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.
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:
- {malware path}\{8 random characters}.cmd ← contains commands to delete all .exe and .cmd files in the malware path
- {folder of encrypted files}\ReadMe.rtf ← ransom note
- %Application Data%\{16 random characters}.pek
- %Application Data%\{16 random characters}.sek
- %Application Data%\{random}.ast
- %Application Data%\errlog.txt ← contains error logs while encrypting files
- %Application Data%\{random}.hta ← screen ransom note
(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)
It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:
- OurBrother2ProcessMutex6
- OurBrother1ProcessMutex7
- OurMainProcessMutex8
- OurStarterProcessMutex9
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\RunOnce
{Random 2} = "%Application Data%\{Random 1}\{Random 2}.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
{Random 2} = "%Application Data%\{Random 1}\{Random 2}.exe"
It drops the following file(s) in the Windows Startup folder to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
- %All User Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\{Random}.lnk
- %User Profile%\{Random}.lnk
(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)
Other Details
This Ransomware connects to the following website to send and receive information:
- http://bluetablet9643.s76.{BLOCKED}3.com.ua
It encrypts files with the following extensions:
- 000
- 1CD
- AFN
- ANI
- AST
- BAT
- BIN
- CAB
- CFG
- CHK
- CHM
- CMD
- COM
- CUR
- DAT
- DBF
- DBS
- DBX
- DEV
- DLL
- DMP
- DOC
- DRV
- DT
- DUN
- EFI
- EXE
- GIF
- HLP
- HTA
- HTM
- ICO
- INF
- INI
- ISP
- ISW
- JA
- JPG
- JS
- LNG
- LNK
- LOG
- MBR
- MDB
- MDF
- MP3
- MSI
- MSU
- MUI
- NFO
- ODS
- ODT
- OGG
- PDF
- PEK
- PIF
- REG
- RTF
- SDF
- SEK
- SYS
- TMP
- TTF
- TXT
- VBS
- WMA
- XLS
- XML
It does the following:
- It executes the following command to delete shadow copies of itself:
- cmd.exe /c vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all /quiet & bcdedit.exe /set {default} recoveryenabled no & bcdedit.exe /set {default} bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures
- It drops the following ransom note on all affected folders:
- It displays the following note on the screen:
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
Restart in Safe Mode
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To restart in Safe Mode:
• For Windows 2000 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 when you see the Starting Windows bar at the bottom of the screen.
- Choose the Safe Mode option from the Windows Advanced Options menu then press Enter.
• For Windows XP users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after the Power-On Self Test (POST) routine is done. If the Windows Advanced Options menu does not appear, try restarting then pressing F8 several times when the POST screen appears.
- Choose the Safe Mode option from the Windows Advanced Options menu then press Enter.
• For Windows Server 2003 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after Windows starts up. If the Windows Advanced Options menu does not appear, try restarting again and pressing F8 several times afterward.
- On the Windows Advanced Option menu, use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode then press Enter.
• For Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after the Power-On Self Test (POST) routine is done. If the Advanced Boot Options menu does not appear, try restarting and then pressing F8 several times after the POST screen is displayed.
- On the Advanced Boot Options menu, use the arrow keys to select the Safe Mode option, and then press Enter.
• For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 users
- Access the Charms bar by moving your mouse pointer to the upper right corner of the screen.
- Move your mouse pointer down and click Settings>Change your PC Settings.
- In the left panel, click General.
- In the right panel, scroll down to the bottom to find the Advanced startup section, then click the Restart now button and wait for the system to restart.
- In the Advanced Startup menu, click Troubleshoot>Advanced Options>Startup Settings>Restart and wait for the system to restart.
- In the Startup Settings menu, press 4 to enable safe mode.
Step 3
Delete this registry value
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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\RunOnce
- {Random 2} = "%Application Data%\{Random 1}\{Random 2}.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- {Random 2} = "%Application Data%\{Random 1}\{Random 2}.exe"
To delete the registry value this malware created:
- Open Registry Editor. To do this:
» For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 users, click Start>Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter.
» For Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 users, click the Start button, type regedit in the Search input field then press Enter.
» For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, click Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter. - In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>RunOnce - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
{Random 2} = "%Application Data%\{Random 1}\{Random 2}.exe" - In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>RunOnce - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
{Random 2} = "%Application Data%\{Random 1}\{Random 2}.exe" - Close Registry Editor.
Step 4
Search and delete this file
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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.
{malware path}\{8 random characters}.cmd
{folder of encrypted files}\ReadMe.rtf
%Application Data%\{16 random characters}.pek
%Application Data%\{16 random characters}.sek
%Application Data%\{random}.ast
%Application Data%\errlog.txt
%Application Data%\{random}.hta
To manually delete a malware/grayware file from an affected system:
• For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:
- Right-click Start then click Search....
- In the File name* input box, type the following:
{malware path}\{8 random characters}.cmd
{folder of encrypted files}\ReadMe.rtf
%Application Data%\{16 random characters}.pek
%Application Data%\{16 random characters}.sek
%Application Data%\{random}.ast
%Application Data%\errlog.txt
%Application Data%\{random}.hta
- In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer then press Enter.
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
*Note: The file name input box title varies depending on the Windows version (e.g. Search for files or folders named or All or part of the file name.).
• For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012:
- Open a Windows Explorer window.
- For Windows Vista, 7, and Server 2008 users, click Start>Computer.
- For Windows 8, 8.1, and Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, then click File Explorer.
- In the Search Computer/This PC input box, type:
{malware path}\{8 random characters}.cmd
{folder of encrypted files}\ReadMe.rtf
%Application Data%\{16 random characters}.pek
%Application Data%\{16 random characters}.sek
%Application Data%\{random}.ast
%Application Data%\errlog.txt
%Application Data%\{random}.hta
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
*Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7.
Step 5
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as RANSOM_MATRIX.E. 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.
