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 executes then deletes itself afterward.
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:
- %User Temp%\{random 8 characters}.bat
- {Malware Path\Malware File Name and Extension}.log - log file where core count, total memory, OS Information, username, commandline, encrypted files, and malware sample's performance statistics are listed
(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)
It executes then deletes itself afterward.
It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:
- {32 Hex Characters generated from Volume Serial ID}
Other System Modifications
This Ransomware adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
.{Generated ID}\shell\Open
(Default) = explorer.exe RecoveryManual.html
Process Termination
This Ransomware terminates the following services if found on the affected system:
It terminates the following processes if found running in the affected system's memory:
- msftesql.exe
- sqlagent.exe
- sqlbrowser.exe
- sqlwriter.exe
- oracle.exe
- ocssd.exe
- dbsnmp.exe
- synctime.exe
- agntsvc.exe
- isqlplussvc.exe
- xfssvccon.exe
- sqlservr.exe
- mydesktopservice.exe
- ocautoupds.exe
- encsvc.exe
- firefoxconfig.exe
- tbirdconfig.exe
- mydesktopqos.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
- thebat.exe
- steam.exe
- thebat64.exe
- thunderbird.exe
- visio.exe
- winword.exe
- wordpad.exe
- QBW32.exe
- QBW64.exe
- ipython.exe
- wpython.exe
- python.exe
- dumpcap.exe
- procmon.exe
- procmon64.exe
- procexp.exe
- procexp64.exe
Information Theft
This Ransomware accepts the following parameters:
- /console - displays the following console window
- /nolog - disable the creation of the log file in the malware directory
- /scan: - specifies what drive type to encrypt
- /marker:{filename} - drops file in infected drive that serves as an infection marker
- /fullpd - encrypts %ProgramData%
- /nodel - disables self deletion after execution
- /nokill - disable process termination
- /fast:{value} - specifies which bytes to encrypt for faster file encryption
- /onlypath /path:{path} - only encrypts a specific path
Ransomware Routine
This Ransomware avoids encrypting files with the following strings in their file name:
- RecoveryManual.html
- ReadManual.{Generated ID}
It avoids encrypting files with the following strings in their file path:
- \WindowsApps\
- \Microsoft\Windows\
- \Roaming\Microsoft\
- \Local\Microsoft\
- \LocalLow\Microsoft\
- \Local\Packages\
- \Windows Defender\
- \microsoft shared\
- \Google\Chrome\
- \Mozilla Firefox\
- \Mozilla\Firefox\
- \Internet Explorer\
- \MicrosoftEdge\
- \Tor Browser\
- \AppData\Local\Temp\
It avoids encrypting files found in the following folders:
- {Drive Letter}:\Windows\
- {Drive Letter}:\System Volume Information\
- {Drive Letter}:\$RECYCLE.BIN\
- {Drive Letter}:\SYSTEM.SAV
- {Drive Letter}:\WINNT
- {Drive Letter}:\$WINDOWS.~BT\
- {Drive Letter}:\Windows.old\
- {Drive Letter}:\PerfLog\
- {Drive Letter}:\Boot
- {Drive Letter}:\ProgramData\Packages\
- {Drive Letter}:\ProgramData\Microsoft\
It appends the following extension to the file name of the encrypted files:
- .ReadManual.{Generated ID}
It drops the following file(s) as ransom note:
- {Encrypted Folder}\RecoveryManual.html
It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions:
- exe
- dll
- sys
- msi
- mui
- inf
- cat
- bat
- cmd
- ps1
- vbs
- ttf
- fon
- lnk
Step 1
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 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
Identify and terminate files detected as Ransom.Win32.ASTROLOCKER.A
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- Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
- If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
- If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.
To terminate the malware/grayware/spyware process:
- Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and take note of the name of the malware/grayware/spyware detected.
- Open Windows Task Manager. To do this, press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC.
- View the list of all running programs. To do this:
• For Windows 7 and Server 2008 (R2) users, click the Processes tab.
• For Windows 8, 8.1, 10, and Server 2012 (R2) users, click the Details tab. - In the list of running programs, locate a malware/grayware/spyware file detected earlier.
- Select the detected files, then press either the End Task or the End Process button, depending on the version of Windows you are using.
- Do the same for the remaining detected malware/grayware/spyware files in the list of running programs.
- To check if the malware/grayware/spyware process has been terminated, close Task Manager, and then open it again.
- Close Task Manager.
Step 4
Delete this registry value
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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\Classes\.{Generated ID}\shell\Open
- (Default) = explorer.exe RecoveryManual.html
To delete the registry value this malware/grayware created:
- Open Registry Editor.
» For Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 (R2) users, click the Start button, type regedit in the Search input field then press Enter.
» For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows Server 2012 (R2) users, right-click on the lower-left corner of the screen, click Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter. - In the left panel, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Classes>.{Generated ID}>shell>Open - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
(Default) = explorer.exe RecoveryManual.html - Close Registry Editor.
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.
%User Temp%\{random 8 characters}.bat
{Malware Path\Malware File Name and Extension}.log
{Encrypted Folder}\RecoveryManual.html
To manually delete a malware/grayware file from an affected system:
•For Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 (R2), Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows Server 2012 (R2):
- Open a Windows Explorer window.
- For Windows 7 and Server 2008 (R2) users, click Start>Computer.
- For Windows 8, 8.1, 10, and Server 2012 (R2) users, right-click on the lower-left corner of the screen,then click File Explorer.
- In the Search Computer/This PC input box, type:
%User Temp%\{random 8 characters}.bat
{Malware Path\Malware File Name and Extension}.log
{Encrypted Folder}\RecoveryManual.html
- 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 and Windows Server 2008 (R2).
Step 6
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Ransom.Win32.ASTROLOCKER.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 the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:
Step 7
Restore encrypted files from backup.
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