Analysis by: Carl Maverick Pascual

ALIASES:

Ransom:Win32/Magniber (Microsoft) ; Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Magni.bdl (Kaspersky)

 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 encrypts files with specific file extensions. It drops files as ransom note.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 35,328 bytes
File Type: DLL
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 17 Jul 2018
Payload: Encrypts files, , Displays message/message boxes, Drops 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%\Users\Public\README.txt
  • {Encrypted Directory}\README.txt

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

It adds the following processes:

  • notepad.exe
  • pcalua.exe -a http://h5wooy802ia4669395d.fitmuch.pw/3123dyaaghemy -> Displays the payment options
  • pcalua.exe -a eventvwr.exe -> Elevate UAC settings to HIGH
  • "%System%\notepad.exe" %System Root%\Users\Public\README.txt -> Display Ransom Note
  • "cmd.exe" /c "%System%\wbem\wmic shadowcopy delete" -> Delete backup images/shadowcopies

It injects itself into the following processes running in the affected system's memory:

  • notepad.exe (added process)

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

  • dyaaghemy

Other System Modifications

This Ransomware adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_USERS\{SID}_CLASSES\mscfile\
shell\open\command
= cmd.exe /c "%SystemRoot%\system32\wbem\wmic shadowcopy delete"

Other Details

This Ransomware does the following:

  • It will only proceed to its ransomware routine if the installed Language Setting is one of the following:
    • Chinese - Macau SAR
    • Chinese - China
    • Chinese - Singapore
    • Chinese - Taiwan
    • Korean
    • Malay - Brunei
    • Malay - Malaysia

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • doc
  • docx
  • xls
  • xlsx
  • ppt
  • pptx
  • pst
  • ost
  • msg
  • em
  • vsd
  • vsdx
  • csv
  • rtf
  • wks
  • pdf
  • dwg
  • snt
  • gkn
  • docm
  • dot
  • dotm
  • dotx
  • xlsm
  • xlsb
  • xlw
  • xlt
  • xlm
  • xlc
  • xltx
  • xltm
  • pptm
  • pot
  • pps
  • ppsm
  • ppsx
  • ppam
  • potx
  • potm
  • edb
  • hwp
  • sxi
  • sti
  • sldx
  • sldm
  • vdi
  • vmx
  • gpg
  • aes
  • raw
  • cgm
  • nef
  • psd
  • ai
  • svg
  • djvu
  • sh
  • class
  • jar
  • java
  • rb
  • asp
  • php
  • jsp
  • brd
  • sch
  • dch
  • dip
  • p
  • vb
  • vbs
  • js
  • asm
  • h
  • pas
  • cpp
  • c
  • cs
  • suo
  • sln
  • ldf
  • mdf
  • ibd
  • myi
  • myd
  • frm
  • odb
  • dbf
  • db
  • mdb
  • accdb
  • sq
  • asc
  • lay
  • mm
  • sxm
  • otg
  • odg
  • uop
  • std
  • sxd
  • otp
  • odp
  • slk
  • dif
  • stc
  • sxc
  • ots
  • ods
  • max
  • uot
  • stw
  • sxw
  • ott
  • odt
  • pem
  • csr
  • crt
  • key
  • pfx
  • der
  • cd
  • arw
  • jpe
  • eq
  • adp
  • odm
  • dbc
  • frx
  • dbs
  • pds
  • pdt
  • dt
  • cf
  • cfu
  • mx
  • epf
  • kdbx
  • erf
  • vrp
  • grs
  • geo
  • st
  • pff
  • mft
  • efd
  • rib
  • ma
  • lwo
  • lws
  • mb
  • obj
  • x
  • fbx
  • dgn
  • abs
  • adn
  • aft
  • ahd
  • alf
  • ask
  • awdb
  • ba*
  • bdb
  • bib
  • bnd
  • bok
  • btr
  • cdb
  • ckp
  • clkw
  • cma
  • crd
  • dad
  • daf
  • dbk
  • dbt
  • dbv
  • dbx
  • dcb
  • dct
  • dcx
  • dd
  • dmo
  • dnc
  • dqy
  • dsk
  • dsn
  • dta
  • dtsx
  • eco
  • ecx
  • emd
  • fcd
  • fic
  • fid
  • fi
  • fo
  • fpt
  • g*b
  • g*v
  • gdb
  • gwi
  • hdb
  • his
  • ib
  • idc
  • ihx
  • itdb
  • itw
  • jtx
  • kdb
  • lgc
  • maq
  • mdn
  • mdt
  • mrg
  • mud
  • mwb
  • ndf
  • nsf
  • nyf
  • oce
  • oqy
  • ora
  • orx
  • owc
  • owg
  • oyx
  • pan
  • pdb
  • pdm
  • phm
  • po*
  • pth
  • pwa
  • qpx
  • qry
  • qvd
  • rctd
  • rdb
  • rpd
  • rsd
  • sbf
  • sdb
  • sdf
  • spq
  • sqb
  • stp
  • str
  • tcx
  • tdt
  • te
  • tmd
  • trm
  • udb
  • usr
  • vdb
  • vpd
  • wdb
  • wmdb
  • xdb
  • xld
  • xlgc
  • a*db
  • a*dc
  • cdr
  • abw
  • act
  • aim
  • ans
  • apt
  • ase
  • aty
  • awp
  • awt
  • aww
  • bad
  • bbs
  • bdp
  • bdr
  • bean
  • bna
  • boc
  • btd
  • cnm
  • crw
  • cyi
  • dca
  • dgs
  • dj*
  • dne
  • dod*
  • dsv
  • dvi
  • eio
  • eit
  • emlx
  • epp
  • err
  • etf
  • etx
  • euc
  • faq
  • fb
  • fcf
  • fdf
  • fdr
  • fds
  • fdt
  • fdx
  • fdxt
  • fes
  • fft
  • flr
  • fodt
  • gtp
  • frt
  • fwdn
  • fxc
  • gdoc
  • gio
  • gpn
  • gsd
  • gthr
  • gv
  • hbk
  • hht
  • hs
  • htc
  • i*
  • idx
  • ii
  • ipf
  • jis
  • joe
  • jrtf
  • kes
  • klg
  • knt
  • kon
  • kwd
  • lbt
  • lis
  • lit
  • lnt
  • lrc
  • lst
  • ltr
  • ltx
  • lue
  • luf
  • lwp
  • lyt
  • lyx
  • man
  • map
  • mbox
  • me
  • mel
  • min
  • mnt
  • mwp
  • nfo
  • njx
  • now
  • o*b
  • ocr
  • odo
  • of
  • oft
  • ort
  • pfs
  • pjt
  • prt
  • psw
  • pu
  • pvj
  • pvm
  • pwi
  • pwr
  • qd
  • rad
  • rft
  • ris
  • rng
  • rpt
  • rst
  • rt
  • rtd
  • rtx
  • run
  • s*k
  • s*n
  • saf
  • sam
  • scc
  • scm
  • sct
  • scw
  • sdm
  • sdoc
  • sdw
  • sgm
  • sig
  • sla
  • sls
  • smf
  • sms
  • ssa
  • sty
  • sub
  • sxg
  • tab
  • tdf
  • tex
  • text
  • thp
  • tlb
  • tm
  • tmv
  • tmx
  • tpc
  • tvj
  • unx
  • uof
  • upd
  • utxt
  • vct
  • vnt
  • vw
  • wbk
  • wcf
  • wh*
  • wn
  • wpa
  • wpd
  • wps
  • wpt
  • wpw
  • wri
  • wsc
  • wsd
  • wsh
  • wtx
  • xd
  • xlf
  • xps
  • xwp
  • xyp
  • xyw
  • ybk
  • ym
  • a*abw
  • a*w
  • abm
  • afx
  • agif
  • agp
  • aic
  • albm
  • apd
  • apm
  • apng
  • aps
  • apx
  • art
  • asw
  • bay
  • bmx
  • brk
  • brn
  • brt
  • bss
  • bti
  • ca
  • cals
  • can
  • cdc
  • cdg
  • cimg
  • cin
  • cit
  • com*
  • cpc
  • cpd
  • cpg
  • cps
  • cpx
  • ct
  • dcr
  • dds
  • dgt
  • dib
  • djv
  • dmi
  • vue
  • dpx
  • wire
  • ds*
  • dtw
  • dv
  • ecw
  • eip
  • exr
  • fa
  • fax
  • fpos
  • fpx
  • gcdp
  • gfb
  • gfie
  • ggr
  • gih
  • gim
  • spr
  • scad
  • gpd
  • gro
  • grob
  • hdp
  • hdr
  • hpi
  • icn
  • icon
  • icpr
  • iiq
  • info
  • ipx
  • iwi
  • j
  • jas
  • jbig
  • jbmp
  • jbr
  • jfif
  • jia
  • jng
  • jps
  • jpx
  • jtf
  • jw
  • jxr
  • kdc
  • kdi
  • kdk
  • kic
  • kpg
  • lbm
  • ljp
  • mac
  • mbm
  • mef
  • mnr
  • mos
  • mpf
  • mpo
  • mrxs
  • my
  • ncr
  • nct
  • nlm
  • nrw
  • oci
  • omf
  • oplc
  • asy
  • cdmm
  • cdmt
  • cdn*
  • cdt
  • cmx
  • cnv
  • csy
  • cvg
  • cvi
  • cvs
  • cvx
  • cwt
  • cxf
  • dcs
  • ded
  • dhs
  • dpp
  • drw
  • dxb
  • dxf
  • egc
  • emf
  • ep
  • eps
  • epsf
  • fif
  • fig
  • fmv
  • ftn
  • fxg
  • gem
  • glox
  • hp
  • idea
  • igt
  • igx
  • imd
  • ink
  • lmk
  • mgcb
  • mgmf
  • mgmt
  • mgmx
  • mgtx
  • mmat
  • mat
  • ovp
  • ovr
  • pcs
  • pfv
  • plt
  • vrm
  • pobj
  • psid
  • rd
  • scv
  • ssk
  • stn
  • svf
  • svh*
  • tlc
  • tne
  • ufr
  • vbr
  • vec
  • vm
  • vsdm
  • vstm
  • stm
  • vstx
  • wpg
  • vsm
  • xar
  • ya
  • orf
  • ota
  • oti
  • p*b
  • p*j
  • p*t
  • pa
  • pano
  • pap
  • pbm
  • pcd
  • pdd
  • pef
  • pfi
  • pgf
  • pgm
  • pic
  • pict
  • pix
  • pjpg
  • pm
  • pmg
  • pni
  • pnm
  • pntg
  • pop
  • ppm
  • prw
  • psdx
  • pse
  • psp
  • ptg
  • ptx
  • pvr
  • px
  • pxr
  • q*a
  • q*p
  • q*s
  • qmg
  • ras
  • rcu
  • rgb
  • rgf
  • ric
  • riff
  • rix
  • rle
  • rli
  • rpf
  • rri
  • rs
  • rsb
  • rsr
  • rw
  • sci
  • sep
  • sfc
  • sfw
  • skm
  • sld
  • sob
  • spa
  • spe
  • sph
  • spj
  • spp
  • srw
  • jpeg
  • jpg
  • vmdk
  • arc
  • paq
  • tbk
  • bak
  • tar
  • th*
  • h*
  • rar
  • a*ip
  • iso
  • vcd
  • bmp
  • png
  • gif
  • tif
  • tiff
  • mid
  • wma
  • flv
  • mkv
  • mov
  • avi
  • asf
  • mpeg
  • vob
  • mpg
  • wmv
  • fla
  • swf
  • wav
  • (NOTE: * can be any number from 0-9)

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

  • boot
  • intel
  • winnt
  • appdata
  • recycle
  • windows
  • msocache
  • perflogs
  • recovery
  • tor browser
  • windows
  • programdata
  • sample music
  • sample videos
  • program files
  • local settings
  • sample pictures
  • documents and settings
  • system volume information

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

  • dyaaghemy

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

  • {Encrypted Directory}\README.txt

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 14.384.04
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 17 Jul 2018
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 14.385.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 18 Jul 2018

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_USERS\{SID}_CLASSES\mscfile\shell\open\command
    • = cmd.exe /c "%SystemRoot%\system32\wbem\wmic shadowcopy delete"

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.  
  • %System Root%\Users\Public\README.txt
  • {Encrypted directory}\README.txt

Step 5

Restore encrypted files from backup.

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as RANSOM_MAGNIBER.R. 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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