Ransom.JS.BLACKBYTE.AA
Windows
Threat Type: Ransomware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: Yes
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.
As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
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 file(s)/component(s):
- {Queried host}\C$\Users\Public\blockator
- {Queried host}\Users\Public\blockator
It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %Application Data%\obamka.js
- {Queried host}\C$\Users\Public\obamka.js
- {Queried host}\Users\Public\obamka.js
(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)
It adds the following processes:
- netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="Network Discovery” new enable=Yes
- netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="File and Printer Sharing" new enable=Yes
- powershell.exe Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName SMB1Protocol
Autostart Technique
This Ransomware starts the following services:
- Dnscache
- fdPHost
- FDResPub
- SSDPSRV
- upnphost
- RemoteRegistry
Other System Modifications
This Ransomware deletes the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
vssadmin.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
wbadmin.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
bcdedit.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
powershell.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
diskshadow.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
net.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
taskkill.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
wmic.exe
Process Termination
This Ransomware terminates the following processes if found running in the affected system's memory:
- agntsvc
- CNTAoSMgr
- dbeng50
- dbsnmp
- encsvc
- excel
- firefox
- firefoxconfig
- infopath
- isqlplussvc
- mbamtray
- msaccess
- msftesql
- mspub
- mydesktopqos
- mydesktopservice
- mysqld
- mysqld-nt
- mysqld-opt
- Ntrtscan
- ocautoupds
- ocomm
- ocssd
- onenote
- oracle
- outlook
- PccNTMon
- powerpnt
- sqbcoreservice
- sql
- sqlagent
- sqlbrowser
- sqlservr
- sqlwriter
- steam
- synctime
- tbirdconfig
- thebat
- thebat64
- thunderbird
- tmlisten
- visio
- winword
- wordpad
- xfssvccon
- zoolz
- anydesk
- chrome
- opera
- msedge
- firefox
- iexplore
- explorer
- winlogon
- SearchIndexer
- wininit
- SearchApp
- SearchUI
- Powershell
Download Routine
This Ransomware accesses the following websites to download files:
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.148.114/forest.png
As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
Other Details
This Ransomware does the following:
- It deletes shadow copies and restore points.
- It disables the following services:
- SQLTELEMETRY
- SQLTELEMETRY$ECWDB2
- SQLWriter
- SstpSvc
- MBAMService
- wuauserv
- It does not proceed to the encryption if the download URL does not connect successfully.
- It attempts to dismount virtual hard drives upon encountering VHD and VHDX files on encryption.
- It terminates and deletes scheduled tasks and registry entries with relation to Raccine.
- It terminates if the machine has the following system language:
- Armenian
- Azerbaijan
- Belarusian
- Kazakhstan
- Russia
- Tajik
- Uzbek
- Ukrainian
- Georgian
- Turkmen
It adds the following scheduled tasks:
- Task name: joke
Task to be run: wscript.exe {Dropped copy in queried host}
Ransomware Routine
This Ransomware avoids encrypting files with the following strings in their file path:
- obamka.js
- thumbs.db
- ntdetect.com
- ntuser.dat.log
- bootnxt
- bootsect.bak
- ntldr
- autoexec.bat
- Recycle.Bin
- iconcache.db
- bootmgr
- bootfont.bin
It appends the following extension to the file name of the encrypted files:
- .blackbyte
It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions:
- msilog
- log
- ldf
- lock
- theme
- msi
- sys
- wpx
- cpl
- adv
- msc
- scr
- key
- ico
- dll
- hta
- deskthemepack
- nomedia
- msu
- rtp
- msp
- idx
- ani
- 386
- diagcfg
- bin
- mod
- ics
- com
- hlp
- spl
- nls
- cab
- exe
- diagpkg
- icl
- ocx
- rom
- prf
- themepack
- msstyles
- icns
- mpa
- drv
- cur
- diagcab
- cmd
- shs
SOLUTION
Step 1
Trend Micro Predictive Machine Learning detects and blocks malware at the first sign of its existence, before it executes on your system. When enabled, your Trend Micro product detects this malware under the following machine learning name:
- Downloader.JS.TRX.XXJSE9EFF029
Step 2
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 3
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 4
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 5
Deleting Scheduled Tasks
The following {Task Name} - {Task to be run} listed should be used in the steps identified below:
Task to be run: wscript.exe {Dropped copy in queried host}
For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:
- Open the Windows Scheduled Tasks. Click Start>Programs>Accessories>
System Tools>Scheduled Tasks. - Locate each {Task Name} values listed above in the Name column.
- Right-click on the said file(s) with the aforementioned value.
- Click on Properties. In the Run field, check for the listed {Task to be run}.
- If the strings match the list above, delete the task.
For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012:
- Open the Windows Task Scheduler. To do this:
• On Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008, click Start, type taskschd.msc in the Search input field, then press Enter.
• On Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, click Run, type taskschd.msc, then press Enter. - In the left panel, click Task Scheduler Library.
- In the upper-middle panel, locate each {Task Name} values listed above in the Name column.
- In the lower-middle panel, click the Actions tab. In the Details column, check for the {Task to be run} string.
- If the said string is found, delete the task.
Step 6
Search and delete these files
- {Queried host}\C$\Users\Public\blockator
- {Queried host}\Users\Public\blockator
- %Application Data%\obamka.js
- {Queried host}\C$\Users\Public\obamka.js
- {Queried host}\Users\Public\obamka.js
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Ransom.JS.BLACKBYTE.AA. 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 8
Restore encrypted files from backup.
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