Ransom.Win32.LOCKBIT.SMDS
Ransom:Win32/Lockbit.SA!MSR(MICROSOFT); Generic.Ransom.LockBit.14D340B1(BITDEFENDER);
Windows
Threat Type: Ransomware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted:
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 executes then deletes itself afterward.
It drops files as ransom note.
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 files:
- %User Temp%\{random characters}.tmp
(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 adds the following processes:
- vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet
- wmic shadowcopy delete
- bcdedit /set {default} bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures
- bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled no
- wbadmin delete catalog -quiet
It executes then deletes itself afterward.
Autostart Technique
This Ransomware adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
XO1XADpO01 = "{malware filepath}\{malware filename}.exe"
Other System Modifications
This Ransomware changes the desktop wallpaper by modifying the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
Wallpaper = %User Temp%\{random characters}.tmp
Other Details
This Ransomware adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\LockBit
It connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- http://d/
Ransomware Routine
This Ransomware drops the following file(s) as ransom note:
- {Encrypted directory}\Restore-My-Files.txt
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.XXPE50FFF038
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
Delete this registry key
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
- LockBit
- LockBit
Step 6
Delete this registry value
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\Run
- XO1XADpO01 = "{malware filepath}\{malware filename}.exe"
- XO1XADpO01 = "{malware filepath}\{malware filename}.exe"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
- Wallpaper = %User Temp%\{random characters}.tmp
- Wallpaper = %User Temp%\{random characters}.tmp
Step 7
Search and delete these files
- %User Temp%\{random characters}.tmp
- {Encrypted directory}\Restore-My-Files.txt
Step 8
Reset your Desktop properties
Step 9
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Ransom.Win32.LOCKBIT.SMDS. 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 10
Restore encrypted files from backup.
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