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Ransom.Win64.PANDORA.YECCM

April 13, 2022
 Analysis by: Nathaniel Gregory Ragasa
 ALIASES:

VHO:Trojan-Ransom.Win64.Pandora.a(KASPERSKY), Win64:RansomX-gen [Ransom](AVAST)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Ransomware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • 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:

223,232 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Payload:

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:

  • %System%\cmd.exe vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all /quiet

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)

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

  • ThisIsMutexa

Other Details

This Ransomware does the following:

  • It empties the Recycle Bin.
  • It uses Windows Restart Manager to unlock files it will encrypt.
  • It bypasses Antimalware Scan Interface (AMSI)

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

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:

  • .pandora

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

  • {Encrypted Directory}\Restore_My_Files.txt

It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions:

  • .hta
  • .exe
  • .dll
  • .cpl
  • .ini
  • .cab
  • .cur
  • .drv
  • .hlp
  • .icl
  • .icns
  • .ico
  • .idx
  • .sys
  • .spl
  • .ocx

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.800

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

17.438.07

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

13 Mar 2022

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

17.439.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

14 Mar 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:

    • PUA.Win32.TRX.XXPE50FFF055

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 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}\Restore_My_Files.txt

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Ransom.Win64.PANDORA.YECCM. 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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