Analysis by: Jeffrey Francis Bonaobra
ALIASES:

Win32:IndustrialSpy-A (AVAST)

 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 drops files as ransom note. It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 142,336 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 03 Oct 2022
Payload: Drops files, Deletes 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 and executes the following files:

  • {Malware File Path}\temp.cmd → deleted afterwards

It adds the following processes:

  • "%System%\vssadmin.exe" delete shadows /all /quiet
  • "%System%\reg.exe" add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services / v MaxDisconnectionTime / t REG_DWORD / d 1209600000 / f
  • cmd /c temp.cmd {Malware File Path}\{Malware File Name} → clear Windows Event Logs
  • for /F \"tokens\*" %1 in ('wevtutil.exe el') DO wevtutil.exe cl \"%1\"

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)

Other Details

This Ransomware does the following:

  • If a file to be encrypted is being used by an existing process, it will try to terminate this process.
  • It uses Windows Restart Manager to unlock files it will encrypt.
  • It avoids encrypting read-only volumes.
  • It encrypts files but does not append new extension to encrypted files.
  • It deletes itself after execution.

It accepts the following parameters:

  • {path/s to encrypt}

Ransomware Routine

This Ransomware avoids encrypting files found in the following folders:

  • \microsoft\
  • \google\chrome\
  • \mozilla\firefox\
  • \opera\

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

  • {Encrypted directory}\readme.txt

It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions:

  • .sys
  • .exe
  • .dll
  • .bat
  • .bin
  • .cmd
  • .com
  • .cpl
  • .gadget
  • .inf1
  • .ins
  • .inx
  • .isu
  • .job
  • .jse
  • .lnk
  • .msc
  • .msi
  • .mst
  • .paf
  • .pif
  • .ps1
  • .reg
  • .rgs
  • .scr
  • .sct
  • .shb
  • .shs
  • .u3p
  • .vb
  • .vbe
  • .vbs
  • .vbscript
  • .ws
  • .wsh
  • .wsf

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 17.856.05
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 05 Oct 2022
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 17.857.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 06 Oct 2022

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.XXPE50FFF061

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

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.
  • {Malware File Path}\temp.cmd

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Ransom.Win64.INDUSTRIALSPY.AA. 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 6

Restore encrypted files from backup.


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