Analysis by: RonJay Kristoffer Caragay

ALIASES:

Ransom:Win32/Teerac.A (Microsoft); Trojan-Ransom.NSIS.Onion.ad (Kaspersky); RDN/Ransom!ex (McAffee);

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

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 251,601 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 27 Apr 2015
Payload: Encrypts files, Connects to URLs/IPs

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 file(s)/component(s):

  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}\00000000
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}\01000000 ← encrypted copy of itself
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}\02000000
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}\03000000
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}\04000000 ← encrypted copy of ransom notes
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}\05000000
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\UserInfo.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\Greg.dll
  • %Application Data%\Bloc Party - A Weekend in the City.m3u

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\ProgramData 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 Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp 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.. %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 copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Windows%\{random 8 letters}.exe

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.)

It adds the following processes:

  • explorer.exe

It creates the following folders:

  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\ProgramData 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 mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:

  • Global\{random}

It injects codes into the following process(es):

  • created explorer.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
{random 8 letters} = "%Windows%\{random 8 letters}.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\PhishingFilter

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\PhishingFilter
EnabledV9 = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\PhishingFilter
EnabledV8 = "0"

Information Theft

This Trojan gathers the following data:

  • Machine GUID
  • Computer name

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • https://{BLOCKED}ck.ru/topic.php

It encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • manifest
  • inf
  • html
  • txt
  • bmp
  • png
  • ico
  • gif
  • mp3
  • wav
  • avi
  • more lists of extensions can get through its C&C

It renames encrypted files using the following names:

  • {original file name and extension}.encrypted

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

NOTES:

This Trojan does not encrypt files with the following extensions:

  • bat
  • chm
  • cmd
  • dll
  • exe
  • ini
  • lnk
  • log
  • msi
  • scr
  • sys
  • tmp
  • url

It drops the ransom note DECRYPT_INSTRUCTIONS.html and DECRYPT_INSTRUCTIONS.txt in every folder it encrypts.

It deletes shadow copies by executing the following command:

vssadmin.exe Delete Shadows /All /Quiet

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.750

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
    • {random 8 letters} = "%Windows%\{random 8 letters}.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\Microsoft\Internet Explorer
    • PhishingFilter

Step 6

Search and delete these folders

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden folders in the search result.
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}

Step 7

Search and delete this file

[ 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.
  • DECRYPT_INSTRUCTIONS.html
  • DECRYPT_INSTRUCTIONS.txt
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\UserInfo.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\Greg.dll
  • %Application Data%\Bloc Party - A Weekend in the City.m3u

Step 8

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

NOTES:

Restore the encrypted files by this malware from backup. Note that the encrypted files have the extension .encrypted.


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