TROJ_CRYPWALL.VU
Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Cryptodef.ps (Kaspersky)
Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)
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 may be dropped by other malware.
It gathers certain information on the affected computer.
It connects to certain websites to send and receive information. However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible. It deletes itself after execution.
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.
It may be dropped by the following malware:
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 root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.. %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.. %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 drops the following files:
- %User Startup%\DECRYPT_INSTRUCTION.TXT
- %User Startup%\DECRYPT_INSTRUCTION.HTML
- %User Startup%\DECRYPT_INSTRUCTION.URL
(Note: %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 drops and executes the following files:
- %Desktop%\DECRYPT_INSTRUCTION.TXT
- %Desktop%\DECRYPT_INSTRUCTION.HTML
- %Desktop%\DECRYPT_INSTRUCTION.URL
(Note: %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop on Windows Vista and 7.)
It creates the following folders:
- %System Root%\{7 characters from UID}
(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)
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}\
{random key}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{UID}
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{UID}\
{random key}
{Path and File name of encrypted file} = "{hex values}"
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.)
Information Theft
This Trojan gathers the following information on the affected computer:
- Unique Identifier (UID)
- Machine Screenshot
Other Details
This Trojan connects to the following website to send and receive information:
- http://{BLOCKED}aultppc.com/{random value}
- http://{BLOCKED}alipali.com/{random value}
However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
It deletes itself after execution.
NOTES:
This Trojan drops the following files in every directory after encryption:
- DECRYPT_INSTRUCTION.HTML
- DECRYPT_INSTRUCTION.TXT
- DECRYPT_INSTRUCTION.URL
It encrypts database, web, Office, video, images, scripts, text, and other non-binary files.
It displays the following page for instructions on how to decrypt files:
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
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
Remove the malware/grayware file that dropped/downloaded TROJ_CRYPWALL.VU. (Note: Please skip this step if the threat(s) listed below have already been removed.)
Step 4
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 5
Delete this registry key
=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\Software
- {UID}
- {UID}
Step 6
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
- {6 characters from UID} = "%System Root%\{7 characters from UID}\{7 characters from UID}.exe"
- {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"
- {7characters from UID} = "%Application Data%\{7 characters from UID}.exe"
Step 7
Restore these modified registry values
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
- From: DisableSR = "1"
Step 8
Search and delete this file
- DECRYPT_INSTRUCTION.HTML
- DECRYPT_INSTRUCTION.TXT
- DECRYPT_INSTRUCTION.URL
Step 9
Search and delete this folder
- %System Root%\{7 characters from UID}
Step 10
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TROJ_CRYPWALL.VU. 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.
Did this description help? Tell us how we did.