Analysis by: Mc Justine De Guzman
ALIASES:

Gen:Variant.Ransom.BlueEagle.3 (BITDEFENDER)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Ransomware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware, Propagates via flashdrives

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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 365,230 bytes
File Type: EXE
Initial Samples Received Date: 07 Jan 2021
Payload: Drops files, Encrypts files, Displays graphics/image

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:

  • %Application Data%\Back.jpg

(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 drops and executes the following files:

  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\Templates\shadowdeleter.exe -> Only if the 'Decrypt my files' button in the ransom note is clicked

(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:

  • taskkill /F /IM explorer.exe
  • taskkill /F /IM Microsoft.Exchange
  • taskkill /F /IM MSExchange
  • taskkill /F /IM sqlserver.exe
  • taskkill /F /IM sqlwriter.exe
  • taskkill /F /IM mysqld.exe
  • explorer.exe -> only if the 'X' button is clicked in the ransom note
  • %System%\cmd.exe /k %windir%\System32\reg.exe ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v EnableLUA /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f -> Only if the 'Decrypt my files' button in the ransom note is clicked

Other System Modifications

This Ransomware modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
EnableLUA = 0

It changes the desktop wallpaper by modifying the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
Wallpaper = %Application Data%\Back.jpg

Propagation

This Ransomware drops the following copy(ies) of itself in all removable drives:

  • {Removable Drive}:\{8 random number}.exe

Other Details

This Ransomware encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • .txt
  • .doc
  • .docx
  • .mp3
  • .xls
  • .xlsx
  • .ppt
  • .sql
  • .wmv
  • .mp4
  • .mp3
  • .iso
  • .dll
  • .jar
  • .pptx
  • .odt
  • .jpg
  • .tar
  • .gz
  • .bmp
  • .pbm
  • .rtf
  • .png
  • .csv
  • .sql
  • .mdb
  • .sln
  • .php
  • .avi
  • .mov
  • .flv
  • .amv
  • .mpv
  • .mtv
  • .asp
  • .aspx
  • .html
  • .xml
  • .psd
  • .pdf
  • .exe
  • .rv
  • .rvx
  • .ved
  • .wm
  • .wmv
  • .TXT
  • .JPG
  • .rar
  • .xwmv
  • .wma
  • .midi
  • .fla
  • .pdf
  • .wma
  • .ico
  • .gif
  • .GIF
  • .ogg
  • .mpg
  • .icns
  • .RAR
  • .png
  • .zip
  • .BAT
  • .Exe
  • .c
  • .exe
  • .PNG
  • .iso
  • .7z
  • .7Z

It does the following:

  • It shows the following ransom note:

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware appends the following extension to the file name of the encrypted files:

  • ..MaxSteel.Saher Blue Eagle

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 16.502.04
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 27 Jan 2021
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 16.503.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 28 Jan 2021

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:

     
    • Troj.Win32.TRX.XXPE50FFF039

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

[ Learn More ]

Step 5

Restore this modified 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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
    • EnableLUA = "0"

Step 6

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.
  • %Application Data%\Back.jpg
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\Templates\shadowdeleter.exe

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Ransom.MSIL.BLUEAGLE.B. 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

Reset your Desktop properties

[ Learn More ]

Step 9

Restore encrypted files from backup.


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