Ransom.Win32.LOCKBIT.EOH

 Analysis by: Leidryn Saludez

 ALIASES:

Ransom:Win32/Lockbit!ic (MICROSOFT)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Ransomware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW


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 drops files as ransom note. It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

163,328 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

19 Dec 2023

Payload:

Drops files, Terminates processes, Encrypts 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 drops the following files:

  • %ProgramData%\qR8tixVvx.ico → icon used for all encrypted files.
  • %ProgramData%\qR8tixVvx.bmp → image to set as system wallpaper after encryption.

(Note: %ProgramData% is a version of the Program Files folder where any user on a multi-user computer can make changes to programs. This contains application data for all users. This is usually C:\ProgramData on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit), or C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows Server 2003(32-bit), 2000(32-bit) and XP.)

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

  • Global\{Generated Hash}

Other System Modifications

This Ransomware adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\
.qR8tixVvx
(Default) = .qR8tixVvx

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\
.qR8tixVvx
(Default) = %ProgramData%\qR8tixVvx.ico

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\
qR8tixVvx

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

HKEY_CURRENT_MACHINE\Control Panel\Desktop
WallPaper = %ProgramData%\qR8tixVvx.bmp

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

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

Process Termination

This Ransomware terminates the following services if found on the affected system:

  • backup
  • GxBlr
  • GxCIMgr
  • GxCVD
  • GxFWD
  • GxVss
  • memtas
  • mepocs
  • msexchange
  • sophos
  • sql
  • svc$
  • veeam
  • vss

It terminates the following processes if found running in the affected system's memory:

  • agntsvc
  • calc
  • dbeng50
  • dbsnmp
  • encsvc
  • excel
  • firefox
  • infopath
  • isqlplussvc
  • msaccess
  • mspub
  • mydesktopqos
  • mydesktopservice
  • notepad
  • ocautoupds
  • ocomm
  • ocssd
  • onedrive
  • onenote
  • oracle
  • outlook
  • powerpnt
  • sqbcoreservice
  • sql
  • steam
  • synctime
  • tbirdconfig
  • thebat
  • thunderbird
  • visio
  • winword
  • wordpad
  • wuauclt
  • xfssvccon

Other Details

This Ransomware does the following:

  • It changes the encrypted file icon to the following image:
  • It encrypts fixed, removable and network shares
  • If not executed with admin rights, it will attempt relaunch itself as admin by elevating its privileges via bypassing UAC.
  • It deletes files in recycle bin folder for removable and fixed drives
  • It uses WQL to delete shadow copies
  • It terminates if the machine has the following system language:
    • Arabic (Syria)
    • Armenian (Armenia)
    • Azerbaijani (Cyrillic Azerbaijan)
    • Azerbaijani (Latin Azerbaijan)
    • Belarusian (Belarus)
    • Georgian (Georgia)
    • Kazakh (Kazakhstan)
    • Kyrgyz (Kyrgyzstan)
    • Russian (Moldova)
    • Russian (Russia)
    • Tajik (Cyrillic Tajikistan)
    • Tatar (Russia) Romanian (Moldova)
    • Turkmen (Turkmenistan)
    • Ukranian (Ukraine)
    • Uzbek (Cyrillic Uzbekistan)
    • Uzbek (Latin Uzbekistan)
  • It deletes the following services:
    • WdBoot
    • WdFilter
    • WdNisDrv
    • WdNisSvc
    • WinDefend
    • wscsvc
    • sppsvc
    • Sense
    • SecurityHealthService

It accepts the following parameters:

  • -safe →Reboots in safeboot, then encrypts the user's machine
  • -wall → Changes system Wallpaper and Print ransom note on printers then deletes itself after renaming for 26 times.
  • -path {target} → Specifically encrypt the target, can be file or folder
  • -del → Deletes itself after renaming for 26 times.

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware avoids encrypting files with the following strings in their file name:

  • autorun.inf
  • boot.ini
  • bootfont.bin
  • bootsect.bak
  • d3d9caps.dat
  • desktop.ini
  • GDIPFONTCACHEV1.DAT
  • iconcache.db
  • ntldr
  • ntuser.dat
  • ntuser.dat.log
  • ntuser.ini
  • thumbs.db

It avoids encrypting files found in the following folders:

  • $recycle.bin
  • $windows.~bt
  • $windows.~ws
  • all users
  • boot
  • config.msi
  • default
  • intel
  • microsoft
  • msocache
  • perflogs
  • program files
  • program files (x86)
  • programdata
  • public
  • system volume information
  • tor browser
  • windows
  • windows.old
  • x64dbg

It appends the following extension to the file name of the encrypted files:

  • .qR8tixVvx

It drops the following file(s) as ransom note:

  • It drops the following file(s) as ransom note:
    {Encrypted Directory}\qR8tixVvx.README.txt




It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions:

  • 386
  • adv
  • ani
  • bat
  • bin
  • cab
  • cmd
  • com
  • cpl
  • cur
  • deskthemepack
  • diagcab
  • diagcfg
  • diagpkg
  • dll
  • drv
  • exe
  • hlp
  • hta
  • icl
  • icns
  • ico
  • ics
  • idx
  • key
  • ldf
  • lnk
  • lock
  • mod
  • mpa
  • msc
  • msi
  • msp
  • msstyles
  • msu
  • nls
  • nomedia
  • ocx
  • pdb
  • prf
  • ps1
  • rom
  • rtp
  • scr
  • search-ms
  • shs
  • spl
  • sys
  • theme
  • themepack
  • wpx

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.800

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

18.904.05

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

27 Dec 2023

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

18.905.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

28 Dec 2023

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.XXPE50FFF075

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

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\Classes\.qR8tixVvx
    • (Default) = .qR8tixVvx
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\.qR8tixVvx
    • (Default) = %ProgramData%\qR8tixVvx.ico

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. Before you could do this, you must restart in Safe Mode. For instructions on how to do this, you may refer to this page If the preceding step requires you to restart in safe mode, you may proceed to edit the system registry.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\qR8tixVvx

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.
  • %ProgramData%\qR8tixVvx.ico
  • %ProgramData%\qR8tixVvx.bmp
  • {Encrypted Directory}\qR8tixVvx.README.txt

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Ransom.Win32.LOCKBIT.EOH. 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

Restore encrypted files from backup.

Step 9

Reset your Desktop properties

[ Learn More ]

Step 10

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Ransom.Win32.LOCKBIT.EOH. 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 the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:


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