RANSOM_CRYPTESLA.YYSIY

 Analysis by: Janus Agcaoili

 ALIASES:

Trojan:Win32/Bagsu!rfn (Microsoft), Ransom.TeslaCrypt (Malwarebytes), TR/AD.TeslaCrypt.Y.147 (Avira)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet

This Trojan arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

It connects to certain websites to send and receive information. It deletes itself after execution. It gathers information and reports it to its servers.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

352,256 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

09 Dec 2015

Payload:

Connects to URLs/IPs, Displays message/message boxes, Encrypts files, Steals information

Arrival Details

This Trojan 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 Trojan drops the following copies of itself into the affected system and executes them:

  • %Application Data%\{5 random character}acroic.exe

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

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

  • 2134-1234-1324-2134-1324-2134

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Acrndtd = "%Application Data%\{5 random letters}acroic.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\zsys

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{installation ID}

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
EnabledLinkConnections = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{installation ID}
data = "{encryption information}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\zsys
ID = "{installation ID}"

Process Termination

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

  • taskmgr
  • procexp
  • regedit
  • msconfig
  • cmd.exe

Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification

This Trojan modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

Dropping Routine

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %User Profile%\Documents\recover_file_{9 random letters}.txt
  • %Desktop%\Howto_RESTORE_FILES.txt
  • %Desktop%\Howto_RESTORE_FILES.html
  • %Desktop%\Howto_RESTORE_FILES.bmp

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

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following URL(s) to get the affected system's IP address:

  • http://myexternalip.com/raw

It connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • http://crown.{BLOCKED}dio.pl/media/misc.php?{data}
  • http://{BLOCKED}lbrass.no/media/misc.php?{data}
  • http://{BLOCKED}asphalt.com/media/misc.php?{data}
  • http://{BLOCKED}tup.com/media/misc.php?{data}
  • http://{BLOCKED}randes.com/media/misc.php?{data}
  • http://{BLOCKED}nacademy.com/media/misc.php?{data}

It displays the following message boxes:





It encrypts files with the following extensions:

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

It opens the following files:

  • %Desktop%\Howto_RESTORE_FILES.txt
  • %Desktop%\Howto_RESTORE_FILES.html
  • %Desktop%\Howto_RESTORE_FILES.bmp

(Note: %Desktop% is the desktop folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Desktop in Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop in Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

It renames encrypted files using the following names:

  • {filename}.{extension}.vvv

It does the following:

  • It deletes shadow copies by executing the following command:
    • vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all /Quiet
  • It avoids encrypting files in the following directories:
    • Windows
    • Program Files
    • All User Application Data
  • It drops how_recover+{3 random letters}.html and how_recover+{3 random letters}.txt to the folders where the files are encrypted.
  • It executes the following commands to modify the Boot Configuration Data:
    • bcdedit.exe /set {current} bootems off
    • bcdedit.exe /set {current} advancedoptions off
    • bcdedit.exe /set {current} optionsedit off
    • bcdedit.exe /set {current} bootstatuspolicy IgnoreAllFailures
    • bcdedit.exe /set {current} recoveryenabled off

It deletes itself after execution.

It gathers the following information and reports it to its servers:

  • Infection status
  • Encryption key
  • Bitcoin address
  • Total size of encrypted files
  • Malware version
  • OS information
  • Tor2web gateway used
  • IP address
  • Installation ID

NOTES:

It encrypts files in all fixed, removable, and network drives and shares.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.800

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

12.200.02

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

09 Dec 2015

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

12.201.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

10 Dec 2015

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

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.

  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
  • Acrndtd = "%Application Data%\{5 random letters}acroic.exe"
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
  • EnabledLinkConnections = "1"

Step 5

Delete this registry key

[ 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
    • zsys
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • {Installation ID}

Step 6

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.
  • %User Profile%\Documents\recover_file_{9 random letters}.txt
  • %Desktop%\Howto_RESTORE_FILES.txt
  • %Desktop%\Howto_RESTORE_FILES.html
  • %Desktop%\Howto_RESTORE_FILES.bmp
  • how_recover+{3 random letters}.html
  • how_recover+{3 random letters}.txt

Step 7

Reset Internet security settings

[ Learn More ]

Step 8

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as RANSOM_CRYPTESLA.YYSIY. 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.

NOTES:

Restore encrypted files from backup if possible.


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.