Analysis by: Marvelous Pelin
ALIASES:

Ransom.HiddenTear!g1(Symantec); Ransom.HiddenTear(Malwarebytes)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Ransomware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Dropped by other malware, 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 connects to certain websites to send and receive information.

It encrypts files with specific file extensions.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 82,944 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 09 Jun 2017
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Steals information, Encrypts files, Displays message/message boxes

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:

  • %Desktop%\READ_IT.txt - ransom note

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

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
Virus.mp4 = {malware path}

Information Theft

This Ransomware gathers the following data:

  • Computer Name
  • Username

Other Details

This Ransomware connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • http://noorking.{BLOCKED}d.net/w.php?w={gathered information}

It does the following:

  • It executes the following to reboot the system:
    • %System%\shutdown.exe -t 15 -r

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • .asp
  • .aspx
  • .csv
  • .doc
  • .docx
  • .html
  • .jpg
  • .mdb
  • .odt
  • .php
  • .png
  • .ppt
  • .pptx
  • .psd
  • .sln
  • .sql
  • .txt
  • .xls
  • .xlsx
  • .xml

It renames encrypted files using the following names:

  • {original filename and extension}.locked

NOTES:

This ransomware displays the following message box after execution:

After the system reboots, it will display the following:

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 13.430.08
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 26 May 2017
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 13.431.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 27 May 2017

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.

 
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Virus.mp4 = {malware path}

Step 5

Search and delete this file

[ 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.
  • %Desktop%\READ_IT.txt

Step 6

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

Step 7

Restore encrypted files from backup.

Step 8

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as RANSOM_HIDDENTEARLULOLS.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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