RANSOM_CRYSIS.A

 Analysis by: Rhena Inocencio

 ALIASES:

Ransom:Win32/Tescrypt!rfn (Microsoft), Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Crusis.f (Kaspersky), Trojan.Randsom.A (Symantec), a variant of Win32/Filecoder.Crysis.D (ESET)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • 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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

271,149 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

05 Jul 2016

Payload:

Connects to URLs/IPs, Encrypts files, Displays message/message boxes, Displays graphics/image

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 files:

  • %User Startup%\How to decrypt your files.jpg – image used as wallpaper
  • %User Startup%\How to decrypt your files.txt – ransom note
  • %Desktop%\How to decrypt your files.txt – ransom note
  • %User Profile%\How to decrypt your files.jpg – ransom note

(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.. %Desktop% is the desktop folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Desktop in Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop in 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 Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)

It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Application Data%\{malware filename}.exe
  • %System%\{malware filename}.exe
  • %User Startup%\{malware filename}.exe

(Note: %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.. %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.. %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.)

Autostart Technique

This Trojan adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{random 8 characters} = "%System%\{malware filename}.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{random 8 characters} = "%System%\{malware filename}.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan modifies the following file(s):

  • It encrypts files in all fixed, remote and removable drives.
  • It appends the extension .id-{victim ID}.{mailrepa.lotos@aol.com}.CrySiS to the encrypted files.

    (Note: Other variants append .id-{victim ID}.{email address}.xtbl or .id-{victim ID}.{email address}.cbf)

It changes the desktop wallpaper by modifying the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
Wallpaper = "%User Profile%\How to decrypt your files.jpg"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {user-defined}.)

It sets the system's desktop wallpaper to the following image:

Other Details

This Trojan encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • .odc
  • .odm
  • .odp
  • .ods
  • .odt
  • .docm
  • .docx
  • .doc
  • .odb
  • .mp4
  • sql
  • .7z
  • .m4a
  • .rar
  • .wma
  • .gdb
  • .tax
  • .pkpass
  • .bc6
  • .bc7
  • .avi
  • .wmv
  • .csv
  • .d3dbsp
  • .zip
  • .sie
  • .sum
  • .ibank
  • .t13
  • .t12
  • .qdf
  • .bkp
  • .qic
  • .bkf
  • .sidn
  • .sidd
  • .mddata
  • .itl
  • .itdb
  • .icxs
  • .hvpl
  • .hplg
  • .hkdb
  • .mdbackup
  • .syncdb
  • .gho
  • .cas
  • .svg
  • .map
  • .wmo
  • .itm
  • .sb
  • .fos
  • .mov
  • .vdf
  • .ztmp
  • .sis
  • .sid
  • .ncf
  • .menu
  • .layout
  • .dmp
  • .blob
  • .esm
  • .vcf
  • .vtf
  • .dazip
  • .fpk
  • .mlx
  • .kf
  • .iwd
  • .vpk
  • .tor
  • .psk
  • .rim
  • .w3x
  • .fsh
  • .ntl
  • .arch00
  • .lvl
  • .snx
  • .cfr
  • .ff
  • .vpp_pc
  • .lrf
  • .m2
  • .mcmeta
  • .vfs0
  • .mpqge
  • .kdb
  • .db0
  • .dba
  • .rofl
  • .hkx
  • .bar
  • .upk
  • .das
  • .iwi
  • .litemod
  • .asset
  • .forge
  • .ltx
  • .bsa
  • .apk
  • .re4
  • .sav
  • .lbf
  • .slm
  • .bik
  • .epk
  • .rgss3a
  • .pak
  • .big
  • wallet
  • .wotreplay
  • .xxx
  • .desc
  • .py
  • .m3u
  • .flv
  • .js
  • .css
  • .rb
  • .png
  • .jpeg
  • .txt
  • .p7c
  • .p7b
  • .p12
  • .pfx
  • .pem
  • .crt
  • .cer
  • .der
  • .x3f
  • .srw
  • .pef
  • .ptx
  • .r3d
  • .rw2
  • .rwl
  • .raw
  • .raf
  • .orf
  • .nrw
  • .mrwref
  • .mef
  • .erf
  • .kdc
  • .dcr
  • .cr2
  • .crw
  • .bay
  • .sr2
  • .srf
  • .arw
  • .3fr
  • .dng
  • .jpe
  • .jpg
  • .cdr
  • .indd
  • .ai
  • .eps
  • .pdf
  • .pdd
  • .psd
  • .dbf
  • .mdf
  • .wb2
  • .rtf
  • .wpd
  • .dxg
  • .xf
  • .dwg
  • .pst
  • .accdb
  • .mdb
  • .pptm
  • .pptx
  • .ppt
  • .xlk
  • .xlsb
  • .xlsm
  • .xlsx
  • .xls
  • .wps

It does the following:

  • It connects to the following sites:
    • http://{BLOCKED}ika234.cc/crs/pass/index.php
    • http://{BLOCKED}ika234.cc/crs/stat/index.php
  • It sends the following formatted information to the aforementioned sites:
    • submit=submit&id={ID} &guid={guid} &pc={computername} &mail={ransom contact email}
  • It deletes shadow copies by executing the following command:
    • vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet
  • It avoids encrypting files/directories with the following strings:
    • %windir%
    • boot.ini
    • bootfont.bin
    • ntldr
    • ntdetect.com
    • io.sys
    • explorer.exe
    • svchost.exe

NOTES:

The dropped ransom note How to decrypt your files.txt contains the following message:

  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

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

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as RANSOM_CRYSIS.A

Step 4

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 5

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • {random 8 characters} = "%System%\{malware filename}.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • {random 8 characters} = "%System%\{malware filename}.exe"

Step 6

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.
  • %User Startup%\How to decrypt your files.jpg
  • %User Startup%\How to decrypt your files.txt
  • %Desktop%\How to decrypt your files.txt
  • %User Profile%\How to decrypt your files.jpg

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as RANSOM_CRYSIS.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 8

Reset your Desktop properties

[ Learn More ]

Step 9

Restore encrypted files from backup.


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