Analysis by: Raighen Sanchez

ALIASES:

Ransom.Demonware (QUICKHEAL)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Ransomware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • 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.

It does not have any propagation routine.

It does not have any backdoor routine.

It encrypts files with specific file extensions. It drops files as ransom note.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 8,742,186 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 07 Oct 2024
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Drops files, 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 component file(s):

  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\_decimal.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\_hashlib.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\_lzma.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\_multiprocessing.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\_overlapped.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\_queue.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\_socket.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\_ssl.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\_uuid.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\base_library.zip
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\libcrypto-1_1.dll
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\libffi-7.dll
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\libssl-1_1.dll
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\payload.exe.manifest
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\pyexpat.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\python39.dll
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\select.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\unicodedata.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\VCRUNTIME140.dll
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\_asyncio.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\_bz2.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\_cffi_backend.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\_ctypes.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Cipher\_raw_ctr.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Cipher\_raw_des.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Cipher\_raw_des3.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Cipher\_raw_ecb.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Cipher\_raw_eksblowfish.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Cipher\_raw_ocb.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Cipher\_raw_ofb.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Cipher\_Salsa20.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Cipher\_ARC4.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Cipher\_chacha20.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Cipher\_raw_aes.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Cipher\_raw_aesni.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Cipher\_raw_arc2.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Cipher\_raw_blowfish.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Cipher\_raw_cast.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Cipher\_raw_cbc.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Cipher\_raw_cfb.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Hash\_MD5.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Hash\_poly1305.cp39-win_amd64.py
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Hash\_RIPEMD160.cp39-win_amd64.pyd"
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Hash\_SHA1.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Hash\_SHA224.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Hash\_SHA256.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Hash\_SHA384.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Hash\_SHA512.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Hash\_BLAKE2b.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Hash\_BLAKE2s.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Hash\_ghash_clmul.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Hash\_ghash_portable.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Hash\_keccak.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Hash\_MD2.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Hash\_MD4.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Math\_modexp.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Protocol\_scrypt.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\PublicKey\_ec_ws.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Util\_strxor.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Util\_cpuid_c.cp39-win_amd64.pyd
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Include\pyconfig.h

(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 creates the following folders:

  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Protocol
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\PublicKey
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Util
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Cipher
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Hash
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Crypto\Math
  • %User Temp%\_MEI{random}\Include

(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).)

Propagation

This Ransomware does not have any propagation routine.

Backdoor Routine

This Ransomware does not have any backdoor routine.

Rootkit Capabilities

This Ransomware does not have rootkit capabilities.

Other Details

This Ransomware connects to the following URL(s) to get the affected system's IP address:

  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.8:80

It does the following:

  • It only encrypts the "c:\" local drive.

It does not exploit any vulnerability.

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • .jpg
  • .jpeg
  • .bmp
  • .gif
  • .png
  • .svg
  • .psd
  • .raw
  • .tiff
  • .tif
  • .sraw
  • .nef
  • .mp3
  • .mp4
  • .m4a
  • .aac
  • .ogg
  • .flac
  • .wav
  • .wma
  • .aiff
  • .ape
  • .avi
  • .flv
  • .m4v
  • .mkv
  • .mov
  • .mpg
  • .mpeg
  • .wmv
  • .swf
  • .3gp
  • .doc
  • .docx
  • .xls
  • .xlsx
  • .ppt
  • .pptx
  • .odt
  • .odp
  • .ods
  • .txt
  • .rtf
  • .tex
  • .pdf
  • .epub
  • .md
  • .yml
  • .yaml
  • .json
  • .xml
  • .csv
  • .db
  • .sql
  • .dbf
  • .mdb
  • .iso
  • .html
  • .htm
  • .xhtml
  • .php
  • .asp
  • .aspx
  • .js
  • .jsp
  • .css
  • .c
  • .cpp
  • .cxx
  • .h
  • .hpp
  • .hxx
  • .java
  • .class
  • .jar
  • .ps
  • .bat
  • .vb
  • .awk
  • .sh
  • .cgi
  • .pl
  • .ada
  • .swift
  • .go
  • .py
  • .pyc
  • .bf
  • .coffee
  • .zip
  • .tar
  • .tgz
  • .bz2
  • .7z
  • .rar
  • .bak
  • .cfu
  • .cf
  • .xsd
  • .php
  • .ovl
  • .cfe
  • .dt
  • .epf
  • .erf
  • .1cd
  • .3ds
  • .sat
  • .ipt
  • .iam
  • .model
  • .session
  • .exp
  • .dlv3
  • .dgn
  • .dxb
  • .iges
  • .asm
  • .neu
  • .dae
  • .fbx
  • .dxf
  • .obj
  • .lwo
  • .svg
  • .ply
  • .stl
  • .vrm
  • .log

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

  • .DEMON

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

  • {encrypted directory}\README.txt

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 19.642.04
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 10 Oct 2024
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 19.643.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 11 Oct 2024

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 folders

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden folders in the search result.
  •  %User Temp%\_MEI{random}

Step 4

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Ransom.Python.BLACKKINGDOM.YPEJG. 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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