Analysis by: Rheniel Rhay Ramos
ALIASES:

Gen:Variant.MSILPerseus.61313 (Bitdefender); Ransom.ShellLocker (MalwareBytes); Ransom.TeslaCrypt(Symantec)

 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

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 encrypts files with specific file extensions. It encrypts files found in specific folders.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 491,520 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 04 Jul 2017

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.

Autostart Technique

This Ransomware enables its automatic execution at every system startup by dropping the following copies of itself into the Windows Common Startup folder:

  • %User Startup%\svchost.exe

(Note: %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 2000 and XP, and C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

Other System Modifications

This Ransomware sets the system's desktop wallpaper to the following image:

Process Termination

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

  • taskmgr
  • cmd
  • procexp
  • procexp64
  • regedit
  • ccleaner64
  • msconfig

Download Routine

This Ransomware accesses the following websites to download files:

  • http://controll-the-world.{BLOCKED}i.com/image.jpg

It saves the files it downloads using the following names:

  • %User Temp%\image.jpg

(Note: %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp 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.)

Other Details

This Ransomware does the following:

  • It hides the icons in the desktop
  • It disables the following keyboard combinations:
    • ctrl + esc
    • alt + tab
    • alt + esc
  • It shutdowns the computer after its 48 hours timer runs out
  • It prevents the user from using other opened windows by bringing the desktop to the front

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • .der
  • .pfx
  • .key
  • .crt
  • .csr
  • .pem
  • .odt
  • .ott
  • .sxw
  • .stw
  • .uot
  • .max
  • .ods
  • .ots
  • .sxc
  • .stc
  • .dif
  • .slk
  • .odp
  • .otp
  • .sxd
  • .std
  • .uop
  • .odg
  • .otg
  • .sxm
  • .mml
  • .lay
  • .lay6
  • .asc
  • .sqlite3
  • .sqlitedb
  • .sql
  • .accdb
  • .mdb
  • .dbf
  • .odb
  • .frm
  • .myd
  • .myi
  • .ibd
  • .mdf
  • .ldf
  • .sln
  • .suo
  • .cpp
  • .pas
  • .asm
  • .cmd
  • .bat
  • .vbs
  • .dip
  • .dch
  • .sch
  • .brd
  • .jsp
  • .php
  • .asp
  • .java
  • .jar
  • .class
  • .wav
  • .swf
  • .fla
  • .wmv
  • .mpg
  • .vob
  • .mpeg
  • .asf
  • .avi
  • .mov
  • .mkv
  • .flv
  • .wma
  • .mid
  • .djvu
  • .svg
  • .psd
  • .nef
  • .tiff
  • .tif
  • .cgm
  • .raw
  • .gif
  • .png
  • .bmp
  • .jpg
  • .jpeg
  • .vcd
  • .iso
  • .backup
  • .zip
  • .rar
  • .tgz
  • .tar
  • .bak
  • .tbk
  • .PAQ
  • .ARC
  • .aes
  • .gpg
  • .vmx
  • .vmdk
  • .vdi
  • .sldm
  • .sldx
  • .sti
  • .sxi
  • .hwp
  • .snt
  • .onetoc2
  • .dwg
  • .pdf
  • .wks
  • .rtf
  • .csv
  • .txt
  • .vsdx
  • .vsd
  • .edb
  • .eml
  • .msg
  • .ost
  • .pst
  • .potm
  • .potx
  • .ppam
  • .ppsx
  • .ppsm
  • .pps
  • .pot
  • .pptm
  • .pptx
  • .ppt
  • .xltm
  • .xltx
  • .xlc
  • .xlm
  • .xlt
  • .xlw
  • .xlsb
  • .xlsm
  • .xlsx
  • .xls
  • .dotx
  • .dotm
  • .dot
  • .docm
  • .docb
  • .docx
  • .doc

It encrypts files found in the following folders:

  • %Desktop%
  • %User Profile%\MyMusic
  • %User Profile%\Personal
  • %User Profile%\MyVideos
  • %User Profile%\Contacts
  • %User Profile%\Downloads
  • %%User Profile%
  • %User Profile%\OneDrive
  • %User Profile%\MyPictures
  • A:\
  • B:\
  • C:\
  • D:\
  • E:\
  • F:\
  • G:\
  • H:\
  • I:\
  • J:\
  • K:\
  • L:\
  • M:\
  • N:\
  • O:\
  • P:\
  • Q:\
  • R:\
  • S:\
  • T:\
  • U:\
  • V:\
  • W:\
  • X:\
  • Y:\

(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.. %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.)

It renames encrypted files using the following names:

  • {4-10 characters}.L0cked

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 13.512.04
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 04 Jul 2017
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 13.513.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 05 Jul 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

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.  
  • %User Startup%\svchost.exe
  • %User Temp%\image.jpg

Step 5

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as RANSOM_SHELOCKER.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 6

Reset your Desktop properties

[ Learn More ]

Step 7

Restore encrypted files from backup.


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