RANSOM_REDEYE.THFOGAH

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 drops an AUTORUN.INF file to automatically execute the copies it drops when a user accesses the drives of an affected system.

It encrypts files found in specific folders. It drops files as ransom note.

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%\Save1.txt
• %System Root%\autorun.inf
• %System Root%\Windows\Nope.txt
• %System Root%\Windows\Detect.txt
• %System Root%\Windows\AfterMBR.txt
• %System Root%\redeyebmp.bmp -> used as wallpaper

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

It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

• %User Temp%\{malware name}.exe

(Note: %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp 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.)

Autostart Technique

This Ransomware adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Windows Update = %User Temp%\{malware name}.exe

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Windows Update = %User Temp%\{malware name}.exe

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Shell = %User Temp%\{malware name}.exe

Other System Modifications

This Ransomware adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
WallPaper = %System Root%\redeyebmp.bmp

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ShortCutInfection
Mr.Wolf = True

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows Defender
DisableAntiSpyware = 1

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows Defender
DisableRoutinelyTakingAction = 1

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
WindowsDefenderMAJ = 1

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
WindowsDefenderMAJ = 1

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows Script Host\Settings
Enabled = 0

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows Script Host\Settings
Enabled = 0

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

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

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

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

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

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

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

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

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services
USBSTOR = 4

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 3.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services
USBSTOR = 4

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 3.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
DisableTaskMgr = 1

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
DisableTaskMgr = 1

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows Defender
ServiceKeepAlive = 0

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows Defender
ServiceKeepAlive = 0

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates
ForceUpdateFromMU = 0

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates
ForceUpdateFromMU = 0

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates
UpdateOnStartUp = 0

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows
DisableCMD = 2

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows\System
DisableCMD = 2

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\
Microsoft
DisableCMD = 2

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows
DisableCMD = 2

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows\System
DisableCMD = 2

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\
Microsoft
DisableCMD = 2

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\
Microsoft\MMC\{8FC0B734-A0E1-11D1-A7D3-0000F87571E3}
Restrict_Run = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\
Microsoft\MMC\{8FC0B734-A0E1-11D1-A7D3-0000F87571E3}
Restrict_Run = 1

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection
DisableRealtimeMonitoring = 1

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection
DisableRealtimeMonitoring = 1

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services
SecurityHealthService = 4

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 2.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services
SecurityHealthService = 4

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 2.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services
WdNisSvc = 3

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 2.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services
WdNisSvc = 3

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 2.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services
WinDefend = 3

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 2.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services
WinDefend = 3

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 2.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
EnableLUA = 0

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer
NoControlPanel = 1

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer
NoRun = 1

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer
NoRun = 1

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
DisableRegistryTools = 1

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
DisableRegistryTools = 1

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer
NoDrives = 4

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer
NoDrives = 4

File Infection

This Ransomware avoids infecting the following files:

• desktop.ini

Propagation

This Ransomware drops the following copies of itself in all physical and removable drives:

• {Logical Drives}:\windows.exe

It drops an AUTORUN.INF file to automatically execute the copies it drops when a user accesses the drives of an affected system.

Process Termination

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

• SbieCtrl
• ProcessHacker
• procexp64
• msconfig
• taskmgr
• chrome
• firefox
• regedit
• opera
• UserAccountControlSettings
• yandex
• microsoftedge
• microsoftedgecp
• iexplore

Other Details

This Ransomware connects to the following URL(s) to get the affected system's IP address:

• http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}tic.com/

It does the following:

• Modifies lnk files to point to:
  cmd.exe "" /c start &explorer /root,\ {malware path}\" & exit
• Disables the following programs on a 64bit machine:
  
  • a2start.exe
  • AdwCleaner.exe
  • attrib.exe
  • Autoruns.exe
  • Autoruns64.exe
  • bcdedit.exe
  • chrome.exe
  • cmd.exe
  • ComboFix.exe
  • control.exe
  • csrss.exe
  • explorer.exe
  • firefox.exe
  • gpedit.msc
  • HitmanPro.exe
  • HitmanPro_x64.exe
  • iexplore.exe
  • iExplore.exe
  • iExplore64.exe
  • logoff.exe
  • mb3-setup-1878.1878-3.3.1.2183.exe
  • mbam.exe
  • microsoftedge.exe
  • microsoftedgecp.exe
  • mmc.exe
  • MSASCuiL.exe
  • msconfig.exe
  • mspaint.exe
  • notepad.exe
  • notepad++.exe
  • opera.exe
  • powershell.exe
  • recoverydrive.exe
  • Rkill.com
  • RKill.exe
  • Rkill.scr
  • Rkill64.com
  • RKill64.exe
  • Rkill64.scr
  • rkill-unsigned.exe
  • rkill-unsigned64.exe
  • rstrui.exe
  • sethc.exe
  • svchost.exe
  • taskkill.exe
  • taskmgr.exe
  • UserAccountControlSettings.exe
  • userinit.exe
  • wininit.exe
  • winlogon.exe
  • yandex.exe
  • ZAM.exe
• Executes the following commands via cmd:
  
  • vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet
  • NetSh Advfirewall set allprofiles state off
  • "shutdown", "-r -t 00 -f" -winlogon.exe

• It displays the following:

  

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware encrypts files found in the following folders:

• %User Profile%\My Documents
• %User Profile%\My Music
• %User Profile%\My Pictures
• %User Profile%\Downloads
• %User Profile%\Desktop
• D:\

(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.)

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

• .RedEye

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

• 
  The "Destroy PC" option shows the following window: