Analysis by: Arianne Grace Dela Cruz
ALIASES:

Ransom:Win32/Ergop.A (MICROSOFT); W32/Ransom.HL.gen!Eldorado (FPROT)

 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: Dropped by other malware, 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 drops files as ransom note.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 55,808 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 23 Jul 2019
Payload: Terminates processes, Displays message/message boxes, 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 a copy of itself in the following folders using different file names:

  • %Application Data%\{malware name}.exe

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

Autostart Technique

This Ransomware creates the following registry entries to enable automatic execution of dropped component at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
CertificatesCheck = "%Application Data%\{malware name}.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Ransomware adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Terminal Server Client\Servers

It deletes the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Terminal Server Client\Default

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Terminal Server Client\Servers

Process Termination

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

  • SQL
  • Outlook
  • SSMS
  • Postgre
  • 1c
  • Excel
  • Word

Dropping Routine

This Ransomware drops the following files:

  • tmp{random}.tmp.bat - used to delete shadow copies, add registry entries, and delete registry entries

Other Details

This Ransomware does the following:

  • The ransomware will not encrypt files with the following extensions:
    • .$er
    • .4d
    • .4db
    • .4dd
    • .4mp
    • .abs
    • .abx
    • .accdb
    • .accdc
    • .accde
    • .accdr
    • .accdt
    • .accdw
    • .accft
    • .adn
    • .adp
    • .aft
    • .ahd
    • .alf
    • .ask
    • .awdb
    • .azz
    • .bdb
    • .bib
    • .bnd
    • .bok
    • .btr
    • .cdb
    • .cdb
    • .cdb
    • .ckp
    • .clkw
    • .cma
    • .crd
    • .crypt
    • .daconnections
    • .dacpac
    • .dad
    • .dadiagrams
    • .daf
    • .daschema
    • .db
    • .db2
    • .db3
    • .dbc
    • .dbf
    • .dbf
    • .dbk
    • .dbs
    • .db-shm
    • .dbt
    • .dbv
    • .db-wa
    • .dbx
    • .dcb
    • .dct
    • .dcx
    • .dd
    • .df1
    • .dll
    • .dmo
    • .dnc
    • .dp1
    • .dqy
    • .dsk
    • .dsn
    • .dta
    • .dtsx
    • .dx
    • .eco
    • .ecx
    • .edb
    • .emd
    • .eq
    • .exe
    • .fcd
    • .fdb
    • .fi
    • .fic
    • .fid
    • .fm5
    • .fmp
    • .fmp12
    • .fmps
    • .fo
    • .fp3
    • .fp4
    • .fp5
    • .fp7
    • .fpt
    • .fzb
    • .fzv
    • .gdb
    • .gwi
    • .hdb
    • .his
    • .ib
    • .idc
    • .ihx
    • .itdb
    • .itw
    • .jtx
    • .kdb
    • .lgc
    • .lnk
    • .maq
    • .mdb
    • .mdbhtm
    • .mdf
    • .mdn
    • .mdt
    • .mrg
    • .mud
    • .mwb
    • .myd
    • .ndf
    • .ns2
    • .ns3
    • .ns4
    • .nsf
    • .nv2
    • .nyf
    • .oce
    • .odb
    • .oqy
    • .ora
    • .orx
    • .owc
    • .owg
    • .oyx
    • .p96
    • .p97
    • .pan
    • .pdb
    • .pdm
    • .phm
    • .pnz
    • .pth
    • .pwa
    • .qpx
    • .qry
    • .qvd
    • .rctd
    • .rdb
    • .rpd
    • .rsd
    • .sbf
    • .sdb
    • .sdf
    • .spq
    • .sq
    • .sqb
    • .sqlite
    • .sqlite3
    • .sqlitedb
    • .str
    • .tcx
    • .tdt
    • .te
    • .teacher
    • .tmd
    • .trm
    • .udb
    • .usr
    • .v12
    • .vdb
    • .vpd
    • .wdb
    • .wmdb
    • .xdb
    • .xld
    • .xlgc
    • .zdb
    • .zdc.crypt
  • It deletes all shadow copies using the following:
    • vssadmin.exe Delete Shadows /All /Quiet

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware avoids encrypting files found in the following folders:

  • Avast
  • AVG
  • Avira
  • Chrome
  • Common Files
  • COMODO
  • Dr.Web
  • ESET
  • Internet Explorer
  • Kaspersky Lab
  • McAfee
  • Microsoft
  • Microsoft Help
  • Microsoft Shared
  • Microsoft.NET
  • Movie Maker
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • ntldr
  • NVIDIA Corporation
  • Opera
  • Outlook Express
  • ProgramData
  • spytech software
  • Symantec
  • Symantec_Client_Security
  • sysconfig
  • system volume information
  • Windows
  • Windows App Certification Kit
  • Windows Defender
  • Windows Kits
  • Windows Mail
  • Windows Media Player
  • Windows Multimedia Platform
  • Windows NT
  • Windows Phone Kits
  • Windows Phone Silverlight Kits
  • Windows Photo Viewer
  • Windows Portable Devices
  • Windows Sidebar
  • WindowsPowerShell
  • Wsus
  • YandexBrowser

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

  • .crypt

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

  • {Ecnrypted File Directory}\how_to_back_files.html

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 15.182.03
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 18 Jun 2019
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 15.183.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 19 Jun 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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
    • CertificatesCheck = "%Application Data%\{malware name}"

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.
  • %Application Data%\{malware name}.exe
  • tmp{random}.tmp.bat
  • {Encrypted File Directory}\how_to_back_files.html

Step 6

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