Ransom.MSIL.PHOBOS.YPDHOT

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.

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 drops the following files:

• Copies of %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\AddInProcess32.exe:
  • %AppDataLocal%\AddInProcess32.exe
  • %User Startup%\AddInProcess32.exe
  • %Common Startup%\AddInProcess32.exe
• If 'date' exists in %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319:
  • %AppDataLocal%\date
  • %User Startup%\date
  • %Common Startup%\date

(Note: %Common Startup% is the startup folder for all users, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

It adds the following processes:

• vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet
• netsh advfirewall set currentprofile state off
• wmic shadowcopy delete
• netsh firewall set opmode mode=disable
• bcdedit /set {default} bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures
• bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled no
• wbadmin delete catalog -quiet
• "%System%\mshta.exe" "%Desktop%\info.hta"
• "%System%\mshta.exe" "%Public%\desktop\info.hta"
• "%System%\mshta.exe" "{Drive Letter}\info.hta"
• %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\AddInProcess32.exe → It injects code to this process to stay memory-resident

(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).. %Public% is the folder that serves as a repository of files or folders common to all users, which is usually C:\Users\Public in Windows Vista, 7, and 8.. %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.)

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

• Global\<>{Volume Serial ID}00000001

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
AddInProcess32 = %AppDataLocal%\AddInProcess32.exe

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
AddInProcess32 = %AppDataLocal%\AddInProcess32.exe

Process Termination

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

• msftesql.exe
• sqlagent.exe
• sqlbrowser.exe
• sqlservr.exe
• sqlwriter.exe
• oracle.exe
• ocssd.exe
• dbsnmp.exe
• synctime.exe
• agntsvc.exe
• mydesktopqos.exe
• isqlplussvc.exe
• xfssvccon.exe
• mydesktopservice.exe
• ocautoupds.exe
• agntsvc.exe
• agntsvc.exe
• agntsvc.exe
• encsvc.exe
• firefoxconfig.exe
• tbirdconfig.exe
• ocomm.exe
• mysqld.exe
• mysqld-nt.exe
• mysqld-opt.exe
• dbeng50.exe
• sqbcoreservice.exe
• excel.exe
• infopath.exe
• msaccess.exe
• mspub.exe
• onenote.exe
• outlook.exe
• powerpnt.exe
• steam.exe
• thebat.exe
• thebat64.exe
• thunderbird.exe
• visio.exe
• winword.exe
• wordpad.exe

Other Details

This Ransomware does the following:

• It requires the following version of the .NET Framework for the file to run:
  • v4.0.30319
• If "fiddler.exe" is found running, it performs the following then terminates execution:
  • It shows the following message box:
    
  • It adds the following process:
    • "%System%\cmd.exe" /C ping 1.1.1.1 -n 1 -w 3000 > Nul & Del ""
• It scans specific database related file extensions:
  • fdb
  • sql
  • 4dd
  • 4dl
  • abs
  • abx
  • accdb
  • accdc
  • accde
  • adb
  • adf
  • ckp
  • db
  • db-journal
  • db-shm
  • db-wal
  • db2
  • db3
  • dbc
  • dbf
  • dbs
  • dbt
  • dbv
  • dcb
  • dp1
  • eco
  • edb
  • epim
  • fcd
  • gdb
  • mdb
  • mdf
  • ldf
  • myd
  • ndf
  • nwdb
  • nyf
  • sqlitedb
  • sqlite3
  • sqlite

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware avoids encrypting files with the following strings in their file name:

• info.hta
• info.txt
• boot.ini
• bootfont.bin
• ntldr
• ntdetect.com
• io.sys
• date
• addinprocess32.exe

It avoids encrypting files found in the following folders:

• %Windows%
• %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Caches

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.. %ProgramData% is a version of the Program Files folder where any user on a multi-user computer can make changes to programs. This contains application data for all users. This is usually C:\ProgramData on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit), or C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows Server 2003(32-bit), 2000(32-bit) and XP.)

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

• .id[{Volume Serial Number}-2850].[{BLOCKED}lause0@gmail.com ].blue

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

• %Desktop%\info.hta
• %Public%\Desktop\info.hta
• {Drive Letter}\info.hta
  

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

• %Desktop%\info.txt
• %Public%\Desktop\info.txt
• {Drive Letter}\info.txt
  

It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions:

• blue
• actin
• dike
• acton
• actor
• acuff
• file
• acuna
• fullz
• mmxxii
• kmrox
• 6y8dghklp
• shtorm
• nurri
• ghost
• ff6om6
• blue
• nx
• backjohn
• own
• fs23
• 2qz3
• top
• blackrock
• chcrbo
• g-stars
• faust
• unknown
• steel
• worry
• win
• duck
• fopra
• unique
• acute
• adage
• make
• adair
• mlf
• magic
• adame
• banhu
• banjo
• banks
• banta
• barak
• caleb
• cales
• caley
• calix
• calle
• calum
• calvo
• deuce
• dever
• devil
• devoe
• devon
• devos
• dewar
• eight
• eject
• eking
• elbie
• elbow
• elder
• phobos
• help
• blend
• bqux
• com
• mamba
• karlos
• ddos
• phoenix
• plut
• karma
• bbc
• capital
• wallet
• lks
• tech
• s1g2n3a4l
• murk
• makop
• ebaka
• jook
• logan
• fiasko
• gucci
• decrypt
• ooh
• non
• grt
• lizard
• flscrypt
• sdk
• 2023
• vhdv