Ransom_TERMITE.THHBIAH
Trojan-Ransom.Termite (Ikarus); Ransom.Termite (Malwarebytes)
Windows
![](/vinfo/imgFiles/legend.jpg)
Threat Type: Ransomware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: Yes
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
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 is capable of encrypting files in the affected system.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
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 copies of itself into the affected system and executes them:
- %Windows%\Termite.exe
(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.)
It drops and executes the following files:
- %Desktop%\Payment.exe
(Note: %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)
It adds the following processes:
- takeown /f "%Windows%\SysNative\mswsock.dll"
- icacls "%Windows%\SysNative\mswsock.dll" /grant administrators:F
- takeown /f "%Windows%\SysWOW64\mswsock.dll"
- icacls "%Windows%\SysWOW64\mswsock.dll" /grant administrators:F
(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.)
It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:
- Termite
- Payment
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\Run
Termite.exe = %Windows%\Termite.exe
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Payment.exe = %Desktop%\Payment.exe
Other System Modifications
This Ransomware adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
aaaaaa
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
aaaaaa\Shell
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
aaaaaa\Shell\Open
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
aaaaaa\Shell\Open\
Command
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
aaaaaa\DefaultIcon
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
.aaaaaa
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
Title = IOS hacker tissue
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
Content = {Text}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
PassWord = {Random Text}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
Tail = aaaaaa
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
savetime = {Date}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
aaaaaa
(Default) =
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
aaaaaa
EditFlags = 2
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
aaaaaa\Shell\Open\
Command
(Default) = "%Desktop%\Payment.exe" "%1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
aaaaaa\DefaultIcon
(Default) = %Desktop%\Payment.exe,0
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
.aaaaaa
(Default) = aaaaaa
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
GlobalAssocChangedCounter = {Random Numbers}
Other Details
This Ransomware does the following:
- It displays the following window as its ransom note:
- It avoids encrypting files with the following extensions:
- .exe
- .dll
- .lnk
- .ini
- .log
- .tmp
- .dat
- It avoids encrypting in the following folder names:
- %Windows%
It is capable of encrypting files in the affected system.
NOTES:
To decrypt the infected machine, use the password located in the registry:
- Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft
- Value: PassWord
- Data: {your password}
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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes
- aaaaaa
- aaaaaa
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes
- .aaaaaa
- .aaaaaa
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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
- Title = IOS hacker tissue
- Title = IOS hacker tissue
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
- Content = {Text}
- Content = {Text}
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
- PassWord = {Random Text}
- PassWord = {Random Text}
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
- Tail = aaaaaa
- Tail = aaaaaa
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
- savetime = {Date}
- savetime = {Date}
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
- GlobalAssocChangedCounter = {Random Numbers}
- GlobalAssocChangedCounter = {Random Numbers}
Step 6
Search and delete this file
- %Windows%\Termite.exe
- %Desktop%\Payment.exe
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Ransom_TERMITE.THHBIAH. 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.
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