Ransom.MSIL.HAKBIT.C

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 encrypts files found in specific folders.

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:

• %User Startup%\{renamed malware}.exe
• %System%\cmd.exe /C choice /C Y /N /D Y /T 3 & Del {malware filename}
• "vssadmin.exe" resize shadowstorage /for={Drive Letter}: /on={Drive Letter}: /maxsize=401MB
• "vssadmin.exe" resize shadowstorage /for={Drive Letter}: /on={Drive Letter}: /maxsize=unbounded
• %System%\notepad.exe %Desktop%\HELP_ME_RECOVER_MY_FILES.txt
• %User Temp%\{random}.exe m=psexec -i={host ip address} -d={target ip address} -f=%User Startup%\{randomly picked name}.exe -e=%User Temp%\{random}.exe

(Note: %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows NT, C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 2003(32-bit), XP and 2000(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit), 10(64-bit).. %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.. %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %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).)

It executes then deletes itself afterward.

It leaves text files that serve as ransom notes containing the following:

• %Desktop%\HELP_ME_RECOVER_MY_FILES.txt
• {Directories With Encrypted Files}\HELP_ME_RECOVER_MY_FILES.txt
• 

Autostart Technique

This Ransomware drops the following file(s) in the Windows User Startup folder to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

• {Malware Name}.exe

Other System Modifications

This Ransomware deletes the following files:

• {Files to be encrypted}

Download Routine

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

• https://raw.{BLOCKED}usercontent.com/anthemtotheego/SharpExec/master/CompiledBinaries/SharpExec_x86.exe

Other Details

This Ransomware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

• hor.{BLOCKED}lus.cloudapp.{BLOCKED}e.com

It does the following:

• List of names the malware uses
  • lsass.exe
  • svchst.exe
  • crcss.exe
  • chrome32.exe
  • firefox.exe
  • calc.exe
  • mysqld.exe
  • dllhst.exe
  • opera32.exe
  • memop.exe
  • spoolcv.exe
  • ctfmom.exe
  • SkypeApp.exe

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware encrypts files with the following extensions:

• txt
• jpeg
• gif
• jpg
• png
• php
• cs
• cpp
• rar
• zip
• html
• htm
• xlsx
• avi
• mp4
• ppt
• doc
• docx
• xlsx
• sxi
• sxw
• odt
• hwp
• zip
• rar
• tar
• bz2
• mp4
• 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

It encrypts files found in the following folders:

• {Drive Letter}:\
• %Desktop%
• %User Profile%\My Pictures
• %User Profile%\My Documents

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

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

• .hor