TROJ_CRYPTESLA.PE
Ransom:Win32/Tescrypt.A (Microsoft); Trojan.Agent.ED (Malwarebytes); Artemis!019D57A576EC (McAfee); Backdoor.Win32.Androm.gloy (Kaspersky)
Windows
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 modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.
It connects to certain websites to send and receive information. It deletes the initially executed copy of itself.
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 and executes them:
- %Application Data%\{Random 7 characters}.exe
(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 drops the following files:
- %Application Data%\log.html - Contains the list of encrypted files.
- %Desktop%\CryptoLocker.lnk - Shortcut file pointing to the dropped copy
- %Application Data%\key.dat
- %Desktop%\HELP_TO_SAVE_YOUR_FILES.bmp
- %Desktop%\HELP_TO_SAVE_YOUR_FILES.txt
(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.. %Desktop% is the desktop folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Desktop in Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop in 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:
- System1230123
Autostart Technique
This Trojan adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
svv_e = "%Application Data%\{Random 7 characters}.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
*svv_e = "%Application Data%\{Random 7 characters}.exe"
Other System Modifications
This Trojan adds the following registry keys:
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Tracing\{Random 7characters}_RASAPI32
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Tracing\{Random 7characters}_RASMANCS
It modifies the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
WallpaperStyle = "0"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {User Preferences}.)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
TileWallpaper = "0"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {User Preferences}.)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
Wallpaper = "%Desktop%\HELP_TO_SAVE_YOUR_FILES.bmp"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {User Preferences}.)
Process Termination
This Trojan terminates processes or services that contain any of the following strings if found running in the affected system's memory:
- taskmgr
- procexp
- regedit
- msconfig
- cmd.exe
Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification
This Trojan modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.
Other Details
This Trojan connects to the following URL(s) to get the affected system's IP address:
- http://ipinfo.io/ip
It connects to the following website to send and receive information:
- http://{BLOCKED}q26q2h4jkzj.2kjb10.net
- http://{BLOCKED}4hib47vlep5o.42kjb11.net
- http://{BLOCKED}47vlep5o.tor2web.blutmagie.de:443
- http://{BLOCKED}4hib47vlep5o.tor2web.fi:443
It deletes the initially executed copy of itself
NOTES:
It encrypt files with the following extensions in all folders found in the physical drives and appends .ecc as the new file extension of the encrypted files:
- sql
- mp4
- 7z
- rar
- m4a
- wma
- avi
- wmv
- csv
- d3dbsp
- zip
- sie
- sum
- ibank
- t13
- t12
- qdf
- gdb
- tax
- pkpass
- bc6
- bc7
- bkp
- qic
- bkf
- sidn
- sidd
- mdd
- ata
- itl
- itdb
- icxs
- hvpl
- hplg
- hkdbmdbackup
- syncdb
- gho
- cas
- svg
- map
- wmo
- itm
- sb
- fos
- mov
- vdf
- ztmp
- sis
- sid
- ncf
- menu
- layout
- dmp
- blob
- esm
- vcf
- vtf
- dazip
- fpk
- mlx
- kf
- iwd
- vpk
- tor
- psk
- rim
- w3x
- fsh
- ntl
- arch00
- lvl
- snx
- cfr
- ff
- vpp_pc
- lrf
- m2
- mcmeta
- vfs0
- mpqge
- kdb
- db0
- db
- rofl
- hkx
- bar
- upk
- das
- iwi
- litemod
- asset
- forge
- ltx
- bsa
- apk
- re4
- sav
- lbf
- slm
- bik
- epk
- rgss3a
- pak
- big
- unity3d
- wotreplay
- xxx
- desc
- py
- m3u
- flv
- js
- css
- rb
- png
- jpeg
- txt
- p7c
- p7b
- p12
- pfx
- pem
- crt
- cer
- der
- x3f
- srw
- pef
- ptx
- r3d
- rw2
- rwl
- raw
- raf
- orf
- nrw
- mrwref
- mef
- erf
- kdc
- dcr
- cr2
- crw
- bay
- sr2
- srf
- arw
- 3fr
- dng
- jpe
- jpg
- cdr
- indd
- ai
- eps
- pdd
- psd
- dbf
- mdf
- wb2
- rtf
- wpd
- dxg
- xf
- dwg
- pst
- accdb
- mdb
- pptm
- pptx
- ppt
- xlk
- xlsb
- xlsm
- xlsx
- xls
- wps
- docm
- docx
- doc
- odb
- odc
- odm
- odp
- ods
- odt
It deletes shadow copies by executing the following command:
- vssadmin delete shadows /all
It sets the system's desktop wallpaper to the following image:
It demands payment for using decryption service:
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
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as TROJ_CRYPTESLA.PE
Step 3
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 4
Restart in Safe Mode
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\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- svv_e = "%Application Data%\{Random 7 characters}.exe"
- svv_e = "%Application Data%\{Random 7 characters}.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- *svv_e = "%Application Data%\{Random 7 characters}.exe"
- *svv_e = "%Application Data%\{Random 7 characters}.exe"
Step 6
Search and delete this file
- %Application Data%\key.dat
- %Application Data%\log.html
- %Desktop%\HELP_TO_SAVE_YOUR_FILES.bmp
- %Desktop%\HELP_TO_SAVE_YOUR_FILES.txt
- %Desktop%\CryptoLocker.lnk
Step 7
Restore this modified 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\Control Panel\Desktop
- From: WallpaperStyle = "0"
To: WallpaperStyle = {User Preferences}
- From: WallpaperStyle = "0"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
- From: TileWallpaper = "0"
To: TileWallpaper = {User Preferences}
- From: TileWallpaper = "0"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
- From: Wallpaper = "%Desktop%\HELP_TO_SAVE_YOUR_FILES.bmp"
To: Wallpaper = {User Preferences}
- From: Wallpaper = "%Desktop%\HELP_TO_SAVE_YOUR_FILES.bmp"
Step 8
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\Microsoft\Tracing
- {Random 7 characters}_RASAPI32
- {Random 7 characters}_RASAPI32
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing
- {Random 7 characters}_RASMANCS
- {Random 7 characters}_RASMANCS
Step 9
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TROJ_CRYPTESLA.PE. 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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