Analysis by: Raymart Christian Yambot
ALIASES:

Win64:RansomX-gen [Ransom] (AVAST)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Ransomware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • 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: 1,346,984 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 06 Feb 2024
Payload: Drops files, Encrypts files, Disables AV, Terminates processes, Displays graphics/image

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:

  • {Malware File Path}\{Victim ID}.jpg → Deleted afterwards
  • {Malware File Path}\wallpaper.ps1 → Deleted afterwards

It adds the following processes:

  • %System%\cmd.exe /c powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "{Malware File Path}\wallpaper.ps1"
  • cmd /c "bcdedit /set {current} recoveryenabled no"
  • cmd /c "bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled no"
  • cmd /c "bcdedit /set {current} bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures"
  • cmd /c "bcdedit /set {default} bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures"
  • cmd /c \"vssadmin Delete Shadows /All /Quiet\""
  • cmd /c "taskkill /F /IM {Target Process}*
  • cmd /c net stop "{Target Service}" /y
  • cmd /c "wevtutil cl application"
  • cmd /c "wevtutil cl security"
  • cmd /c "wevtutil cl system"

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

Other System Modifications

This Ransomware sets the system's desktop wallpaper to the following image:

  • {Malware File Path}\{Victim ID}.jpg

Process Termination

This Ransomware terminates the following services if found on the affected system:

  • via net stop /y:
    • MSSQLFDLauncher
    • MSSQLSERVER
    • SQLSERVERAGENT
    • SQLBrowser
    • SQLTELEMETRY
    • SQLWriter
    • MSSQL
    • SQLAgent
    • MSSQLServerOLAPService

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

  • via taskkill /F /IM:
    • postgresql
    • sqlbrowser
    • sqlwriter
    • sqlservr
    • sqlceip
    • SQLAGENT
    • sqlservr
    • pg_ctl
    • postgres

Other Details

This Ransomware accepts the following parameters:

  • -s, --self {Malware file path} - Used to execute the malware if it failes to determine the self-path and load settings.
  • -h, --help - Displays help information.
  • -c, --directory {Directory} - Encryp all files in the specified directory.
  • -dr, --deleteRestorePoints {True/False} - Deletion of system restore points.
  • -ss, --stopServices {True/False} - Stops the embedded list of services.
  • -sp, --stopProcesses {True/False} - Terminate the embedded list of processes.
  • -dn, --dropNote {True/False} - Drops ransom note to a specific directory.
  • -cw, --changeWallpaper {False} - Disable modification of desktop wallpaper.

Ransomware Routine

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

  • .LIVE

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

  • %Public%\Documents\FILE RECOVERY_ID_{Victim ID}.txt
  • %Public%\Desktop\FILE RECOVERY_ID_{Victim ID}.txt
  • {Malware File Path}\FILE RECOVERY_ID_{Victim ID}.txt
  • {Encrypted Directory}\FILE RECOVERY_ID_{Victim ID}.txt

It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions:

  • exe
  • dll
  • ink
  • ini
  • lnk
  • ico
  • sys
  • mui
  • live
  • desktop

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 19.144.07
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 07 Feb 2024
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 19.145.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 08 Feb 2024

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

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}\{Victim ID}.jpg
  • {Malware File Path}\wallpaper.ps1
  • %Public%\Documents\FILE RECOVERY_ID_{Victim ID}.txt
  • %Public%\Desktop\FILE RECOVERY_ID_{Victim ID}.txt
  • {Malware File Path}\FILE RECOVERY_ID_{Victim ID}.txt
  • {Encrypted Directory}\FILE RECOVERY_ID_{Victim ID}.txt

Step 4

Reset your Desktop properties

[ Learn More ]

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Ransom.Win64.LIVETEAM.A. 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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