TROJ_CRYPTWALL.YYV
Win32/Filecoder.CO trojan (ESET-NOD32)
Windows
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.
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:
- %System Root%\{Random 8 Characters}\{Random 8 Characters}.exe
- %Application Data%\{Random 8 Characters}.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.)
It creates the following folders:
- %System Root%\{Random 8 Characters}
(Note: %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.)
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 Characters} = "%Application Data%\{Random 8 Characters}.exe"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{First 7 Characters of {Random 8 Characters}} = "%System Root%\{Random 8 Characters}\{Random 8 Characters}.exe"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
*{Second to the Sixth Characters {Random 8 Characters}} = "%System Root%\{Random 8 Characters}\{Random 8 Characters}.exe"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
*{Last Seven Characters of {Random 8 Characters}} = "%Application Data%\{Random 8 Characters}.exe"
It drops the following file(s) in the Windows Startup folder to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
- %User Startup%\{Random 8 Characters}.exe
(Note: %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 2000 and XP, and C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)
Other System Modifications
This Trojan adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{random string}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{random string}\
{random string 2}
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\
Auto Update\UAS
UpdateCount = "0"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SystemRestore
DisableSR = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{random string}
0v = "[DEFAULT]BASEURL={data}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{random string}
1u = "{Notes}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{random string}
br = "{html code}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{random string}
fk = "{hex value}"
It modifies the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\wscsvc
Start = "4"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 2.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\WinDefend
Start = "4"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 2.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\wuauserv
Start = "4"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 2.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\WerSvc
Start = "4"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 3.)
Other Details
This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- http://{BLOCKED}meryfoodconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/update-b20ca6f3cf022a826b32ab34eb9cdbfb/tmp/e5.php?
It deletes the initially executed copy of itself
NOTES:
This Trojan is capable of encrypting files in the affected system. It drops HELP_DECRYPT.HTML, HELP_DECRYPT.PNG, HELP_DECRYPT.TXT, and HELP_DECRYPT.URL to all folders where files are encrypted.
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 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\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- {Random 8 Characters} = "%Application Data%\{Random 8 Characters}.exe"
- {Random 8 Characters} = "%Application Data%\{Random 8 Characters}.exe"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- {First 7 Characters of {Random 8 Characters}} = "%System Root%\{Random 8 Characters}\{Random 8 Characters}.exe"
- {First 7 Characters of {Random 8 Characters}} = "%System Root%\{Random 8 Characters}\{Random 8 Characters}.exe"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- *{Second to the Sixth Characters {Random 8 Characters}} = "%System Root%\{Random 8 Characters}\{Random 8 Characters}.exe"
- *{Second to the Sixth Characters {Random 8 Characters}} = "%System Root%\{Random 8 Characters}\{Random 8 Characters}.exe"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- *{Last Seven Characters of {Random 8 Characters}} = "%Application Data%\{Random 8 Characters}.exe"
- *{Last Seven Characters of {Random 8 Characters}} = "%Application Data%\{Random 8 Characters}.exe"
Step 5
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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SystemRestore
- From: DisableSR = "1"
To: DisableSR = "{User Defined}"
- From: DisableSR = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\wscsvc
- From: Start = "4"
To: Start = 2
- From: Start = "4"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\WinDefend
- From: Start = "4"
To: Start = 2
- From: Start = "4"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\wuauserv
- From: Start = "4"
To: Start = 2
- From: Start = "4"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\WerSvc
- From: Start = "4"
To: Start = 3
- From: Start = "4"
Step 6
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_CURRENT_USER\Software
- {random string}
- {random string}
Step 7
Search and delete these files
- %User Startup%\{Random 8 Characters}.exe
Step 8
Search and delete this folder
- %System Root%\{Random 8 Characters}
Step 9
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TROJ_CRYPTWALL.YYV. 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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