Ransom.Win32.CRYSIS.APHZ

Infection Channel: Downloaded from the Internet

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 is capable of encrypting files in the affected system.

It drops files as ransom note.

File Size: 51,712 bytes

File Type: EXE

Memory Resident: Yes

Initial Samples Received Date: 21 Jul 2019

Payload: Encrypts files, Displays message/message boxes, Terminates processes

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:

%AppDataLocal%\{Malware FileName}.exe

(Note: %AppDataLocal% is the Local Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It adds the following processes:

netsh advfirewall set currentprofile state off
netsh firewall set opmode mode=disable
%System%\mshta.exe %Desktop%\info.hta
%System%\mshta.exe %Public%\Desktop\info.hta
%System%\mshta.exe {Drive}\info.hta

(Note: %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %Public% is the folder that serves as a repository of files or folders common to all users, which is usually C:\Users\Public in Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:

Global\<>70EF904200000001
Global\<>70EF904200000000

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{Malware FileName} = "%AppDataLocal%\{Malware FileName}.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{Malware FileName} = "%AppDataLocal%\{Malware FileName}.exe"

It enables its automatic execution at every system startup by dropping the following copies of itself into the Windows Common Startup folder:

%User Startup%\{Malware FileName}.exe
%Common Startup%\{Malware FileName}.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).. %Common Startup% is the startup folder for all users, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

Process Termination

This Ransomware terminates the following processes if found running in the affected system's memory:

Sftesql.exe
sqlagent.exe
sqlbrowser.exe
sqlservr.exe
sqlwriter.exe
oracle.exe
ocssd.exe
dbsnmp.exe
synctime.exe
agntsvc.exe
mydesktopqos.exe
isqlplussvc.exe
xfssvccon.exe
mydesktopservice.exe
ocautoupds.exe
agntsvc.exe
agntsvc.exe
agntsvc.exe
encsvc.exe
firefoxconfig.exe
tbirdconfig.exe
ocomm.exe
mysqld.exe
mysqld-nt.exe
mysqld-opt.exe
dbeng50.exe
sqbcoreservice.exe
excel.exe
infopath.exe
msaccess.exe
mspub.exe
onenote.exe
outlook.exe
powerpnt.exe
steam.exe
thebat.exe
thebat64.exe
thunderbird.exe
visio.exe
winword.exe
wordpad.exe

Other Details

This Ransomware does the following:

It avoids encrypting files/directories with the following strings:
- %Windows%
- %Program Data%\microsoft\windows\caches
- %System Root%\users\admin\microsoft\windows\caches
- info.hta
- info.txt
- boot.ini
- Bootfont.bin
- ntldr
- ntdetect.com
- io.sys
- {Malware Filename}.exe
It randomly uses the following extension to encrypt files and avoids encrypting the following extensions:
- adage
- actin
- acton
- actor
- acuff
- acuna
- acute
- adage
- adair
- adame
- banhu
- banjo
- banks
- banta
- barak
- caleb
- cales
- caley
- calix
- calle
- calum
- calvo
- deuce
- dever
- devil
- devoe
- devon
- devos
- dewar
- eight
- eject
- eking
- elbie
- elbow
- elder
- phobos
- help
- blend
- bqux
- commamba
- karlos
- ddos
- phoenix
- plut
- karma
- bbc
- capital
- Wallet
It encrypts files in all fixed, remote, network and removable drives.
Info.hta displays the following window:

It is capable of encrypting files in the affected system.

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware appends the following extension to the file name of the encrypted files:

.id[ID].[{BLOCKED}helpyou@qq.com].{String}
Strings:
- adage
- actin
- acton
- actor
- acuff
- acuna
- acute
- adage
- adair
- adame
- banhu
- banjo
- banks
- banta
- barak
- caleb
- cales
- caley
- calix
- calle
- calum
- calvo
- deuce
- dever
- devil
- devoe
- devon
- devos
- dewar
- eight
- eject
- eking
- elbie
- elbow
- elder
- phobos
- help
- blend
- bqux
- commamba
- karlos
- ddos
- phoenix
- plut
- karma
- bbc
- capital
- Wallet

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

{Encrypted Directory}:\info.hta
{Encrypted Directory}:\info.txt

It leaves text files that serve as ransom notes containing the following text:

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 15.248.07

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 21 Jul 2019

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 15.249.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 22 Jul 2019

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- {Malware FileName} = %AppDataLocal%\{Malware FileName}.exe
In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- {Malware FileName} = %AppDataLocal%\{Malware FileName}.exe

Step 5

Search and delete this file

[ 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.

%AppDataLocal%\{Malware FileName}.exe
%User Startup%\{Malware FileName}.exe
%Common Startup%\{Malware FileName}.exe

Step 6

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Ransom.Win32.CRYSIS.APHZ. 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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