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Ransom.Win32.LOCKBIT.SMYXCGU

May 06, 2025
 Analysis by: Jeffrey Francis Bonaobra
 Modified by: Leidryn Saludez
 ALIASES:

Ransom:Win32/Lockbit.AK!ibt (MICROSOFT)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Ransomware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware


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:

164,352 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

29 Apr 2025

Payload:

Encrypts files, Terminates processes, Drops files, Displays graphics/image

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 and executes the following files:

  • %Program Data%\7O80AqiSH.ico → icon used for encrypted files
  • %Program Data%\7O80AqiSH.bmp → image used as wallpaper after encryption
  • %Program Data%\E6F6.tmp → Detected as Trojan.Win32.KCALBREPUS.THCAIBE
  • {Encrypted Directory}\7O80AqiSH.README.txt

Other System Modifications

This Ransomware adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
.7O80AqiSH
{Default} = 7O80AqiSH

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
7O80AqiSH\DefaultIcon
{Default} = %Program Data%\7O80AqiSH.ico

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
GlobalAssocChangedCounter = 36

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
Wallpaper = %Program Data%\7O80AqiSH.bmp

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

  • %Program Data%\7O80AqiSH.bmp

Process Termination

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

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

Other Details

This Ransomware does the following:

  • It encrypts fixed, removable, and network shares
  • It uses the Windows Restart Manager API to close processes or shut down Windows services that may be keeping a file open and preventing encryption.
  • It empties the recycle bin.
  • It changes the file icon of the encrypted files into the following image:

Ransomware Routine

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

  • autorun.inf
  • boot.ini
  • bootfont.bin
  • bootsect.bak
  • bootmgr
  • bootmgr.efi
  • bootmgfw.efi
  • desktop.ini
  • iconcache.db
  • ntldr
  • ntuser.dat
  • ntuser.dat.log
  • ntuser.ini
  • thumbs.db
  • Program Files
  • Program Files (x86)
  • #recycle
  • 7O80AqiSH

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

  • AppData
  • Boot
  • Windows
  • Windows.old
  • Tor Browser
  • Internet Explorer
  • Google
  • Opera
  • Opera Software
  • Mozilla
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • $Recycle.Bin
  • ProgramData
  • All Users

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

  • .7O80AqiSH

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

  • {Encrypted Directory}\7O80AqiSH.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
  • .icl
  • .icns
  • .ico
  • .ics
  • .idx
  • .ldf
  • .lnk
  • .mod
  • .mpa
  • .msc
  • .msp
  • .msstyles
  • .msu
  • .nls
  • .nomedia
  • .ocx
  • .prf
  • .ps1
  • .rom
  • .rtp
  • .scr
  • .shs
  • .spl
  • .sys
  • .theme
  • .themepack
  • .wpx
  • .lock
  • .key
  • .hta
  • .msi
  • .pdb
  • .search-ms

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.800

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

17.882.08

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

18 Oct 2022

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

17.883.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

19 Oct 2022

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.XXPE50FFF092

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

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.
  • %Program Data%\7O80AqiSH.ico
  • %Program Data%\7O80AqiSH.bmp
  • %Program Data%\E6F6.tmp
  • {Encrypted Directory}\7O80AqiSH.README.txt

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\Classes\.7O80AqiSH
    • {Default} = 7O80AqiSH
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\7O80AqiSH\DefaultIcon
    • {Default} = %Program Data%\7O80AqiSH.ico
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
    • GlobalAssocChangedCounter = 36
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
    • Wallpaper = %Program Data%\7O80AqiSH.bmp

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Ransom.Win32.LOCKBIT.SMYXCGU. 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:

Step 7

Restore encrypted files from backup.


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