RANSOM_EXMAS.E

 Analysis by: Homer Pacag

 ALIASES:

a variant of Win32/Filecoder.Xmas.A (ESET-NOD32); W32/Filecoder_Xmas.A!tr (Fortinet);

 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, Via email


This malware, name derived from the title of its ransom note, was discovered early January 2017. Victims of this ransomware will have their files encrypted, with a ransom note wishing them a Merry Christmas and demanding to pay the ransom in order to retrieve the encrypted files.

To get a one-glance comprehensive view of the behavior of this Trojan, refer to the Threat Diagram shown below.

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:

259,980 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

04 Jan 2017

Payload:

Encrypts files, Drops 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 files:

  • %Desktop%\YOUR_FILES_ARE_DEAD.HTA - ransom note
  • {folders containing encrypted files}\YOUR_FILES_ARE_DEAD.HTA - ransom note

(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.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
Adobe = {Malware Path}\{Malware Name}.exe

Other System Modifications

This Trojan modifies the following file(s):

  • It encrypts files and appends the extension .RARE1

Other Details

This Trojan encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • 001
  • 1cd
  • 3d
  • 3d4
  • 3df8
  • 3dm
  • 3ds
  • 3fr
  • 3g2
  • 3ga
  • 3gp
  • 3gp2
  • 3mm
  • 3pr
  • 7z
  • 7zip
  • 8ba
  • 8bc
  • 8be
  • 8bf
  • 8bi8
  • 8bl
  • 8bs
  • 8bx
  • 8by
  • 8li
  • a2c
  • aa
  • aa3
  • aac
  • aaf
  • ab4
  • abk
  • abw
  • ac2
  • ac3
  • accdb
  • accde
  • accdr
  • accdt
  • ace
  • ach
  • acr
  • act
  • adb
  • ade
  • adi
  • adp
  • adpb
  • adr
  • ads
  • adt
  • aep
  • aepx
  • aes
  • aet
  • afp
  • agd1
  • agdl
  • ai
  • aif
  • aiff
  • aim
  • aip
  • ais
  • ait
  • ak
  • al
  • allet
  • alphacrypt
  • amf
  • amr
  • amu
  • amx
  • amxx
  • ans
  • aoi
  • ap
  • ape
  • api
  • apj
  • apk
  • apnx
  • app
  • arc
  • arch00
  • ari
  • arj
  • aro
  • arr
  • arw
  • as
  • as3
  • asa
  • asc
  • ascx
  • ase
  • asf
  • ashx
  • asm
  • asmx
  • asp
  • aspx
  • asr
  • asset
  • asx
  • automaticdestinations-ms
  • avi
  • avs
  • awg
  • azf
  • azs
  • azw
  • azw1
  • azw3
  • azw4
  • b2a
  • back
  • backup
  • backupdb
  • bad
  • bak
  • bank
  • bar
  • bat
  • bay
  • bc6
  • bc7
  • bck
  • bcp
  • bdb
  • bdp
  • bdr
  • bfa
  • bgt
  • bi8
  • bib
  • bic
  • big
  • bik
  • bin
  • bkf
  • bkp
  • bkup
  • blend
  • blob
  • blp
  • bmc
  • bmf
  • bml
  • bmp
  • boc
  • bp2
  • bp3
  • bpk
  • bpl
  • bpw
  • brd
  • bsa
  • bsk
  • bsp
  • btoa
  • bvd
  • bz2
  • c
  • cag
  • cam
  • camproj
  • cap
  • car
  • cas
  • cat
  • cbf
  • cbr
  • cbz
  • cc
  • ccd
  • ccf
  • cch
  • cd
  • cdf
  • cdi
  • cdr
  • cdr3
  • cdr4
  • cdr5
  • cdr6
  • cdrw
  • cdx
  • ce1
  • ce2
  • cef
  • cer
  • cert
  • cfg
  • cfm
  • cfp
  • cfr
  • cgf
  • cgi
  • cgm
  • cgp
  • chk
  • chml
  • cib
  • class
  • clr
  • cls
  • clx
  • cmd
  • cmf
  • cms
  • cmt
  • cnf
  • cng
  • cod
  • col
  • con
  • conf
  • config
  • contact
  • cp
  • cpi
  • cpio
  • cpp
  • cr2
  • craw
  • crd
  • crt
  • crw
  • crwl
  • crypt
  • crypted
  • cryptra
  • cryptXXX
  • cs
  • csh
  • csi
  • csl
  • cso
  • csr
  • css
  • csv
  • ctt
  • cty
  • cue
  • cwf
  • d3dbsp
  • dac
  • dal
  • dap
  • das
  • dash
  • dat
  • database
  • dayzprofile
  • dazip
  • db
  • db_journal
  • db0
  • db3
  • dba
  • dbb
  • dbf
  • dbfv
  • db-journal
  • dbx
  • dc2
  • dc4
  • dch
  • dco
  • dcp
  • dcr
  • dcs
  • dcu
  • ddc
  • ddcx
  • ddd
  • ddoc
  • ddrw
  • dds
  • default
  • dem
  • der
  • des
  • desc
  • design
  • desklink
  • dev
  • dex
  • dfm
  • dgc
  • dic
  • dif
  • dii
  • dim
  • dime
  • dip
  • dir
  • directory
  • disc
  • disk
  • dit
  • divx
  • diz
  • djv
  • djvu
  • dlc
  • dmg
  • dmp
  • dng
  • dob
  • doc
  • docb
  • docm
  • docx
  • dot
  • dotm
  • dotx
  • dox
  • dpk
  • dpl
  • dpr
  • drf
  • drw
  • dsk
  • dsp
  • dtd
  • dvd
  • dvi
  • dvx
  • dwg
  • dxb
  • dxe
  • dxf
  • dxg
  • e4a
  • edb
  • efl
  • efr
  • efu
  • efx
  • eip
  • elf
  • emc
  • emf
  • eml
  • enc
  • enx
  • epk
  • eps
  • epub
  • eql
  • erbsql
  • erf
  • err
  • esf
  • esm
  • euc
  • evo
  • ex
  • exf
  • exif
  • f90
  • faq
  • fcd
  • fdb
  • fdr
  • fds
  • ff
  • ffd
  • fff
  • fh
  • fhd
  • fla
  • flac
  • flf
  • flp
  • flv
  • flvv
  • for
  • forge
  • fos
  • fpenc
  • fpk
  • fpp
  • fpx
  • frm
  • fsh
  • fss
  • fxg
  • gadget
  • gam
  • gbk
  • gbr
  • gdb
  • ged
  • gfe
  • gfx
  • gho
  • gif
  • gif,.bmp
  • gpg
  • gpx
  • gray
  • grey
  • grf
  • groups
  • gry
  • gthr
  • gxk
  • gz
  • gzig
  • gzip
  • h
  • h3m
  • h4r
  • hbk
  • hbx
  • hdd
  • hex
  • hkdb
  • hkx
  • hplg
  • hpp
  • hqx
  • htm
  • html
  • htpasswd
  • hvpl
  • hwp
  • ibank
  • ibd
  • ibooks
  • ibz
  • ico
  • icxs
  • idl
  • idml
  • idx
  • ie5
  • ie6
  • ie7
  • ie8
  • ie9
  • iff
  • iif
  • iiq
  • img
  • incpas
  • indb
  • indd
  • indl
  • indt
  • ink
  • inx
  • ipa
  • iso
  • isu
  • isz
  • itdb
  • itl
  • itm
  • iwd
  • iwi
  • jac
  • jar
  • jav
  • java
  • jbc
  • jc
  • jfif
  • jge
  • jgz
  • jif
  • jiff
  • jks
  • jnt
  • jpc
  • jpe
  • jpeg
  • jpf
  • jpg
  • jpw
  • js
  • json
  • jsp
  • just
  • k25
  • kc2
  • kdb
  • kdbx
  • kdc
  • kde
  • key
  • kf
  • klq
  • kml
  • kmz
  • kpdx
  • kwd
  • kwm
  • laccdb
  • lastlogin
  • lay
  • lay6
  • layout
  • lbf
  • lbi
  • lcd
  • lcf
  • lcn
  • ldb
  • ldf
  • lgp
  • lib
  • lit
  • litemod
  • lngttarch2
  • localstorage
  • locky
  • log
  • lp2
  • lpa
  • lrf
  • ltm
  • ltr
  • ltx
  • lua
  • lvivt
  • lvl
  • m
  • m2
  • m2ts
  • m3u
  • m3u8
  • m4a
  • m4p
  • m4u
  • m4v
  • mag
  • man
  • map
  • mapimail
  • max
  • mbox
  • mbx
  • mcd
  • mcgame
  • mcmeta
  • mcrp
  • md
  • md0
  • md1
  • md2
  • md3
  • md5
  • mdb
  • mdbackup
  • mdc
  • mddata
  • mdf
  • mdl
  • mdn
  • mds
  • mef
  • menu
  • meo
  • mfd
  • mfw
  • mic
  • mid
  • mim
  • mime
  • mip
  • mjd
  • mkv
  • mlb
  • mlx
  • mm6
  • mm7
  • mm8
  • mme
  • mml
  • mmw
  • mny
  • mobi
  • mod
  • moneywell
  • mos
  • mov
  • movie
  • moz
  • mp1
  • mp2
  • mp3
  • mp4
  • mp4v
  • mpa
  • mpe
  • mpeg
  • mpg
  • mpq
  • mpqge
  • mpv2
  • mrw
  • mrwref
  • ms11
  • ms11(Securitycopy)
  • mse
  • msg
  • msi
  • msp
  • mts
  • mui
  • mxp
  • myd
  • myi
  • nav
  • ncd
  • ncf
  • nd
  • ndd
  • ndf
  • nds
  • nef
  • nfo
  • nk2
  • nop
  • note
  • now
  • nrg
  • nri
  • nrw
  • ns2
  • ns3
  • ns4
  • nsd
  • nsf
  • nsg
  • nsh
  • ntl
  • number
  • nvram
  • nwb
  • nx1
  • nx2
  • nxl
  • nyf
  • oab
  • obj
  • odb
  • odc
  • odf
  • odg
  • odi
  • odm
  • odp
  • ods
  • odt
  • oft
  • oga
  • ogg
  • oil
  • opd
  • opf
  • orf
  • ost
  • otg
  • oth
  • otp
  • ots
  • ott
  • owl
  • oxt
  • p12
  • p7b
  • p7c
  • pab
  • pack
  • pages
  • pak
  • paq
  • pas
  • pat
  • pbf
  • pbk
  • pbp
  • pbs
  • pcd
  • pct
  • pcv
  • pdb
  • pdc
  • pdd
  • pdf
  • pef
  • pem
  • pfx
  • php
  • pif
  • pkb
  • pkey
  • pkh
  • pkpass
  • pl
  • plb
  • plc
  • pli
  • plugin
  • plus_muhd
  • pm
  • pmd
  • png
  • po
  • pot
  • potm
  • potx
  • ppam
  • ppd
  • ppf
  • ppj
  • pps
  • ppsm
  • ppsx
  • ppt
  • pptm
  • pptx
  • prc
  • prel
  • prf
  • priv
  • privat
  • props
  • prproj
  • prt
  • ps
  • psa
  • psafe3
  • psd
  • psk
  • pspimage
  • pst
  • psw6
  • ptx
  • pub
  • puz
  • pwf
  • pwi
  • pwm
  • pxp
  • py
  • qba
  • qbb
  • qbm
  • qbr
  • qbw
  • qbx
  • qby
  • qcow
  • qcow2
  • qdf
  • qed
  • qel
  • qic
  • qif
  • qpx
  • qt
  • qtq
  • qtr
  • r00
  • r01
  • r02
  • r03
  • r3d
  • ra
  • ra2
  • raf
  • ram
  • rar
  • rat
  • raw
  • rb
  • rdb
  • rdi
  • re4
  • res
  • result
  • rev
  • rgn
  • rgss3a
  • rim
  • rll
  • rm
  • rng
  • rofl
  • rpf
  • rrt
  • rsdf
  • rsrc
  • rss
  • rsw
  • rte
  • rtf
  • rts
  • rtx
  • rum
  • run
  • rv
  • rvt
  • rw2
  • rwl
  • rwz
  • rzk
  • rzx
  • s3db
  • sad
  • saf
  • safe
  • sas7bdat
  • sav
  • save
  • say
  • sb
  • sc2save
  • sch
  • scm
  • scn
  • scx
  • sd0
  • sd1
  • sda
  • sdb
  • sdc
  • sdf
  • sdn
  • sdo
  • sds
  • sdt
  • search-ms
  • sef
  • sen
  • ses
  • sfs
  • sfx
  • sgz
  • sh
  • shar
  • shr
  • shw
  • shy
  • sid
  • sidd
  • sidn
  • sie
  • sis
  • sitx
  • sldm
  • sldx
  • slk
  • slm
  • sln
  • slt
  • sme
  • snk
  • snp
  • snx
  • so
  • spd
  • spr
  • sql
  • sqlite
  • sqlite3
  • sqlitedb
  • sqllite
  • sqx
  • sr2
  • srf
  • srt
  • srw
  • ssa
  • st4
  • st5
  • st6
  • st7
  • st8
  • stc
  • std
  • sti
  • stm
  • stt
  • stw
  • stx
  • sud
  • suf
  • sum
  • svg
  • svi
  • svr
  • swd
  • swf
  • switch
  • sxc
  • sxd
  • sxg
  • sxi
  • sxm
  • sxw
  • syncdb
  • t01
  • t03
  • t05
  • t12
  • t13
  • tar
  • tar.bz2
  • tarbz2
  • tax
  • tax2013
  • tax2014
  • tbk
  • tbz2
  • tch
  • tcx
  • teslacrypt
  • tex
  • text
  • tg
  • tga
  • tgz
  • thm
  • thmx
  • tif
  • tiff
  • tlb
  • tlg
  • tlz
  • tmp
  • toast
  • tor
  • torrent
  • tpu
  • tpx
  • trp
  • ts
  • tu
  • tur
  • txd
  • txf
  • txt
  • uax
  • udf
  • uea
  • umx
  • unity3d
  • unr
  • unx
  • uop
  • uot
  • upk
  • upoi
  • url
  • usa
  • usx
  • ut2
  • ut3
  • utc
  • utx
  • uu
  • uud
  • uue
  • uvx
  • uxx
  • val
  • vault
  • vb
  • vbox
  • vbs
  • vc
  • vcd
  • vcf
  • vcxpro
  • vdf
  • vdi
  • vdo
  • ver
  • vfs0
  • vhd
  • vhdx
  • vlc
  • vlt
  • vmdk
  • vmf
  • vmsd
  • vmt
  • vmx
  • vmxf
  • vob
  • vp
  • vpk
  • vpp_pc
  • vsi
  • vtf
  • w3g
  • w3x
  • wab
  • wad
  • wallet
  • war
  • wav
  • wave
  • waw
  • wb2
  • wbk
  • wdgt
  • wks
  • wm
  • wma
  • wmd
  • wmdb
  • wmmp
  • wmo
  • wmv
  • wmx
  • wotreplay
  • wow
  • wpd
  • wpe
  • wpk
  • wpl
  • wps
  • wsf
  • wsh
  • wtd
  • wtf
  • wvx
  • x11
  • x3f
  • xcodeproj
  • xf
  • xhtml
  • xis
  • xl
  • xla
  • xlam
  • xlc
  • xlk
  • xll
  • xlm
  • xlr
  • xls
  • xlsb
  • xlsm
  • xlsx
  • xlt
  • xltm
  • xltx
  • xlv
  • xlw
  • xlwx
  • xml
  • xpi
  • xps
  • xpt
  • xqx
  • xsl
  • xtbl
  • xvid
  • xwd
  • xxe
  • xxx
  • yab
  • ycbcra
  • yenc
  • yml
  • ync
  • yps
  • yuv
  • z02
  • z04
  • zap
  • zip
  • zipx
  • zoo
  • zps
  • ztmp

NOTES:

This ransomware displays message box once the encryption is finished.

It also shows the ransomnote YOUR_FILES_ARE_DEAD.HTA:

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.800

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

13.146.05

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

04 Jan 2017

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

13.147.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

05 Jan 2017

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

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
    • Adobe = {Malware Path}\{Malware Name}.exe

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.
  • %Desktop%\YOUR_FILES_ARE_DEAD.HTA
  • {folders containing encrypted files}\YOUR_FILES_ARE_DEAD.HTA

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as RANSOM_EXMAS.E. 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 6

Restore encrypted files from backup.


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