransom.Win64.HEXALOCK.THAOBBE.go. 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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