Analysis by: RonJay Kristoffer Caragay
ALIASES:

Ransom:Win32/Crowti (Microsoft); Win32/Filecoder.CO (ESET-NOD32); Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Cryptodef.bvy (Kaspersky); Trojan.Cryptodefense (Symantec);

 PLATFORM:

Windows

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware

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 modifies registry entries to disable various system services. This action prevents most of the system functions to be used.

It connects to certain websites to send and receive information. However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 278,566 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 02 Oct 2014
Payload: Encrypts files, Connects to URLs/IPs, Deletes files

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:

  • %System Root%{7 characters from UID}\{7 characters from UID}.exe
  • %Application Data%\{7 characters from UID}.exe
  • %User Startup%\{7 characters from UID}.exe

(Note: %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.. %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.. %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.)

It adds the following processes:

  • explorer.exe
  • svchost.exe

It is injected into the following processes running in memory:

  • created explorer.exe
  • created svchost.exe

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{6 characters from UID} = "%System Root%{7 characters from UID}\{7 characters from UID}.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{7characters from UID} = "%Application Data%\{7 characters from UID}.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{UID}

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SystemRestore
DisableSR = "1"

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

It modifies registry entries to disable the following system services:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\ERSvc
Start = "4"

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\wscsvc
Start = "4"

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\BITS
Start = "4"

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\wuauserv
Start = "4"

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

Information Theft

This Trojan gathers the following data:

  • Unique Identifier (UID)
  • Machine Screenshot

Other Details

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

  • http://ip-addr.es
  • http://myexternalip.com/raw
  • http://curlmyip.com
  • http://wtfismyip.com/text

It connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • http://{BLOCKED}tner.cz/{random}
  • http://eportfolio.{BLOCKED}man.ca/{random}
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}rda.com/{random}
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}ngcruising.co.uk/{random}
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}umann.de/{random}
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}e-schwarzenberg.de/{random}
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}oman.com/{random}
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}epsphotography.co.uk/{random}
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}kaforeningen.com/{random}
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}ifesupport.com/{random}
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}.at/{random}
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}e.be/{random}
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}guild.com/{random}
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}info.com/{random}
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}erburg.ch/{random}
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}orideal.com.br/{random}
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}imes.com/{random}
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}ntiques.co.uk/{random}
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}apmak.com/{random}

It encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • .pdf
  • .pot
  • .hta
  • .xlt
  • .pps
  • .xlw
  • .dot
  • .rtf
  • .ppt
  • .xls
  • .doc
  • .xml
  • .htm
  • .html
  • .zip
  • .dvr-ms
  • .wvx
  • .wmx
  • .wmv
  • .wm
  • .mpv2
  • .mpg
  • .mpeg
  • .mpe
  • .mpa
  • .mp2v
  • .mp2
  • .m1v
  • .IVF
  • .asx
  • .asf
  • .wax
  • .snd
  • .rmi
  • .m3u
  • .au
  • .aiff
  • .aifc
  • .aif
  • .midi
  • .mid
  • .wma
  • .wav
  • .mp3
  • .wmf
  • .tiff
  • .tif
  • .rle
  • .png
  • .jpeg
  • .jpe
  • .jpg
  • .jfif
  • .ico
  • .gif
  • .emf
  • .dib
  • .bmp

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

NOTES:

This Trojan does not encrypt files with the following extensions:

  • .bas
  • .bat
  • .cmd
  • .com
  • .exe
  • .msi
  • .pif
  • .reg
  • .scr
  • .vb

It deletes shadow copies by executing the following command:

vssadmin.exe Delete Shadows /All /Quiet

It drops its ransom notes to all folders where files are encrypted.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.750
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 11.186.01
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 01 Oct 2014
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 11.187.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 02 Oct 2014

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

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • {6 characters from UID} = "%System Root%{7 characters from UID}\{7 characters from UID}.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • {7characters from UID} = "%Application Data%\{7 characters from UID}.exe"

Step 5

Delete this registry key

[ 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_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • {UID}

Step 6

Restore these modified registry values

[ Learn More ]

Important:Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this only if you know how to or you can seek your system administrator's help. You may also check out this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SystemRestore
    • From: DisableSR = "1"
      To: DisableSR = 0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ERSvc
    • From: Start = "4"
      To: Start = 2
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wscsvc
    • From: Start = "4"
      To: Start = 2
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\BITS
    • From: Start = "4"
      To: Start = 2
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wuauserv
    • From: Start = "4"
      To: Start = 2

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TROJ_CRYPDEF.POP. 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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