Analysis by: John Anthony Banes

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Ransom

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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

This Ransom arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It connects to certain websites to send and receive information.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 504,320 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 15 Mar 2017
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Encrypts files

Arrival Details

This Ransom 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 Ransom drops the following copies of itself into the affected system and executes them:

  • %Application Data%\mtrea.exe

(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming 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.)

It drops the following files:

  • %User Startup%\decrypt.txt - ransom note
  • %Desktop%\HOW_TO_FIX_!.txt - ransom note

(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.. %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.)

Autostart Technique

This Ransom adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Crptxxx = %Application Data%\mtrea.exe

Other Details

This Ransom connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • {BLOCKED}cojuswihof.onion

It encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • .264
  • .3g2
  • .3gp
  • .3gp2
  • .3gpp
  • .3gpp2
  • .3mm
  • .3p2
  • .60d
  • .6cm
  • .787
  • .890
  • .8cm
  • .8svx
  • .a2b
  • .a2i
  • .a2m
  • .a2p
  • .a2t
  • .a52
  • .aa
  • .aa3
  • .aac
  • .aaf
  • .aax
  • .abc
  • .abm
  • .ac3
  • .acd
  • .acd-bak
  • .acd-zip
  • .acm
  • .acp
  • .act
  • .adg
  • .adts
  • .adv
  • .aec
  • .aep
  • .aepx
  • .aet
  • .aetx
  • .afc
  • .agm
  • .agr
  • .ahx
  • .aif
  • .aifc
  • .aiff
  • .aimppl
  • .ais
  • .ajp
  • .akp
  • .al
  • .alac
  • .alaw
  • .ale
  • .all
  • .als
  • .am
  • .amc
  • .amf
  • .amr
  • .ams
  • .amv
  • .amx
  • .amxd
  • .amz
  • .anim
  • .aob
  • .ape
  • .apf
  • .apl
  • .aqt
  • .arcut
  • .arf
  • .aria
  • .ariax
  • .ase
  • .asf
  • .asx
  • .at3
  • .atrac
  • .au
  • .aud
  • .aup
  • .avastsounds
  • .avb
  • .avchd
  • .avd
  • .avi
  • .avp
  • .avs
  • .avv
  • .awb
  • .awlive
  • .axm
  • .ay
  • .b4s
  • .band
  • .bap
  • .bcs
  • .bdd
  • .bdm
  • .bdmv
  • .bidule
  • .bik
  • .bin
  • .bix
  • .bmml
  • .bnp
  • .bonk
  • .box
  • .brstm
  • .bs4
  • .bsf
  • .bu
  • .bun
  • .bvr
  • .bwf
  • .bwg
  • .bww
  • .byu
  • .c01
  • .caf
  • .caff
  • .camproj
  • .camrec
  • .camv
  • .cda
  • .cdda
  • .cdlx
  • .cdo
  • .cdr
  • .ced
  • .cel
  • .cfa
  • .cgrp
  • .cidb
  • .cine
  • .cip
  • .ckb
  • .ckf
  • .clpi
  • .cmf
  • .cmmp
  • .cmmtpl
  • .copy
  • .cpr
  • .csh
  • .cts
  • .cvc
  • .cwb
  • .cwp
  • .cwt
  • .cx3
  • .d00
  • .d01
  • .d2v
  • .d3v
  • .dash
  • .dat
  • .dav
  • .dce
  • .dcf
  • .dck
  • .dcm
  • .dct
  • .ddat
  • .ddt
  • .df2
  • .dfc
  • .dif
  • .dig
  • .dir
  • .divx
  • .djr
  • .dls
  • .dlx
  • .dm
  • .dmb
  • .dmf
  • .dmsa
  • .dmsd
  • .dmsd3d
  • .dmse
  • .dmsm
  • .dmsm3d
  • .dmss
  • .dmx
  • .dnc
  • .doc
  • .docx
  • .dpa
  • .dpg
  • .dra
  • .dream
  • .drg
  • .ds2
  • .dsf
  • .dsm
  • .dsp
  • .dss
  • .dtm
  • .dts
  • .dtshd
  • .dv
  • .dv4
  • .dv-avi
  • .dvf
  • .dvr
  • .dvr-ms
  • .dvx
  • .dw
  • .dwa
  • .dwd
  • .dxr
  • .dzm
  • .dzp
  • .dzt
  • .ear
  • .edl
  • .efa
  • .efe
  • .efk
  • .efq
  • .efs
  • .efv
  • .emd
  • .emp
  • .emx
  • .emy
  • .eop
  • .esps
  • .evo
  • .evr
  • .expressionmap
  • .eye
  • .f2r
  • .f32
  • .f3r
  • .f4a
  • .f4f
  • .f4p
  • .f4v
  • .f64
  • .far
  • .fbr
  • .fbz
  • .fda
  • .fff
  • .flac
  • .flc
  • .flh
  • .fli
  • .flp
  • .fls
  • .flv
  • .flx
  • .frg
  • .fsm
  • .ftc
  • .ftmx
  • .fzf
  • .g721
  • .g723
  • .g726
  • .gbs
  • .gfp
  • .gig
  • .gl
  • .gm
  • .gom
  • .gp5
  • .gpbank
  • .gpk
  • .grasp
  • .groove
  • .gsm
  • .gts
  • .gvi
  • .gvp
  • .h0
  • .h264
  • .h3b
  • .h3e
  • .h4b
  • .h4e
  • .h5b
  • .h5e
  • .h5s
  • .hbb
  • .hbs
  • .hdmov
  • .hdv
  • .hkm
  • .hma
  • .hmi
  • .hsb
  • .iaa
  • .ics
  • .iff
  • .ifo
  • .igp
  • .imf
  • .imovieproject
  • .imp
  • .infovid
  • .ins
  • .ircp
  • .irf
  • .isma
  • .ismc
  • .ismv
  • .it
  • .iti
  • .itls
  • .its
  • .iva
  • .ivf
  • .ivr
  • .ivs
  • .izz
  • .izzy
  • .jam
  • .jmv
  • .jo
  • .jo-7z
  • .jpeg
  • .jpg
  • .jss
  • .jts
  • .jtv
  • .k25
  • .k26
  • .k3g
  • .kar
  • .kfn
  • .kin
  • .kit
  • .kmp
  • .kmv
  • .koz
  • .kpl
  • .krz
  • .ksc
  • .ksd
  • .ksf
  • .ksm
  • .kt2
  • .kt3
  • .ktp
  • .l
  • .la
  • .lof
  • .lqt
  • .lrec
  • .lrv
  • .lsf
  • .lsx
  • .lvix
  • .lvp
  • .lwv
  • .m15
  • .m1a
  • .m1pg
  • .m1v
  • .m21
  • .m2a
  • .m2t
  • .m2ts
  • .m2v
  • .m3u
  • .m3u8
  • .m4a
  • .m4b
  • .m4e
  • .m4p
  • .m4r
  • .m4u
  • .m4v
  • .m75
  • .ma1
  • .mani
  • .mbr
  • .mdl
  • .med
  • .meta
  • .mgv
  • .mid
  • .midi
  • .mini2sf
  • .minincsf
  • .minipsf
  • .minipsf2
  • .miniusf
  • .mj2
  • .mjp
  • .mjpg
  • .mk3d
  • .mka
  • .mkv
  • .mlp
  • .mmf
  • .mmm
  • .mmpz
  • .mmv
  • .mnv
  • .mo3
  • .mob
  • .mod
  • .moff
  • .mogg
  • .moi
  • .moov
  • .mov
  • .movie
  • .mp_
  • .mp1
  • .mp2
  • .mp21
  • .mp2v
  • .mp3
  • .mp4
  • .mp4
  • .mp4v
  • .mpa
  • .mpc
  • .mpd
  • .mpdp
  • .mpe
  • .mpeg
  • .mpeg1
  • .mpeg4
  • .mpf
  • .mpg
  • .mpg2
  • .mpga
  • .mpgindex
  • .mpl
  • .mpls
  • .mpsub
  • .mpu
  • .mpv
  • .mpv2
  • .mqv
  • .mscx
  • .msdvd
  • .msh
  • .msv
  • .mswmm
  • .mt2
  • .mt9
  • .mte
  • .mti
  • .mtm
  • .mtp
  • .mts
  • .mtv
  • .mu3
  • .mus
  • .musa
  • .musx
  • .mux
  • .muz
  • .mvb
  • .mvc
  • .mvd
  • .mve
  • .mvex
  • .mvp
  • .mvy
  • .mws
  • .mx3
  • .mx4
  • .mx5
  • .mx5template
  • .mxf
  • .mxmf
  • .mxv
  • .myr
  • .mys
  • .mzp
  • .nap
  • .ncor
  • .nkb
  • .nkc
  • .nki
  • .nkm
  • .nks
  • .nkx
  • .nml
  • .nmsv
  • .nra
  • .nrt
  • .nsa
  • .nsf
  • .nst
  • .nsv
  • .ntn
  • .nut
  • .nuv
  • .nvc
  • .nvf
  • .nwc
  • .obw
  • .odm
  • .ofr
  • .oga
  • .ogg
  • .ogm
  • .ogv
  • .ogx
  • .okt
  • .oma
  • .omf
  • .omg
  • .omx
  • .opus
  • .orc
  • .orv
  • .otrkey
  • .ots
  • .pac
  • .par
  • .pat
  • .pbf
  • .pca
  • .pcast
  • .pcg
  • .pcm
  • .pds
  • .peak
  • .pek
  • .pgi
  • .pho
  • .photoshow
  • .phy
  • .piv
  • .pjs
  • .pjunoxl
  • .pk
  • .pkf
  • .pla
  • .playlist
  • .plproj
  • .pls
  • .plst
  • .pmf
  • .pmv
  • .pna
  • .png
  • .pno
  • .ppc
  • .ppcx
  • .ppj
  • .prel
  • .prg
  • .pro
  • .pro4dvd
  • .pro5dvd
  • .proqc
  • .prproj
  • .prtl
  • .prx
  • .psf1
  • .psf2
  • .psh
  • .psm
  • .pssd
  • .psy
  • .ptcop
  • .ptf
  • .ptm
  • .pts
  • .pva
  • .pvc
  • .pvr
  • .pxv
  • .q1
  • .q2
  • .qcp
  • .qt
  • .r
  • .r1m
  • .ra
  • .ram
  • .raw
  • .rax
  • .rbs
  • .rcy
  • .record
  • .rex
  • .rfl
  • .rgrp
  • .rip
  • .rmf
  • .rmi
  • .rmj
  • .rmm
  • .rmx
  • .rng
  • .rns
  • .rol
  • .rsf
  • .rsn
  • .rso
  • .rta
  • .rti
  • .rtm
  • .rts
  • .rvx
  • .rx2
  • .s3i
  • .s3m
  • .s3z
  • .saf
  • .sam
  • .sap
  • .sb
  • .sbg
  • .sbi
  • .sbk
  • .sc2
  • .scs11
  • .sd
  • .sd2
  • .sd2f
  • .sdat
  • .sdii
  • .sds
  • .sdx
  • .seg
  • .ses
  • .sesx
  • .sf
  • .sf2
  • .sfap0
  • .sfk
  • .sfl
  • .sfpack
  • .sgp
  • .shn
  • .sib
  • .sid
  • .slx
  • .smf
  • .smp
  • .smpx
  • .snd
  • .sng
  • .sns
  • .snsf
  • .sou
  • .sph
  • .sppack
  • .spx
  • .sseq
  • .ssnd
  • .stm
  • .stx
  • .sty
  • .svd
  • .svx
  • .sw
  • .swa
  • .swav
  • .sxt
  • .syh
  • .syn
  • .syw
  • .syx
  • .tak
  • .td0
  • .tfmx
  • .thx
  • .tm2
  • .tm8
  • .tmc
  • .toc
  • .trak
  • .tsp
  • .tta
  • .tun
  • .txw
  • .u
  • .u8
  • .ub
  • .ulaw
  • .ult
  • .ulw
  • .uni
  • .usf
  • .usflib
  • .ust
  • .uw
  • .uwf
  • .v2m
  • .vag
  • .val
  • .vap
  • .vc3
  • .vdj
  • .vgm
  • .vlc
  • .vmd
  • .vmf
  • .vmo
  • .voc
  • .voi
  • .vox
  • .voxal
  • .vpl
  • .vpm
  • .vpw
  • .vqf
  • .vrf
  • .vsq
  • .vyf
  • .w01
  • .w64
  • .wav
  • .wave
  • .wax
  • .wem
  • .wfb
  • .wfd
  • .wfp
  • .wma
  • .wow
  • .wpk
  • .wproj
  • .wrk
  • .wus
  • .wut
  • .wv
  • .wvc
  • .wve
  • .wwu
  • .wyz
  • .xbmml
  • .xfs
  • .xi
  • .xls
  • .xlsx
  • .xm
  • .xmf
  • .xmi
  • .xmz
  • .xp
  • .xpf
  • .xrns
  • .xsb
  • .xsp
  • .xspf
  • .xt
  • .xwb
  • .ym
  • .yookoo
  • .zab
  • .zpa
  • .zvd
  • .zvr

It renames encrypted files using the following names:

  • {original filename}.crptxxx

It does the following:

  • Executes the following command to delete shadow copies:
    • vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all
  • Prevents to encrypt files containing any of the strings in its full pathname:
    • Windows
    • Program Files
    • Internet Explorer
  • Checks if VBoxService.exe is running. If so, it will perform infinite sleep.
  • Has a decryption feature.
    • To decrypt .crptxxx files, type "{malware name} -d {key}" in the command prompt.
    • It removes .crptxxx extension after decrypting.
  • Bypass UAC using Event Viewer

NOTES:

Decrypt.txt and HOW_TO_FIX_!.txt contain the following message:

The decryption routine displays the following messages:

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 13.284.02
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 18 Mar 2017
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 13.285.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 19 Mar 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

Delete this 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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Crptxxx = %Application Data%\mtrea.exe

Step 4

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.
  • %User Startup%\decrypt.txt - ransom note
  • %Desktop%\HOW_TO_FIX_!.txt - ransom note

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Ransom_CRPTX.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

Restore encrypted files from backup.


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