Ransom.MSIL.FDECRYPT.A
Ransom:Win32/Higuniel.A (MICROSOFT)
Windows

Threat Type: Ransomware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: No
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
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
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 copies of itself into the affected system:
- %User Startup%\Ransomware.exe
(Note: %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows NT, C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 2003(32-bit), XP and 2000(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit), 10(64-bit).)
It adds the following processes:
- "cmd.exe" /c vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all /quiet
- "cmd" /C vssadmin Delete Shadows /All /Quiet
- "netsh.exe" Advfirewall set allprofiles state off
Process Termination
This Ransomware terminates the following processes if found running in the affected system's memory:
- kir
- kos
- mysql
Other Details
This Ransomware does the following:
- It requires to be executed as an administrator:
- It avoids encrypting files with the following file names:
- BlackRoot-Ransomware.exe
- boot.sdi
- bootmgr
- BOOTNXT
- BOOTSECT.BAK
- BOOTSTAT.DAT
- info.hta
- ReadMe.txt
- ReAgent.xml
- Winre.wim
- It avoids encrypting files in the following drives:
- A:
- B:
Ransomware Routine
This Ransomware avoids encrypting files with the following strings in their file path:
- %System Root%\$RECYCLE.BIN
- %System Root%\$Recycle.Bin
- %System Root%\System Volume Information
- %System%\Documents and Settings
- %System%\Windows
(Note: %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.. %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)
It appends the following extension to the file name of the encrypted files:
- .[{Volume Serial Number or Processor ID}[
].Crypt
It drops the following file(s) as ransom note:
- %User Startup%\info.hta
- {Encrypted File Path}\info.hta
It leaves text files that serve as ransom notes containing the following text:
- {Encrypted File Path}\ReadMe.txt
It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions:
- .BCD.LOG1
- .BCD.LOG2
- .Crypt
- bootx64.efi
SOLUTION
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.XXPE50FFF077
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
Step 5
Search and delete these files
- %User Startup%\info.hta
- %User Startup%\Ransomware.exe
- {Encrypted File Path}\info.hta
- {Encrypted File Path}\ReadMe.txt
Step 6
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Ransom.MSIL.FDECRYPT.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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