Analysis by: Patrick Noel Collado
ALIASES:

Trojan-Ransom.Thanos (Ikarus), a variant of MSIL/Filecoder.Thanos.A trojan (Nod32)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Ransomware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Downloaded from the Internet

This Ransomware encrypts files with specific file extensions. It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 82,432 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 20 Nov 2020
Payload: Displays message/message boxes, Encrypts files, Terminates processes

Installation

This Ransomware drops the following files:

  • %User Startup%\mystartup.lnk -> points to %User Temp%\HOW_TO_DECYPHER_FILES.txt

(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 adds the following processes:

  • "cmd.exe" /c rd /s /q %SYSTEMDRIVE%\$Recycle.bin
  • "sc.exe" config SQLTELEMETRY start= disabled
  • "sc.exe" config SQLTELEMETRY$ECWDB2 start= disabled
  • "sc.exe" config SQLWriter start= disabled
  • "sc.exe" config SstpSvc start= disabled
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM mspub.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM mydesktopqos.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM mydesktopservice.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM mysqld.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM sqbcoreservice.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM firefoxconfig.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM agntsvc.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM thebat.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM steam.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM encsvc.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM excel.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM CNTAoSMgr.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM sqlwriter.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM tbirdconfig.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM dbeng50.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM thebat64.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM ocomm.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM infopath.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM mbamtray.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM zoolz.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" IM thunderbird.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM dbsnmp.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM xfssvccon.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM mspub.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM Ntrtscan.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM isqlplussvc.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM onenote.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM PccNTMon.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM msaccess.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM outlook.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM tmlisten.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM msftesql.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM powerpnt.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM mydesktopqos.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM visio.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM mydesktopservice.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM winword.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM mysqld-nt.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM wordpad.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM mysqld-opt.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM ocautoupds.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM ocssd.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM oracle.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM sqlagent.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM sqlbrowser.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM sqlservr.exe /F
  • "taskkill.exe" /IM synctime.exe /F
  • "powershell.exe" & Get-WmiObject Win32_Shadowcopy | ForEach-Object { $_Delete() }
  • "%System%\notepad.exe" %Desktop%\HOW_TO_DECYPHER_FILES.txt
  • ping 127.0.0.7 -n 3
  • choice /C Y /N /D Y /T 3
  • fsutil file setZeroData offset=0 length=524288 “%s”

(Note: %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:

  • Global\090392ad-028d-4ec9-bea1-97463ac26063

Autostart Technique

This Ransomware drops the following file(s) in the Startup Items folder to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

  • %User Startup%\mystartup.lnk -> points to %User Temp%\HOW_TO_DECYPHER_FILES.txt

(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).)

Process Termination

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

  • CFF Explorer 
  • de4dot 
  • dnspy 
  • dnspy-x86 
  • dotpeek 
  • dotpeek64 
  • dumpcap 
  • effetech http sniffer 
  • fiddler 
  • firesheep 
  • http analyzer stand-alone 
  • HTTPNetworkSniffer 
  • HTTPNetworkSniffer 
  • ida64 
  • IEWatch Professional 
  • ilspy 
  • intercepter 
  • intercepter 
  • Intercepter-NG 
  • LordPE 
  • MegaDumper 
  • NetworkMiner 
  • NetworkMiner 
  • NetworkTrafficView 
  • NetworkTrafficView 
  • NoFuserEx 
  • ollydbg 
  • PEiD 
  • pe-sieve 
  • procexp 
  • procexp64 
  • protection_id 
  • RDG Packer Detector 
  • sysinternals tcpview 
  • tcpdump 
  • tcpdump 
  • UnConfuserEx 
  • Universal_Fixer 
  • wireshark 
  • wireshark portable 
  • x32dbg 
  • x64dbg 

Other Details

This Ransomware does the following:

  • Kills processes with large private memory space if their process name is not one of the following:
    • {Malware name}
    • chrome
    • opera
    • msedge
    • iexplore
    • firefox
    • explorer
    • winint
    • winlogon
  • Clears Recycle Bin contents

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • 7z
  • accdb
  • aes
  • aiff
  • asm
  • avi
  • backup
  • bak
  • bz2
  • cert
  • class
  • cpp
  • cpp
  • cs
  • csr
  • csv
  • dat
  • dbf
  • dim
  • djvu
  • doc
  • docm
  • docx
  • dtsx
  • dwg
  • edb
  • eml
  • flac
  • gif
  • gpg
  • htm
  • html
  • hwp
  • java
  • java
  • jpeg
  • jpg
  • key
  • lay6
  • ldf
  • lgb
  • m4a
  • mdb
  • mdf
  • mkv
  • mov
  • mp3
  • mp4
  • mpeg
  • mrimg
  • msg
  • myd
  • nd
  • ndf
  • nef
  • odb
  • odg
  • ods
  • odt
  • ora
  • ost
  • p12
  • pas
  • pdf
  • pem
  • pfx
  • php
  • php
  • png
  • ppt
  • pptx
  • psd
  • pst
  • qbb
  • qbw
  • rar
  • raw
  • rdl
  • rtf
  • sql
  • sql
  • sqlite3
  • sqlitedb
  • svg
  • sxi
  • sxw
  • tar
  • tiff
  • tlg
  • txt
  • vdi
  • vmdk
  • vmx
  • vsd
  • wav
  • xdw
  • xls
  • xlsm
  • xlsx
  • zip

It avoids encrypting files with the following strings in their file name:

  • autoexec.bat
  • desktop.ini
  • autorun.inf
  • ntuser.dat
  • iconcache.db
  • bootsect.bak
  • boot.ini
  • ntuser.dat.log
  • thumbs.db
  • bootmgr
  • pagefile.sys
  • config.sys
  • ntuser.ini
  • Builder_Log
  • RSAKeys
  • HOW_TO_DECYPHER_FILES
  • Recycle.Bin
  • mystartup.lnk

It avoids encrypting files with the following strings in their file path:

  • Program Files
  • Windows
  • Perflogs
  • Internet Explorer
  • ProgramData
  • AppData

It appends the following extension to the file name of the encrypted files:

  • .energy[potentialenergy@mail.ru]

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

  • %User Temp%\HOW_TO_DECYPHER_FILES.txt
  • %Desktop%\HOW_TO_DECYPHER_FILES.txt
  • {Encrypted Directory}\HOW_TO_DECYPHER_FILES.txt

It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions:

  • .energy[potentialenergy@mail.ru]
  • .exe
  • .EXE
  • .dll
  • .DLL

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 16.398.04
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 07 Dec 2020
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 16.399.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 08 Dec 2020

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.MSIL.THANOS.FAIL

[ Learn More ]
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

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%\mystartup.lnk

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Ransom.MSIL.THANOS.FAIL. 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 6

Restore encrypted files from backup.


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