Analysis by: Ryan Paolo Maglaque
ALIASES:

Ransom.CryptoBubble(Quickheal);Ransom.Bubble(Malwarebytes)

 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: Dropped by other malware, 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 sends gathered information to a predetermined email address using its own Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) engine.

It encrypts files with specific file extensions. It encrypts files found in specific folders.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 473,600 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 27 Jun 2017
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Steals information, Displays message/message boxes, Encrypts files

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.

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
preventivo.pdf = {Malware path}

Other System Modifications

This Ransomware adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\WinNT
SerialNumber = {key}

Stolen Information

This Ransomware sends gathered information to a predetermined email address using its own Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) engine.

It sends the data it gathers to the following email addresses via SMTP:

  • bubble_lck@{BLOCKED}l.com

Other Details

This Ransomware does the following:

  • It sends the following information through email:
    • Key
    • OS
    • pcname
    • username
    • architecture

  • Displays the following window as ransom note:

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • .png
  • .jpeg
  • .jpg
  • .3gp
  • .bmp
  • .tiff
  • .mp4
  • .mov
  • .mpeg
  • .avi
  • .zip
  • .doc
  • .docx
  • .docm
  • .pdf
  • .xls
  • .xlsm
  • .xlsx
  • .mdb
  • .accdb
  • .accdt
  • .dwg
  • .cdr
  • .rar
  • .odt
  • .ods
  • .odg
  • .odp
  • .odb
  • .odf
  • .otg
  • .otp
  • .ott
  • .csv
  • .txt
  • .mp3
  • .ac3
  • .mid
  • .wav
  • .DivX
  • .mpg
  • .ogv
  • .ogg

It encrypts files found in the following folders:

  • MyPictures
  • Personal
  • MyVideos
  • MyMusic
  • Desktop

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

  • .bubble

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 13.500.08
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 28 Jun 2017
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 13.501.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 29 Jun 2017

Step 1

Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.

Step 2

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 3

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
    • preventivo.pdf = {Malware path}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\WinNT
    • SerialNumber = {key}

Step 4

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as RANSOM_BUBBLE.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 this Knowledge Base page for more information.

Step 5

Restore encrypted files from backup.


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.