Analysis by: Francis Xavier Antazo
ALIASES:

Ransom:Win32/Tescrypt.A (Microsoft), Win32/Filecoder.EM (ESET), Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Blocker.hbsd (Kaspersky), Trojan.Cryptolocker.N (Symantec)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • 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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 540,672 bytes
File Type: EXE
Initial Samples Received Date: 18 May 2015

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%\{random 7 character}.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 drops the following files:

  • %AppDataLocal%\log.html
  • %AppDataLocal%\storage.bin
  • %Desktop%\Save_Files.lnk
  • %Desktop%\HELP_RESTORE_FILES.bmp
  • %Desktop%\HELP_RESTORE_FILES.txt
  • %User Profile%\My Documents\RECOVERY_FILE.txt

(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.. %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.. %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.)

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
mscon = "%AppDataLocal%\{random 7 character}.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
mscon = "%AppDataLocal%\{random 7 character}.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
Start_ShowNetPlaces_ShouldShow = "41"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Settings\
storage
data = "{data}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
system
EnableLinkedConnections = "1"

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
Tile Wallpaper = "0"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "{User Preference}".)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
Wallpaper = "%Desktop%\HELP_RESTORE_FILES.bmp"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "{User preference}".)

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}.io/ip
  • www.r{BLOCKED}esoess.com:443

It encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • {filename}.exx

NOTES:

It drops the following file whenever it encrypts files:

  • HELP_RESTORE_FILES_{random characters}.txt

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.750
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 11.718.05
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 26 May 2015
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 11.719.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 27 May 2015

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\Explorer\Advanced
    • Start_ShowNetPlaces_ShouldShow = 41
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
    • EnableLinkedConnections = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Settings\storage
    • data = {hex values}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • mscon = "%AppDataLocal%\{random file name}.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • mscon = "%AppDataLocal%\{random file name}.exe"

Step 5

Restore this modified registry value

[ 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_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
    • From: Tile Wallpaper = "0"
      To: Tile Wallpaper = "{User preference}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
    • From: Wallpaper = "%Desktop%\HELP_RESTORE_FILES.bmp"
      To: Wallpaper = "{User preference}"

Step 6

Search and delete these files

[ Learn More ]
There may be some files that are hidden. Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the "More advanced options" option to include all hidden files and folders in the search result.
  • %AppDataLocal%\log.html
  • %AppDataLocal%\storage.bin
  • %Desktop%\HELP_RESTORE_FILES.txt
  • %Desktop%\HELP_RESTORE_FILES.bmp
  • %Desktop%\Save_Files.lnk {pointed to dropped copy}
  • %User Profile%\My Documents\RECOVERY_FILE.txt

Step 7

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