Analysis by: Clive Fuentebella
ALIASES:

a variant of MSIL/GenKryptik.EZPI trojan (NOD32)

 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

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: 492,032 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Payload: Drops files, Terminates processes, Encrypts files

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:

  • {Directory}\HOW TO BACK YOUR FILES.exe (shows a separate window for ransom note)

It adds the following processes:

  • %System%\cmd.exe /c @echo off {Processes for turning off services and deleting shadow copies}
  • %System%\cmd.exe /c @echo off {Processes for clearing logs through wevtutil and deleting shadow copies}

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)

Other System Modifications

This Ransomware adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services
MaxDisconnectionTime = 0x240C8400

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services
MaxIdleTime = 0x240C8400

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows\HomeGroup
DisableHomeGroup = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows Defender
DisableAntiSpyware = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection
DisableRealtimeMonitoring = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection
DisableBehaviorMonitoring = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection
DisableOnAccessProtection = 1

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
WindowsUpdateCheck = {path} (deleted afterwards)

Process Termination

This Ransomware terminates processes or services that contain any of the following strings if found running in the affected system's memory:

  • browser
  • vss
  • MongoDB
  • SQLWriter
  • MSSQLServerOLAPService
  • MSSQLSERVER
  • MSSQL$SQLEXPRESS
  • ReportServer
  • OracleServiceORCL
  • OracleDBConsoleorcl
  • OracleMTSRecoveryService
  • OracleVssWriterORCL
  • MySQL

Other Details

This Ransomware does the following:

  • It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions:
    • .^^^
    • .$er
    • .4dd
    • .4dl
    • .abs
    • .abx
    • .accdb
    • .accdc
    • .accde
    • .accdr
    • .accdt
    • .accdw
    • .accft
    • .adb
    • .adb
    • .ade
    • .adf
    • .adn
    • .adp
    • .alf
    • .ask
    • .avhd
    • .ba_
    • .bak
    • .btr
    • .cat
    • .cdb
    • .ckp
    • .cma
    • .cpd
    • .dacpac
    • .dad
    • .dadiagrams
    • .daschema
    • .db
    • .db-journal
    • .db-shm
    • .db-wal
    • .db2
    • .db3
    • .dbb
    • .dbc
    • .dbf
    • .dbs
    • .dbt
    • .dbv
    • .dbx
    • .dcb
    • .dct
    • .dcx
    • .ddl
    • .dlis
    • .dll
    • .dp1
    • .dqy
    • .dsk
    • .dsn
    • .dtsx
    • .dxl
    • .eco
    • .ecx
    • .edb
    • .epim
    • .fcd
    • .fdb
    • .fic
    • .flexolibrary
    • .fm5
    • .fmp
    • .fmp12
    • .fmpsl
    • .fol
    • .fp3
    • .fp4
    • .fp5
    • .fp7
    • .fpt
    • .frm
    • .gdb
    • .gdb
    • .grdb
    • .gwi
    • .hdb
    • .his
    • .ib
    • .idb
    • .ihx
    • .ini
    • .itdb
    • .itw
    • .jet
    • .jtx
    • .kdb
    • .kexi
    • .kexic
    • .kexis
    • .lgc
    • .lnk
    • .lwx
    • .maf
    • .maq
    • .mar
    • .marshal
    • .mas
    • .mav
    • .maw
    • .mdb
    • .mdbhtml
    • .mdf
    • .mdn
    • .mdt
    • .mfd
    • .mpd
    • .mrg
    • .mud
    • .mwb
    • .myd
    • .ndf
    • .nnt
    • .nrmlib
    • .ns2
    • .ns3
    • .ns4
    • .nsf
    • .nv
    • .nv2
    • .nwdb
    • .nyf
    • .odb
    • .odb
    • .oqy
    • .ora
    • .orx
    • .owc
    • .p96
    • .p97
    • .pan
    • .pdm
    • .pnz
    • .qry
    • .qvd
    • .rbf
    • .rctd
    • .rod
    • .rodx
    • .rpd
    • .rsd
    • .sas7bdat
    • .sbf
    • .scx
    • .sdb
    • .sdc
    • .sdf
    • .sis
    • .spq
    • .sql
    • .sqlite
    • .sqlite3
    • .sqlitedb
    • .sys
    • .te
    • .teacher
    • .tmd
    • .tps
    • .trc
    • .trc
    • .trm
    • .udb
    • .udl
    • .usr
    • .v12
    • .vbox
    • .vdi
    • .vhd
    • .vhdx
    • .vis
    • .vmdk
    • .vpd
    • .vvv
    • .wdb
    • .wmdb
    • .wrk
    • .xdb
    • .xld
    • .xml
    • .xmlff

Ransomware Routine

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

  • windows
  • bootmgr
  • temp
  • pagefile.sys
  • boot
  • ids.txt
  • ntuser.dat
  • perflogs
  • $Recycle.Bin

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

  • .Globeimposter-Alpha{Random characters}

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 16.470.08
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 11 Jan 2021
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 16.471.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 12 Jan 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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

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\RunOnce
    • WindowsUpdateCheck={path}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services
    • MaxDisconnectionTime=0x240C8400
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services
    • MaxIdleTime=0x240C8400
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\HomeGroup
    • DisableHomeGroup=1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender
    • DisableAntiSpyware=1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection
    • DisableRealtimeMonitoring=1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection
    • DisableBehaviorMonitoring=1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection
    • DisableOnAccessProtection=1

Step 5

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.
  • {Directory}\HOW TO BACK YOUR FILES.exe

Step 6

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Ransom.MSIL.FAKEGLOBE.YABA-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 7

Restore encrypted files from backup.


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