Analysis by: Marvelous Pelin
ALIASES:

Ransom.HiddenTear(Symantec)

 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

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 connects to certain websites to send and receive information.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 8,704 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 28 Mar 2017
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, 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.

Installation

This Ransomware drops the following files:

  • %System Root%\password.txt
  • D:\test\HELLO_FROM_HACKER.txt - ransom note

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

Other Details

This Ransomware connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • http://test.{BLOCKED}ach.org:7443/api/encrypt

It encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • .asp
  • .aspx
  • .csv
  • .doc
  • .docx
  • .html
  • .jpg
  • .mdb
  • .odt
  • .php
  • .png
  • .ppt
  • .pptx
  • .psd
  • .sln
  • .sql
  • .txt
  • .xls
  • .xlsx
  • .xml
  • db
  • pdf

It renames encrypted files using the following names:

  • {origina filename and extension}.locked

It does the following:

  • This ransomware encrypts files in the following folders:
    • %System Root%\Users

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

NOTES:

The ransom note contains the following:

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 13.306.01
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 28 Mar 2017
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 13.307.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 29 Mar 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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

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.  
  • %System Root%\password.txt
  • D:\test\HELLO_FROM_HACKER.txt

Step 5

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as RANSOM_HIDDENTEARLKE.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 6

Restore encrypted files from backup.


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