TROJ_CRYPLOCK.XXQK

May 12, 2015
 Analysis by: Ryan Gardo
 ALIASES:

Luhe.Fiha.A(AVG), TR/Crypt.Xpack.198942(Avira), Troj.Cryptolocker.E(Symantec)

 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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

315,392 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

11 May 2015

Payload:

Connects to URLs/IPs, Encrypts files, Deletes 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.

Installation

This Trojan drops the following file(s)/component(s):

  • %Desktop%\DECRYPT_INSTRUCTIONS.txt
  • %Desktop%\DECRYPT_INSTRUCTIONS.html
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}\00000000
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}\02000000
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}\03000000
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}\04000000
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}\05000000
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}\06000000

(Note: %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.. %All Users Profile% is the All Users folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\ProgramData 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 drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Windows%\{random 8 letters}.exe
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}\01000000 - encyrpted copy of itself

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.. %All Users Profile% is the All Users folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\ProgramData 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 adds the following processes:

  • explorer.exe

It creates the following folders:

  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\ProgramData 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 adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:

  • qazwsxedc

It injects codes into the following process(es):

  • added explorer.exe

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 letters} = "%Windows%\{random 8 letters}.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\PhishingFilter

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\PhishingFilter
EnabledV8 = 0

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\PhishingFilter
EnabledV9 = 0

Information Theft

This Trojan gathers the following data:

  • Machine GUID
  • Computer name

Other Details

This Trojan renames encrypted files using the following names:

  • {original file name and extension}.encrypted

Mobile Malware Routine

This Trojan accesses the following website(s) to send and receive information:

  • http://{BLOCKED}we.org:443

NOTES:

This Trojan does not encrypt files with the following extensions:

  • avi
  • bat
  • bmp
  • chm
  • cmd
  • dll
  • exe
  • gif
  • html
  • ico
  • inf
  • ini
  • lnk
  • log
  • manifest
  • mp3
  • msi
  • png
  • scr
  • sys
  • tmp
  • txt
  • url
  • wav

It deletes shadow copies by executing the following command:

vssadmin.exe Delete Shadows /All /Quiet

It also adds the following files in folders where it encrypted files:

  • DECRYPT_INSTRUCTIONS.txt
  • DECRYPT_INSTRUCTIONS.html

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.750

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

11.662.03

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

11 May 2015

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

11.663.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

12 May 2015

Step 1

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 2

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

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

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 letters} = "%Windows%\{random 8 letters}.exe"

Step 5

Delete this registry key

[ 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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer
    • PhishingFilter

Step 6

Search and delete this folder

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden folders in the search result.
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random folder name}

Step 7

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.
  • DECRYPT_INSTRUCTIONS.html
  • DECRYPT_INSTRUCTIONS.txt

Step 8

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