Ransom.Win32.PHOBOS.SM

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.

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 Name}.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 curretnprofile state off
• vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet → delete shadow copies
• wmic shadowcopy delete → delete shadow copies
• bcdedit /set {default} bootstatispolicy ignoreallfailures → disable system's trigger to call the Error Recovery screen on startup
• bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled no → Disables Windows Recovery on Startup
• netsh firewall set opmode mode=disable
• "%System%\mshta.exe" "%Desktop%\info.hta"
• "%System%\mshta.exe" "%Public%\desktop\info.hta"
• "%System%\mshta.exe" "{Drive Letter}\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.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CuurentVersion\Run
{Malware Name} = "%AppDataLocal%\{Malware Name}.exe"

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

It drops the following file(s) in the Windows User Startup folder to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

• %User 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).)

It drops the following file(s) in the Windows Common Startup folder to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

• %Common Startup%\{Malware Name}.exe

(Note: %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.)

Other System Modifications

This Ransomware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
Enable = 1

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
Size = 10

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
InitHits = 100

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
Factor = 20

Other Details

This Ransomware does the following:

• It avoids encrypting files with the following extensions:
  • .docx
  • .pptx
  • .xlsx
  • .xbap
  • .html
  • .search-ms
  • .mpv2
  • .dvr-ms
  • .mpeg
  • .mp2v
  • .aiff
  • .aifc
  • .midi
  • .tiff
  • .jpeg
  • .jfif
  • .jpe
  • .phobos
  • .rar
  • .raw
  • .rdf
  • .rgbe
  • .rle
  • .rqy
  • .rss
  • .rtf
  • .rw2
  • .rwl
  • .safe
  • .sct
  • .sdpx
  • .shtm
  • .shtml
  • .slk
  • .sln
  • .sql
  • .sr2
  • .srf
  • .srw
  • .ssi
  • .st
  • .stm
  • .svg
  • .svgz
  • .swf
  • .tab
  • .tar
  • .tbb
  • .tbi
  • .tbk
  • .tdi
  • .tga
  • .thmx
  • .tif
  • .tiff
  • .tld
  • .torrent
  • .tpl
  • .txt
  • .u3d
  • .udl
  • .uxdc
  • .vb
  • .vbs
  • .vcs
  • .vda
  • .vdr
  • .vdw
  • .vdx
  • .vrp
  • .vsd
  • .vss
  • .vst
  • .vsw
  • .vsx
  • .vtm
  • .vtml
  • .vtx
  • .wb2
  • .wav
  • .wbm
  • .wbmp
  • .wim
  • .wmf
  • .wml
  • .wmv
  • .wpd
  • .wps
  • .x3f
  • .xl
  • .xla
  • .xlam
  • .xlk
  • .xlm
  • .xls
  • .xlsb
  • .xlsm
  • .xlsx
  • .xlt
  • .xltm
  • .xltx
  • .xlw
  • .xml
  • .xps
  • .xsd
  • .xsf
  • .xsl
  • .xslt
  • .xsn
  • .xtp
  • .xtp2
  • .xyze
  • .xz
  • .zip

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware avoids encrypting files found in the following folders:

• %Windows%
• %Program Files%

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000(32-bit), Server 2003(32-bit), XP, Vista(64-bit), 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit) , or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP(64-bit), Vista(64-bit), 7(64-bit), 8(64-bit), 8.1(64-bit), 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

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

• .id[{ID}].[wallyredd@{BLOCKED}l.com].phoenix

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

• {Encrypted Directory}:\info.hta
  
• {Encrypted Directory}:\info.txt
  
• %Desktop%\info.txt
• %Public%\info.txt
• %Desktop%\info.hta
• %Public%\info.hta