RANSOM_SOFADE.A
Windows
![](/vinfo/imgFiles/legend.jpg)
Threat Type: Trojan
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: Yes
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This Trojan 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
Arrival Details
This Trojan 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 Trojan drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %AppDataLocal%\Fadesoft\fdmgr.exe
(Note: %AppDataLocal% is the Application Data folder found in Local Settings, where it is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local 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 processes:
- privoxy.exe - downloaded file
- tor.exe - downloaded file
It creates the following folders:
- %AppDataLocal%\Fadesoft
- %AppDataLocal%\Temp\lib\privoxy-3.0.26
- %AppDataLocal%\Temp\lib\tor-win32-0.2.9.9
(Note: %AppDataLocal% is the Application Data folder found in Local Settings, where it is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local 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.)
Other System Modifications
This Trojan adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Fadesoft
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Fadesoft
It also creates the following registry entry(ies) as part of its installation routine:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Event Manager = "%System%\cmd.exe" /c "%System%\eventvwr.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Event Manager = "%System%\cmd.exe" /c "%System%\eventvwr.exe"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Fadesoft
address = {values}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Fadesoft
id = {values}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Fadesoft
key = {values}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Fadesoft
session = {values}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Fadesoft
start = {values}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Fadesoft
address = {values}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Fadesoft
id = {values}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Fadesoft
key = {values}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Fadesoft
session = {values}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Fadesoft
start = {values}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\
mscfile\shell\open\
command
{default} = %AppDataLocal%\Fadesoft\fdmgr.exe
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
mscfile\shell\open\
command
{default} = %AppDataLocal%\Fadesoft\fdmgr.exe
Download Routine
This Trojan accesses the following websites to download files:
- http://dist.{BLOCKED}ject.org
It saves the files it downloads using the following names:
- %AppDataLocal%\Temp\lib\privoxy-3.0.26\privoxy.exe - non-malicious
- %AppDataLocal%\Temp\lib\tor-win32-0.2.9.9\Tor\tor.exe - non-malicious
(Note: %AppDataLocal% is the Application Data folder found in Local Settings, where it is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local 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.)
Other Details
This Trojan connects to the following website to send and receive information:
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.193.9:80
It encrypts files with the following extensions:
- .3dm
- .3ds
- .3fr
- .3g2
- .3gp
- .4db
- .4dd
- .7z
- .7zip
- .aaf
- .accdb
- .accdt
- .aep
- .aepx
- .aes
- .aet
- .ai
- .aif
- .apk
- .arch00
- .arj
- .arw
- .as
- .as3
- .asf
- .asp
- .ass
- .asset
- .asx
- .ava
- .avi
- .backup
- .bak
- .bar
- .bay
- .bc6
- .bc7
- .big
- .bik
- .bkf
- .bkp
- .blob
- .bmp
- .bpw
- .bsa
- .c
- .cas
- .cdr
- .cer
- .cfr
- .class
- .cpp
- .cr2
- .crp
- .crt
- .crw
- .cs
- .csv
- .d3dbsp
- .das
- .dat
- .dazip
- .db
- .db0
- .dba
- .dbf
- .dbx
- .dcr
- .der
- .desc
- .dmp
- .dng
- .doc
- .docb
- .docm
- .docx
- .dot
- .dotm
- .dotx
- .dtd
- .dwfx
- .dwg
- .dwk
- .dxf
- .dxg
- .efx
- .eml
- .epk
- .eps
- .erf
- .esm
- .fdb
- .ff
- .fla
- .flv
- .forge
- .fos
- .fpk
- .fsh
- .gdb
- .gho
- .gif
- .gpg
- .gxk
- .h
- .hkdb
- .hkx
- .hplg
- .hpp
- .hvpl
- .ibank
- .icxs
- .idml
- .idx
- .iff
- .ifx
- .indb
- .indd
- .indl
- .indt
- .inx
- .iso
- .itdb
- .itl
- .itm
- .iwd
- .iwi
- .jar
- .java
- .jpe
- .jpeg
- .jpg
- .js
- .kdb
- .kdbx
- .kdc
- .key
- .kf
- .ksd
- .layout
- .lbf
- .litemod
- .lrf
- .ltx
- .lua
- .lvl
- .m
- .m2
- .m3u
- .m3u8
- .m4u
- .map
- .max
- .mcmeta
- .mdb
- .mdbackup
- .mddata
- .mdf
- .mef
- .menu
- .mid
- .mlx
- .mov
- .mp3
- .mp4
- .mpa
- .mpd
- .mpeg
- .mpg
- .mpp
- .mpqge
- .mrwref
- .msg
- .myo
- .nba
- .nbf
- .ncf
- .nrw
- .nsf
- .ntl
- .nv2
- .obj
- .odb
- .odc
- .odm
- .odp
- .ods
- .odt
- .ofx
- .orf
- .p12
- .p7b
- .p7c
- .pak
- .PAS
- .pdb
- .pdd
- .pef
- .pem
- .pfx
- .pgp
- .php
- .pkpass
- .pl
- .plb
- .pmd
- .png
- .pot
- .potm
- .potx
- .ppam
- .ppj
- .pps
- .ppsm
- .ppsx
- .ppt
- .pptm
- .pptx
- .prel
- .prproj
- .ps
- .psd
- .psk
- .pst
- .psw
- .ptx
- .py
- .qba
- .qbb
- .qbo
- .qbw
- .qdf
- .qfx
- .qic
- .qif
- .r3d
- .ra
- .raf
- .rar
- .raw
- .rb
- .re4
- .rgss3a
- .rim
- .rm
- .rtf
- .rw2
- .rwl
- .saj
- .sav
- .sb
- .sdc
- .sdf
- .ses
- .sid
- .sidd
- .sidn
- .sie
- .sis
- .sko
- .sldm
- .sldx
- .slm
- .snx
- .sql
- .sr2
- .srf
- .srw
- .sum
- .svg
- .swf
- .sxc
- .syncdb
- .t12
- .t13
- .tar
- .tax
- .tbl
- .tex
- .tib
- .tif
- .tor
- .txt
- .upk
- .vcf
- .vcxproj
- .vdf
- .vfs0
- .vob
- .vpk
- .vpp_pc
- .vtf
- .w3x
- .wallet
- .wav
- .wb2
- .wdb
- .wma
- .wmv
- .wotreplay
- .wpd
- .wps
- .x3f
- .xf
- .xla
- .xlam
- .xlk
- .xll
- .xlm
- .xls
- .xlsb
- .xlsm
- .xlsx
- .xlt
- .xltm
- .xltx
- .xlw
- .xml
- .xqx
- .xxx
- .zip
- .ztmp
It does the following:
- It avoids encrypting files on the directories that contain the following strings:
- AppData
- Cookies
- Games
- Intel
- Nvidia
- Pagefile
- Program Files
- ProgramData
- Recycle.bin
- System Volume
- Temporary Internet
- Windows
- It changes the icon of the encrypted files.
NOTES:
This ransomware displays the following window:
After clicking the "SHOW LOCKED FILES BUTTON" it will display the following window that shows the encrypted files:
SOLUTION
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
Step 4
Delete this registry key
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
- Fadesoft
- Fadesoft
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software
- Fadesoft
- Fadesoft
Step 5
Delete this registry value
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
- Event Manager = "%System%\cmd.exe" /c "%System%\eventvwr.exe"
- Event Manager = "%System%\cmd.exe" /c "%System%\eventvwr.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- Event Manager = "%System%\cmd.exe" /c "%System%\eventvwr.exe"
- Event Manager = "%System%\cmd.exe" /c "%System%\eventvwr.exe"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\mscfile\shell\open\command
- {default} = %AppDataLocal%\Fadesoft\fdmgr.exe
- {default} = %AppDataLocal%\Fadesoft\fdmgr.exe
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\mscfile\shell\open\command
- {default} = %AppDataLocal%\Fadesoft\fdmgr.exe
- {default} = %AppDataLocal%\Fadesoft\fdmgr.exe
Step 6
Search and delete these folders
- %AppDataLocal%\Fadesoft
- %AppDataLocal%\Temp\lib\privoxy-3.0.26
- %AppDataLocal%\Temp\lib\tor-win32-0.2.9.9
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as RANSOM_SOFADE.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 8
Restore encrypted files from backup.
Step 9
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as RANSOM_SOFADE.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.
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