Ransom.MSIL.HAKBIT.G

 Analysis by: Paul Steven Nadera

 ALIASES:

Ransom:MSIL/Hakbit.SK!MTB (Microsoft); a variant of MSIL/Filecoder.Thanos.A trojan (NOD32)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Ransomware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet

This Ransomware arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It executes then deletes itself afterward.

It encrypts files with specific file extensions.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

58,880 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

12 Jun 2020

Payload:

Displays message/message boxes, Encrypts files, Connects to URLs/IPs, Downloads files

Arrival Details

This Ransomware 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 Ransomware adds the following processes:

  • %System%\cmd.exe /C choice /C Y /N /D Y /T 3 & Del {malware filename}
  • %System%\notepad.exe %Desktop%\HELP_ME_RECOVER_MY_FILES.txt
  • net.exe stop avpsus /y
  • net.exe stop McAfeeDLPAgentService /y
  • net.exe stop mfewc /y
  • net.exe stop BMR Boot Service /y
  • net.exe stop NetBackup BMR MTFTP Service /y
  • sc.exe config SQLTELEMETRY start= disabled
  • sc.exe config SQLTELEMETRYSECWDB2 start= disabled
  • sc.exe config SQLWriter start= disabled
  • sc.exe config SstpSvc start= disabled
  • taskkill.exe /IM mspub.exe /F
  • taskkill.exe /IM mydesktopqos.exe /F
  • taskkill.exe /IM mydesktopservice.exe /F
  • vssadmin.exe Delete Shadows /all /quiet
  • "vssadmin.exe" resize shadowstorage /for={Drive Letter}: /on={Drive Letter}: /maxsize=401MB
  • "vssadmin.exe" resize shadowstorage /for={Drive Letter}: /on={Drive Letter}: /maxsize=unbounded
  • del.exe /s /f /q c:\*.VHD c:\*.bac c:\*.bak c:\*.wbcat c:\*.bkf c:\Backup*.* c:\backup*.* c:\*.set c:\*.win c:\*.dsk
  • del.exe /s /f /q d:\*.VHD d:\*.bac d:\*.bak d:\*.wbcat d:\*.bkf d:\Backup*.* d:\backup*.* d:\*.set d:\*.win d:\*.dsk
  • del.exe /s /f /q e:\*.VHD e:\*.bac e:\*.bak e:\*.wbcat e:\*.bkf e:\Backup*.* e:\backup*.* e:\*.set e:\*.win e:\*.dsk
  • del.exe /s /f /q f:\*.VHD f:\*.bac f:\*.bak f:\*.wbcat f:\*.bkf f:\Backup*.* f:\backup*.* f:\*.set f:\*.win f:\*.dsk
  • del.exe /s /f /q g:\*.VHD g:\*.bac g:\*.bak g:\*.wbcat g:\*.bkf g:\Backup*.* g:\backup*.* g:\*.set g:\*.win g:\*.dsk
  • del.exe /s /f /q h:\*.VHD h:\*.bac h:\*.bak h:\*.wbcat h:\*.bkf h:\Backup*.* h:\backup*.* h:\*.set h:\*.win h:\*.dsk
  • %User Temp%\{random}.exe {ProcessID of taskmgr or processhacker or procexp} -> when monitored processes are found

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.. %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It executes then deletes itself afterward.

It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:

  • Global\{GUID}

Download Routine

This Ransomware downloads the file from the following URL and renames the file when stored in the affected system:

  • https://raw.{BLOCKED}sercontent.com/d35ha/ProcessHide/master/bins/ProcessHide32.exe - if running on 32-bit
  • https://raw.{BLOCKED}sercontent.com/d35ha/ProcessHide/master/bins/ProcessHide64.exe - if running on 64-bit

It saves the files it downloads using the following names:

  • %User Temp%\{random}.exe

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

Other Details

This Ransomware does the following:

  • Monitors the following processes and hides itself using ProcessHide{32 or 64} if found running:
    • TaskMgr
    • ProcessHacker
    • procexp
  • Deletes backup files from the drives
  • Deletes contents of Recycle Bin

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • dat
  • txt
  • jpeg
  • gif
  • jpg
  • png
  • php
  • cs
  • cpp
  • rar
  • zip
  • html
  • htm
  • xlsx
  • avi
  • mp4
  • ppt
  • doc
  • docx
  • xlsx
  • sxi
  • sxw
  • odt
  • hwp
  • tar
  • bz2
  • mkv
  • eml
  • msg
  • ost
  • pst
  • edb
  • sql
  • accdb
  • mdb
  • dbf
  • odb
  • myd
  • php
  • java
  • cpp
  • pas
  • asm
  • key
  • pfx
  • pem
  • p12
  • csr
  • gpg
  • aes
  • vsd
  • odg
  • raw
  • nef
  • svg
  • psd
  • vmx
  • vmdk
  • vdi
  • lay6
  • sqlite3
  • sqlitedb
  • accdb
  • java
  • class
  • mpeg
  • djvu
  • tiff
  • backup
  • pdf
  • cert
  • docm
  • xlsm
  • dwg
  • bak
  • qbw
  • nd
  • tlg
  • lgb
  • pptx
  • mov
  • xdw
  • ods
  • wav
  • mp3
  • aiff
  • flac
  • m4a
  • csv
  • sql
  • ora
  • mdf
  • ldf
  • ndf
  • dtsx
  • rdl
  • dim

It avoids encrypting files with the following strings in their file path:

  • RansomBuilder_Log
  • RSAKeys
  • program files
  • windows
  • internet explorer

It leaves text files that serve as ransom notes containing the following text:

  • %Desktop%\HELP_ME_RECOVER_MY_FILES.txt
  • {Directories With Encrypted Files}\HELP_ME_RECOVER_MY_FILES.txt

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

15.962.04

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

30 Jun 2020

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

15.963.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

01 Jul 2020

Step 1

Trend Micro Predictive Machine Learning detects and blocks malware at the first sign of its existence, before it executes on your system. When enabled, your Trend Micro product detects this malware under the following machine learning name:

    • Troj.Win32.TRX.XXPE50FFF036

Step 2

Before doing any scans, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.

Step 3

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 4

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 5

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.  
  • %Desktop%\HELP_ME_RECOVER_MY_FILES.txt
  • {Directories With Encrypted Files}\HELP_ME_RECOVER_MY_FILES.txt
  • %User Temp%\{random}.exe

Step 6

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Ransom.MSIL.HAKBIT.G. 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 7

Restore encrypted files from backup.


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