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Ransom.Win32.RAPID.TIAOBEAU

April 07, 2021
 Analysis by: Clive Fuentebella
 ALIASES:

PossibleThreat.PALLAS.H (FORTINET)

 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 drops files as ransom note.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

5,572,608 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Payload:

Displays message/message boxes, Encrypts files, Terminates processes

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:

  • %Application Data%\putana.txt
  • {Encrypted folder}\hid.dat

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

It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Application Data%\noputana.exe

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

It adds the following processes:

  • "%System%\cmd.exe" rem Delite Service "Hyper-V"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "vmickvpexchange"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "vmicguestinterface"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "vmicshutdown"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "vmicheartbeat"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "vmicrdv"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "storflt"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "vmictimesync"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "vmicvss"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" rem Delite Service "SQL"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "MSSQLFDLauncher"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "MSSQLSERVER"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "SQLSERVERAGENT"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "SQLBrowser"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "SQLTELEMETRY"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "MsDtsServer130"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "SSISTELEMETRY130"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "SQLWriter"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "MSSQL$VEEAMSQL2012"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "SQLAgent$VEEAMSQL2012"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "MSSQL"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "SQLAgent"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "MSSQLServerADHelper100"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "MSSQLServerOLAPService"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "MsDtsServer100"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "ReportServer"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "SQLTELEMETRY$HL"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "TMBMServer"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "MSSQL$PROGID"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "MSSQL$WOLTERSKLUWER"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "SQLAgent$PROGID"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "SQLAgent$WOLTERSKLUWER"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "MSSQLFDLauncher$OPTIMA"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "MSSQL$OPTIMA"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "SQLAgent$OPTIMA"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "ReportServer$OPTIMA"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "msftesql$SQLEXPRESS"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "postgresql-x64-9.4"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" rem Delite Service "AV: Webroot"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "WRSVC"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" rem Delite Service "AV: ESET"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "ekrn"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" rem Delite Service "AV: Kaspersky"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "klim6"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "AVP18.0.0"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "KLIF"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "klpd"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "klflt"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "klbackupdisk"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "klbackupflt"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "klkbdflt"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "klmouflt"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "klhk"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "KSDE1.0.0"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "kltap"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" rem Delite Service "AV: Trend Micro"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "TmFilter"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "TMLWCSService"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "tmusa"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "TmPreFilter"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "TMSmartRelayService"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "TMiCRCScanService"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "VSApiNt"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "TmCCSF"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "tmlisten"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "TmProxy"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "ntrtscan"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "ofcservice"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" sc delete "UniFi"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" rem Kill "SQL"
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" taskkill -f -im sqlbrowser.exe
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" taskkill -f -im sqlwriter.exe
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" taskkill -f -im sqlservr.exe
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" taskkill -f -im msmdsrv.exe
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" taskkill -f -im MsDtsSrvr.exe
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" taskkill -f -im sqlceip.exe
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" taskkill -f -im fdlauncher.exe
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" taskkill -f -im Ssms.exe
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" taskkill -f -im SQLAGENT.EXE
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" taskkill -f -im fdhost.exe
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" taskkill -f -im fdlauncher.exe
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" taskkill -f -im sqlservr.exe
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" taskkill -f -im ReportingServicesService.exe
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" taskkill -f -im msftesql.exe
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" taskkill -f -im pg_ctl.exe
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" taskkill -f -im postgres.exe
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" rem Kill
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" taskkill -f -im UniFi.exe
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" tasklist /fi "imagename eq MsMpEng.exe" | find /c "PID" && Echo Windows Defender
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" tasklist /fi "imagename eq ntrtscan.exe" | find /c "PID" && Echo Trend Micro Security
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" tasklist /fi "imagename eq avp.exe" | find /c "PID" && Echo Kaspersky Endpoint Security
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" tasklist /fi "imagename eq WRSA.exe" | find /c "PID" && Echo Webroot
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" tasklist /fi "imagename eq egui.exe" | find /c "PID" && Echo ESET
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" tasklist /fi "imagename eq AvastUI.exe" | find /c "PID" && Echo Avast
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" vssadmin.exe Delete Shadows /All /Quiet
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" /c vssadmin.exe Delete Shadows /All /Quiet
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" /c bcdedit.exe /set {default} recoveryenabled No
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" /c bcdedit.exe /set {default} bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" /c wbadmin DELETE SYSTEMSTATEBACKUP
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" /c wmic SHADOWCOPY DELETE
  • "%System%\wbem\WMIC.exe" wmic SHADOWCOPY DELETE
  • "%System%\schtasks.exe" /Create /SC MINUTE /TN Encrypter /TR %Application Data%\noputana.exe
  • "%System%\schtasks.exe" /Create /SC ONLOGON /TN EncrypterSt /TR %Application Data%\noputana.exe

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.. %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HelloAV = %Application Data%\noputana.exe

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
WelcomeBack = %Application Data%\putana.txt

Other System Modifications

This Ransomware adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\EncryptKeys
local_enc_private_key_len = {Hex data}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\EncryptKeys
local_enc_private_key = {Hex data}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\EncryptKeys
local_public_key_len = {Hex data}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\EncryptKeys
local_public_key = {Hex data}

Process Termination

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

  • cmd.exe
  • msftesql.exe
  • sqlagent.exe
  • sqlbrowser.exe
  • sqlservr.exe
  • sqlwriter.exe
  • oracle.exe
  • ocssd.exe
  • dbsnmp.exe
  • synctime.exe
  • mydesktopqos.exe
  • agntsvc.exe
  • isqlplussvc.exe
  • xfssvccon.exe
  • mydesktopservice.exe
  • ocautoupds.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
  • taskmgr.exe

Other Details

This Ransomware adds the following scheduled tasks:

  • Task name: Encrypter
    Task to be run: %Application Data%\noputana.exe
  • Task name: EncrypterSt
    Task to be run: %Application Data%\noputana.exe

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

Ransomware Routine

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

  • !!!_FILES_RECOVERY.txt
  • autorun.inf
  • boot.ini
  • desktop.ini
  • hid.dat
  • iconcache.db
  • noputana.exe
  • putana.txt
  • ntuser.dat
  • thumbs.db
  • windows
  • Windows
  • intel
  • nvidia
  • ProgramData
  • temp
  • Google
  • boot
  • windows.old
  • Program Files
  • Program Files (x86)
  • AppData
  • System Volume Information
  • Mozilla
  • Tor Browser

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

  • lock

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

  • {Encrypted folder}\!!!_FILES_RECOVERY.txt

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.800

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

16.640.01

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

06 Apr 2021

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

16.641.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

07 Apr 2021

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.XXPE50FFF042

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

Deleting Scheduled Tasks

The following {Task Name} - {Task to be run} listed should be used in the steps identified below:

For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:

  1. Open the Windows Scheduled Tasks. Click Start>Programs>Accessories>
    System Tools>Scheduled Tasks.
  2. Locate each {Task Name} values listed above in the Name column.
  3. Right-click on the said file(s) with the aforementioned value.
  4. Click on Properties. In the Run field, check for the listed {Task to be run}.
  5. If the strings match the list above, delete the task.

For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012:

  1. Open the Windows Task Scheduler. To do this:
    • On Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008, click Start, type taskschd.msc in the Search input field, then press Enter.
    • On Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, click Run, type taskschd.msc, then press Enter.
  2. In the left panel, click Task Scheduler Library.
  3. In the upper-middle panel, locate each {Task Name} values listed above in the Name column.
  4. In the lower-middle panel, click the Actions tab. In the Details column, check for the {Task to be run} string.
  5. If the said string is found, delete the task.

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • HelloAV=%Application Data%\noputana.exe
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • WelcomeBack=%Application Data%\putana.txt
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\EncryptKeys
    • local_enc_private_key_len={Hex data}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\EncryptKeys
    • local_enc_private_key={Hex data}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\EncryptKeys
    • local_public_key_len={Hex data}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\EncryptKeys
    • local_public_key={Hex data}

Step 7

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 folder}\!!!_FILES_RECOVERY.txt
  • %Application Data%\putana.txt
  • {Encrypted folder}\hid.dat
  • %Application Data%\noputana.exe

Step 8

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Ransom.Win32.RAPID.TIAOBEAU. 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 9

Restore encrypted files from backup.


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