Analysis by: Raighen Sanchez
ALIASES:

Ransom:Win64/Akira.CCDR!MTB

 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 encrypts files found in specific folders. It drops files as ransom note. It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 517,632 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 11 Sep 2024
Payload: Collects system information, Encrypts files, Drops files, Displays graphics/image, 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 drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %User Startup%\{32 random alphanumeric}.exe

(Note: %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows NT, C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 2003(32-bit), XP and 2000(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit), 10(64-bit).)

It drops the following files:

  • %ProgramData%\{32 random alphanumeric}.ico → icon of encrypted files
  • %ProgramData%\{32 random alphanumeric}.bmp → desktop wallpaper after encryption

(Note: %ProgramData% is a version of the Program Files folder where any user on a multi-user computer can make changes to programs. This contains application data for all users. This is usually C:\ProgramData on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit), or C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows Server 2003(32-bit), 2000(32-bit) and XP.)

It adds the following processes:

  • vssadmin Delete Shadows /All /Quiet
  • bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled No
  • bcdedit /set {default} bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures
  • wmic SHADOWCOPY /nointeractive

It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:

  • 51A301AD-3CCF-413A-AD80-A507DDCFF34C

Other System Modifications

This Ransomware adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.h0rus13\DefaultIcon
{default} = %ProgramData%\{32 random alphanumeric}.ic

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Krypt
public = {hex values}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Krypt
full = {hex values}

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftware\Policies\Microsoft\
Windows Defender
DisableAntiSpyware = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftware\Policies\Microsoft\
Windows Defender
DisableRealtimeMonitoring = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows NT\SystemRestore
DisableSR = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows NT\SystemRestore
DisableConfig = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows\WinRE
DisableSetup = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows\Backup\
Client
DisableRestoreUI = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows\Backup\
Client
DisableBackupLauncher = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows\Backup\
Client
DisableSystemBackupUI = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows\Backup\
Client
DisableBackupUI = 1

It sets the system's desktop wallpaper to the following image:

Process Termination

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

  • wrapper
  • DefWatch
  • ccEvtMgr
  • ccSetMgr
  • SavRoam
  • Sqlservr
  • sqlagent
  • sqladhlp
  • Culserver
  • RTVscan
  • sqlbrowser
  • SQLADHLP
  • QBIDPService
  • Intuit.QuickBooks.FCS
  • QBCFMonitorService
  • msmdsrv
  • tomcat6
  • zhudongfangyu
  • vmware-usbarbitator64
  • vmware-converter
  • dbsrv12
  • dbeng8
  • MSSQL$MICROSOFT##WID
  • MSSQL$VEEAMSQL2012
  • SQLAgent$VEEAMSQL2012
  • SQLBrowser
  • SQLWriter
  • FishbowlMySQL
  • MSSQL$MICROSOFT##WID
  • MySQL57
  • MSSQL$KAV_CS_ADMIN_KIT
  • MSSQLServerADHelper100
  • SQLAgent$KAV_CS_ADMIN_KIT
  • msftesql-Exchange
  • MSSQL$MICROSOFT##SSEE
  • MSSQL$SBSMONITORING

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

  • wxserver
  • wxserverview
  • sqlmangr
  • ragui
  • supervise
  • culture
  • defwatch
  • winword
  • qbw32
  • qbdbmgr
  • qbupdate
  • axlbridge
  • httpd
  • fdlauncher
  • msdtsrvr
  • java
  • 360se
  • 360doctor
  • wdswfsafe
  • fdhost
  • gdscan
  • zhudongfangyu
  • qbdbmgrn
  • mysqld
  • autodeskdesktopapp
  • acwebbrowser
  • creative cloud
  • adobe desktop service
  • coresync
  • adobe cef
  • helper
  • node
  • adobeipcbroker
  • sync-taskbar
  • sync-worker
  • inputpersonalization
  • adobecollabsync
  • brctrlcntr
  • brccuxsys
  • simplyconnectionmanager
  • simply.systemtrayicon
  • fbguard
  • fbserver
  • onenotem
  • wsa_service
  • koaly-exp-engine-service
  • teamviewer_service
  • teamviewer
  • tv_w32
  • tv_x64
  • titanv
  • ssms
  • notepad
  • rdrcef
  • sam
  • oracle
  • ocssd
  • dbsnmp
  • synctime
  • agntsvc
  • isqlplussvc
  • xfssvccon
  • mydesktopservice
  • ocautoupds
  • encsvc
  • tbirdconfig
  • mydesktopqos
  • ocomm
  • dbeng50
  • sqbcoreservice
  • exce
  • infopath
  • msaccess
  • mspub
  • onenote
  • outlook
  • powerpnt
  • steam
  • thebat
  • thunderbird
  • visio
  • wordpad
  • bedbh
  • vxmon
  • benetns
  • bengien
  • pvlsvr
  • beserver
  • raw_agent_svc
  • vsnapvss
  • cagservice
  • dellsystemdetect
  • enterpriseclient
  • processhacker
  • procexp64
  • procexp
  • glasswire
  • gwctlsrv
  • wireshark
  • dumpcap
  • j0gnjko1
  • autoruns
  • autoruns64a
  • autorunsc
  • autorunsc64a
  • sysmon
  • sysmon64
  • procexp64a
  • procmon
  • procmon64
  • procmon64a
  • adexplorer
  • adexplorer64
  • adexplorer64a
  • tcpview
  • tcpview64
  • tcpview64a
  • avz
  • tdsskiller
  • raccineelevatedcfg
  • raccinesettings
  • raccine_x86
  • raccine
  • sqlservr
  • rtvscan
  • sqlbrowser
  • tomcat6
  • qbidpservice
  • notepad++
  • systemexplorer
  • systemexplorerservice
  • systemexplorerservice64
  • totalcmd
  • totalcmd64
  • veeamdeploymentsvc
  • notepad

Information Theft

This Ransomware gathers the following data:

  • Volume Information

Other Details

This Ransomware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Krypt

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.h0rus13

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.h0rus13\DefaultIcon

HKEY_CURRET_USER\.h0rus13

HKEY_CURRET_USER\.h0rus13\DefaultIcon

It does the following:

  • It encrypts local, removable, and network drives.
  • It empties the recycle bin.
  • It terminates itself if the keyboard layout of the infected machine is the following:
    • Persian/Iran
  • It terminates itself if the GUID was found in the system:
    • 51A301AD-3CCF-413A-AD80-A507DDCFF34C
  • It changes the encrypted file icon to the following image:

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware encrypts files found in the following folders:

  • ProgramData
  • Program Files (x86)

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

  • #HowToRecover.txt
  • BOOTSECT.BAK
  • pagefile.sys
  • bootmgr

It renames encrypted files using the following names:

  • {10 random alphanumeric}.h0rus13

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

  • .h0rus13

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

  • {encrypted directory}\#HowToRecover.txt
  • %Desktop%\#HowToRecover.txt

It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions:

  • exe
  • bmp
  • dll
  • msi
  • ico

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 19.730.02
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 21 Nov 2024
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 19.731.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 22 Nov 2024

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.XXPE50FFF086

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 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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Krypt
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.h0rus13
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.h0rus13\DefaultIcon
  • In HKEY_CURRET_USER\.h0rus13
  • In HKEY_CURRET_USER\.h0rus13\DefaultIcon

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_CLASSES_ROOT\.h0rus13\DefaultIcon
    • {default} = %ProgramData%\{32 random alphanumeric}.ico
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Krypt
    • public = {hex values}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Krypt
    • full = {hex values}

Step 6

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.

RESTORE
  • Close Registry Editor.

    • Step 7

    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.
    • %User Startup%\{32 random alphanumeric}.exe
    • %ProgramData%\{32 random alphanumeric}.ico
    • %ProgramData%\{32 random alphanumeric}.bmp
    • {encrypted directory}\#HowToRecover.txt
    • %Desktop%\#HowToRecover.txt

    Step 8

    Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Ransom.Win64.HORUSKRYPT.THIAGBD. 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 9

    Restore encrypted files from backup.


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