Analysis by: Mc Justine De Guzman
 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Ransomware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: No

  OVERVIEW

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

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 drops files as ransom note. It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 2,727,936 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 05 Oct 2021
Payload: Downloads files, Encrypts files, Displays message/message boxes, Others

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 adds the following processes:

  • powershell.exe -NoExit -Command - {Command to be executed}

File Infection

This Ransomware avoids infecting files that contain the following strings in their names:

  • autorun.inf
  • boot.ini
  • bootfont.bin
  • bootsect.bak
  • desktop.ini
  • iconcache.db
  • ntldrntuser.dat
  • NTUSER.DAT
  • logntuser.ini
  • thumbs.db

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware avoids encrypting files found in the following folders:

  • AppData
  • boot
  • application data
  • ProgramData
  • Windows.old
  • Windows

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

  • .zikma

It drops the following file(s) as ransom note:

  • {Encrypted directory}\README.txt

It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions:

  • .386
  • .adv
  • .ani
  • .bat
  • .cab
  • .cmd
  • .com
  • .cpl
  • .cur
  • .deskthemepack
  • .diagcab
  • .diagcfg
  • .diagpkg
  • .dll
  • .drv
  • .exe
  • .hlp
  • .icl
  • .icns
  • .ico
  • .ics
  • .idx
  • .ldf
  • .lnk
  • .mod
  • .mpa
  • .msc
  • .msp
  • .msstyles
  • .msu
  • .nls
  • .nomedia
  • .ocx
  • .prf
  • .ps1
  • .rom
  • .rtp
  • .scr
  • .shs
  • .spl
  • .sys
  • .theme
  • .wpx
  • .themepack
  • .lock
  • .key
  • .hta
  • .msi
  • .pdb
  • .zikma

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 17.112.04
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 05 Oct 2021
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 17.113.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 06 Oct 2021

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

Search and delete these files

[ 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.  
  • {Encrypted directory}\README.txt

Step 4

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Ransom.Win64.DARKSIDE.YPBJE. 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 5

Restore encrypted files from backup.


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