Analysis by: Rhena Inocencio
ALIASES:

Ransom:PowerShell/Powerware.A (Microsoft), Trojan-Ransom.PowerShell.Agent.a (Kaspersky), PowerShell/Filecoder.F (ESET)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Downloaded from the Internet

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. It gathers information and reports it to its servers.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: Varies
File Type: Script
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 29 Mar 2016
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Encrypts files

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 downloaded from the following remote sites:

  • http://{BLOCKED}a.in/file.php

Installation

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • {folders containing encrypted files}\FILES_ENCRYPTED-READ_ME.HTML - ransom note

Other Details

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

  • http://{BLOCKED}a.in/pi.php

It encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • *.docx
  • *.xls
  • *.pdf
  • *.xlsx
  • *.mp3
  • *.jpeg
  • *.jpg
  • *.txt
  • *.rtf
  • *.doc
  • *.rar
  • *.zip
  • *.psd
  • *.tif
  • *.wma
  • *.gif
  • *.bmp
  • *.ppt
  • *.pptx
  • *.docm
  • *.xlsm
  • *.pps
  • *.ppsx
  • *.ppd
  • *.eps
  • *.png
  • *.ace
  • *.djvu
  • *.tar
  • *.cdr
  • *.max
  • *.wmv
  • *.avi
  • *.wav
  • *.mp4
  • *.pdd
  • *.php
  • *.aac
  • *.ac3
  • *.amr
  • *.dwg
  • *.dxf
  • *.accdb
  • *.mod
  • *.tax2013
  • *.tax2014
  • *.oga
  • *.ogg
  • *.pbf
  • *.ra
  • *.raw
  • *.saf
  • *.wave
  • *.wow
  • *.wpk
  • *.3g2
  • *.3gp
  • *.3gp2
  • *.3mm
  • *.amx
  • *.avs
  • *.bik
  • *.dir
  • *.divx
  • *.dvx
  • *.evo
  • *.flv
  • *.qtq
  • *.tch
  • *.rts
  • *.rum
  • *.rv
  • *.scn
  • *.srt
  • *.stx
  • *.svi
  • *.swf
  • *.trp
  • *.vdo
  • *.wm
  • *.wmd
  • *.wmmp
  • *.wmx
  • *.wvx
  • *.xvid
  • *.3d
  • *.3d4
  • *.3df8
  • *.pbs
  • *.adi
  • *.ais
  • *.amu
  • *.arr
  • *.bmc
  • *.bmf
  • *.cag
  • *.cam
  • *.dng
  • *.ink
  • *.jif
  • *.jiff
  • *.jpc
  • *.jpf
  • *.jpw
  • *.mag
  • *.mic
  • *.mip
  • *.msp
  • *.nav
  • *.ncd
  • *.odc
  • *.odi
  • *.opf
  • *.qif
  • *.xwd
  • *.abw
  • *.act
  • *.adt
  • *.aim
  • *.ans
  • *.asc
  • *.ase
  • *.bdp
  • *.bdr
  • *.bib
  • *.boc
  • *.crd
  • *.diz
  • *.dot
  • *.dotm
  • *.dotx
  • *.dvi
  • *.dxe
  • *.mlx
  • *.err
  • *.euc
  • *.faq
  • *.fdr
  • *.fds
  • *.gthr
  • *.idx
  • *.kwd
  • *.lp2
  • *.ltr
  • *.man
  • *.mbox
  • *.msg
  • *.nfo
  • *.now
  • *.odm
  • *.oft
  • *.pwi
  • *.rng
  • *.rtx
  • *.run
  • *.ssa
  • *.text
  • *.unx
  • *.wbk
  • *.wsh
  • *.7z
  • *.arc
  • *.ari
  • *.arj
  • *.car
  • *.cbr
  • *.cbz
  • *.gz
  • *.gzig
  • *.jgz
  • *.pak
  • *.pcv
  • *.puz
  • *.r00
  • *.r01
  • *.r02
  • *.r03
  • *.rev
  • *.sdn
  • *.sen
  • *.sfs
  • *.sfx
  • *.sh
  • *.shar
  • *.shr
  • *.sqx
  • *.tbz2
  • *.tg
  • *.tlz
  • *.vsi
  • *.wad
  • *.war
  • *.xpi
  • *.z02
  • *.z04
  • *.zap
  • *.zipx
  • *.zoo
  • *.ipa
  • *.isu
  • *.jar
  • *.js
  • *.udf
  • *.adr
  • *.ap
  • *.aro
  • *.asa
  • *.ascx
  • *.ashx
  • *.asmx
  • *.asp
  • *.indd
  • *.asr
  • *.qbb
  • *.bml
  • *.cer
  • *.cms
  • *.crt
  • *.dap
  • *.htm
  • *.moz
  • *.svr
  • *.url
  • *.wdgt
  • *.abk
  • *.bic
  • *.big
  • *.blp
  • *.bsp
  • *.cgf
  • *.chk
  • *.col
  • *.cty
  • *.dem
  • *.elf
  • *.ff
  • *.gam
  • *.grf
  • *.h3m
  • *.h4r
  • *.iwd
  • *.ldb
  • *.lgp
  • *.lvl
  • *.map
  • *.md3
  • *.mdl
  • *.mm6
  • *.mm7
  • *.mm8
  • *.nds
  • *.pbp
  • *.ppf
  • *.pwf
  • *.pxp
  • *.sad
  • *.sav
  • *.scm
  • *.scx
  • *.sdt
  • *.spr
  • *.sud
  • *.uax
  • *.umx
  • *.unr
  • *.uop
  • *.usa
  • *.usx
  • *.ut2
  • *.ut3
  • *.utc
  • *.utx
  • *.uvx
  • *.uxx
  • *.vmf
  • *.vtf
  • *.w3g
  • *.w3x
  • *.wtd
  • *.wtf
  • *.ccd
  • *.cd
  • *.cso
  • *.disk
  • *.dmg
  • *.dvd
  • *.fcd
  • *.flp
  • *.img
  • *.iso
  • *.isz
  • *.md0
  • *.md1
  • *.md2
  • *.mdf
  • *.mds
  • *.nrg
  • *.nri
  • *.vcd
  • *.vhd
  • *.snp
  • *.bkf
  • *.ade
  • *.adpb
  • *.dic
  • *.cch
  • *.ctt
  • *.dal
  • *.ddc
  • *.ddcx
  • *.dex
  • *.dif
  • *.dii
  • *.itdb
  • *.itl
  • *.kmz
  • *.lcd
  • *.lcf
  • *.mbx
  • *.mdn
  • *.odf
  • *.odp
  • *.ods
  • *.pab
  • *.pkb
  • *.pkh
  • *.pot
  • *.potx
  • *.pptm
  • *.psa
  • *.qdf
  • *.qel
  • *.rgn
  • *.rrt
  • *.rsw
  • *.rte
  • *.sdb
  • *.sdc
  • *.sds
  • *.sql
  • *.stt
  • *.t01
  • *.t03
  • *.t05
  • *.tcx
  • *.thmx
  • *.txd
  • *.txf
  • *.upoi
  • *.vmt
  • *.wks
  • *.wmdb
  • *.xl
  • *.xlc
  • *.xlr
  • *.xlsb
  • *.xltx
  • *.ltm
  • *.xlwx
  • *.mcd
  • *.cap
  • *.cc
  • *.cod
  • *.cp
  • *.cpp
  • *.cs
  • *.csi
  • *.dcp
  • *.dcu
  • *.dev
  • *.dob
  • *.dox
  • *.dpk
  • *.dpl
  • *.dpr
  • *.dsk
  • *.dsp
  • *.eql
  • *.ex
  • *.f90
  • *.fla
  • *.for
  • *.fpp
  • *.jav
  • *.java
  • *.lbi
  • *.owl
  • *.pl
  • *.plc
  • *.pli
  • *.pm
  • *.res
  • *.rsrc
  • *.so
  • *.swd
  • *.tpu
  • *.tpx
  • *.tu
  • *.tur
  • *.vc
  • *.yab
  • *.8ba
  • *.8bc
  • *.8be
  • *.8bf
  • *.8bi8
  • *.bi8
  • *.8bl
  • *.8bs
  • *.8bx
  • *.8by
  • *.8li
  • *.aip
  • *.amxx
  • *.ape
  • *.api
  • *.mxp
  • *.oxt
  • *.qpx
  • *.qtr
  • *.xla
  • *.xlam
  • *.xll
  • *.xlv
  • *.xpt
  • *.cfg
  • *.cwf
  • *.dbb
  • *.slt
  • *.bp2
  • *.bp3
  • *.bpl
  • *.clr
  • *.dbx
  • *.jc
  • *.potm
  • *.ppsm
  • *.prc
  • *.prt
  • *.shw
  • *.std
  • *.ver
  • *.wpl
  • *.xlm
  • *.yps
  • *.md3
  • *.1cd

It gathers the following information and reports it to its servers:

  • UUID (unique identifier)
  • Rijndael Key

NOTES:

This ransomware uses Rijndael for file encryption. It deletes itself after encrypting all files. The dropped ransom note asks the user to access the payment site via TOR browser:

The webpage contains the following payment instructions:

It is also capable of letting users to test the decryption for one file:

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800

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

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.  
  • FILES_ENCRYPTED-READ_ME.HTML

Step 3

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as RANSOM_POWERWARE.A. 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.

Step 4

Restore encrypted files from backup.


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