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RANSOM.MSIL.SYMMYWARE.AA

January 10, 2019
 Analysis by: Henry Alarcon Jr.
 ALIASES:

MSIL:Filecoder-AC [Trj] (Avast),TR/ATRAPS.jnlkg (Avira)

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

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

45344768 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Payload:

Collects system information, Connects to URLs/IPs, Modifies system registry, Displays graphics/image, Opens Internet Explorer window, Steals information

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.

Information Theft

This Ransomware gathers the following data:

  • Machine Name
  • User Name

Stolen Information

This Ransomware sends the gathered information via HTTP POST to the following URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}thes.{BLOCKED}e.net/write.php?info=Computer - {Machine Name} Username - {Username} Password - {15 random characters}

Other Details

This Ransomware connects to the following URL(s) to check for an Internet connection:

  • www.google.com

It does the following:

  • Before and after encrypting files it terminates the following processes if found running in the affected system's memory:
    • explorer.exe
  • After encrypting files:
    • Plays a YouTube video on the following link:
      • https://www.youtube.com/watch?{BLOCKED}gs

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • .txt
  • .doc
  • .docx
  • .xls
  • .xlsx
  • .ppt
  • .pptx
  • .odt
  • jpeg
  • .png
  • .csv
  • .sql
  • .mdb
  • .sln
  • .php
  • .asp
  • .aspx
  • .html
  • .xml
  • .psd
  • .sql
  • .mp4
  • .7z
  • .rar
  • .m4a
  • .wma
  • .avi
  • .wmv
  • .csv
  • .d3dbsp
  • .zip
  • .sie
  • .sum
  • .ibank
  • .t13
  • .t12
  • .qdf
  • .gdb
  • .tax
  • .pkpass
  • .bc6
  • .bc7
  • .bkp
  • .qic
  • .bkf
  • .sidn
  • .sidd
  • .mddata
  • .itl
  • .itdb
  • .icxs
  • .hvpl
  • .hplg
  • .hkdb
  • .mdbackup
  • .syncdb
  • .gho
  • .cas
  • .svg
  • .map
  • .wmo
  • .itm
  • .sb
  • .fos
  • .mov
  • .vdf
  • .ztmp
  • .sis
  • .sid
  • .ncf
  • .menu
  • .layout
  • .dmp
  • .blob
  • .esm
  • .vcf
  • .vtf
  • .dazip
  • .fpk
  • .mlx
  • .kf
  • .iwd
  • .vpk
  • .tor
  • .psk
  • .rim
  • .w3x
  • .fsh
  • .ntl
  • .arch00
  • .lvl
  • .snx
  • .cfr
  • .ff
  • .vpp_pc
  • .lrf
  • .m2
  • .mcmeta
  • .vfs0
  • .mpqge
  • .kdb
  • .db0
  • .dba
  • .rofl
  • .hkx
  • .bar
  • .upk
  • .das
  • .iwi
  • .litemod
  • .asset
  • .forge
  • .ltx
  • .bsa
  • .apk
  • .re4
  • .sav
  • .lbf
  • .slm
  • .bik
  • .epk
  • .rgss3a
  • .pak
  • .big
  • wallet
  • .wotreplay
  • .xxx
  • .desc
  • .py
  • .m3u
  • .flv
  • .js
  • .css
  • .rb
  • .p7c
  • .pk7
  • .p7b
  • .p12
  • .pfx
  • .pem
  • .crt
  • .cer
  • .der
  • .x3f
  • .srw
  • .pef
  • .ptx
  • .r3d
  • .rw2
  • .rwl
  • .raw
  • .raf
  • .orf
  • .nrw
  • .mrwref
  • .mef
  • .erf
  • .kdc
  • .dcr
  • .cr2
  • .crw
  • .bay
  • .sr2
  • .srf
  • .arw
  • .3fr
  • .dng
  • .jpe
  • .jpg
  • .cdr
  • .indd
  • .ai
  • .eps
  • .pdf
  • .pdd
  • .dbf
  • .mdf
  • .wb2
  • .rtf
  • .wpd
  • .dxg
  • .xf
  • .dwg
  • .pst
  • .accdb
  • .mdb
  • .pptm
  • .pptx
  • .ppt
  • .xlk
  • .xlsb
  • .xlsm
  • .xlsx
  • .xls
  • .wps
  • .docm
  • .docx
  • .doc
  • .odb
  • .odc
  • .odm
  • .odp
  • .ods
  • .odt
  • .veg
  • .ico
  • .lnk

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

  • Windows
  • Program Files
  • Program Files (x86)

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

  • .SYMMYWARE

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

  • {encrypted directory}\SYMMYWARE.TXT

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

14.726.05

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

02 Jan 2019

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

14.727.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

03 Jan 2019

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

Identify and terminate files detected as RANSOM.MSIL.SYMMYWARE.AA

[ Learn More ]
  1. Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
  2. If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
  3. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

Step 4

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.  
  • {encrypted directory}\SYMMYWARE.TXT

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as RANSOM.MSIL.SYMMYWARE.AA. 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 6

Restore encrypted files from backup.


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