Ransom.Win64.VICESOCIETY.A
Ransom:Win32/Paradise.BC!MTB (MICROSOFT)
Windows
Threat Type: Ransomware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: No
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 encrypts files with specific file extensions. It drops files as ransom note. It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions.
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:
- {Encrypted Directory}\ALL YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED!!!
- %System Root%\ALL YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED!!!
- %Public%\{random characters} → configuration file
- %Public%\noise.bmp → set as wallpaper
(Note: %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.. %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.)
It adds the following processes:
- "%System%\cmd.exe" /c vssadmin.exe Delete Shadows /All /Quiet
- reg delete "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Terminal Server Client\Default" /va /f
- reg delete "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Terminal Server Client\Servers" /f
- reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Terminal Server Client\Servers"
- cd %userprofile%\documents\
- attrib Default.rdp -s -h
- del Default.rdp
- for /F "tokens=*" %1 in ('wevtutil.exe el') DO wevtutil.exe cl "%1"
- "%System%\cmd.exe" /c del {Malware File Path}\{Malware File Name} > nul → to delete itself
(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 changes the desktop wallpaper by modifying the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
Wallpaper = %Public%\noise.bmp
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
WallpaperStyle = 4
It sets the system's desktop wallpaper to the following image:
- %Public%\noise.bmp
Other Details
This Ransomware does the following:
- It avoids encrypting the following drive types:
- CR-ROM
- RAM Disk
- It avoids encrypting files with file size less than or equal to 16 bytes.
- It uses Windows Restart Manager to unlock files it will encrypt.
It accepts the following parameters:
- /f {file to encrypt} → encrypts specific files
- /d {directory to encrypt} → encrypts specific directories
- /s → disables self delete option
Ransomware Routine
This Ransomware encrypts files with the following extensions:
- unlocked using Windows Restart Manager:
- .$ER
- .4D
- .4DD
- .ABCDDB
- .ABS
- .ABX
- .ACCDB
- .ACCDC
- .ACCDE
- .ACCDR
- .ACCDT
- .ACCDW
- .ACCFT
- .ADB
- .ADE
- .ADF
- .ADN
- .ADP
- .ALF
- .ASK
- .BTR
- .CAT
- .CDB
- .CKP
- .CMA
- .CPD
- .CRYPT12
- .CRYPT5
- .CRYPT6
- .CRYPT7
- .CRYPT8
- .CRYPT9
- .DACONNECTIONS
- .DACPAC
- .DAD
- .DADIAGRAMS
- .DASCHEMA
- .DB
- .DB-
- .DB-SHM
- .DB-WA
- .DB.CRYPT
- .DB.CRYPT12
- .DB.CRYPT8
- .DB2
- .DB3
- .DBC
- .DBF
- .DBS
- .DBT
- .DBV
- .DBX
- .DCB
- .DCT
- .DCX
- .DD
- .DLIS
- .DP1
- .DQY
- .DSK
- .DSN
- .DTSX
- .DX
- .ECO
- .ECX
- .EDB
- .EPIM
- .ERX
- .EXB
- .FCD
- .FDB
- .FIC
- .FLEXOLIBRARY
- .FM5.
- .FMP
- .FMP12
- .FMPS
- .FO
- .FP3
- .FP4
- .FP5
- .FP7
- .FPT
- .FRM
- .GDB
- .GRDB
- .GWI
- .HDB
- .HIS
- .IB
- .IDB
- .IHX
- .ITDB
- .ITW
- .JET
- .JTX
- .KDB
- .KEXI
- .KEXIC
- .KEXIS
- .LDF
- .LGC
- .LWX
- .MAF
- .MAQ
- .MAR
- .MARSHA
- .MAS
- .MAV
- .MAW
- .MDB
- .MDBHTM
- .MDF
- .MDN
- .MDT
- .MFD
- .MPD
- .MRG
- .MUD
- .MWB
- .MYD
- .NDF
- .NNT
- .NRMLIB
- .NS2
- .NS3
- .NS4
- .NSF
- .NV
- .NV2
- .NWDB
- .NYF
- .ODB
- .OQY
- .ORA
- .ORX
- .OWC
- .P96
- .P97
- .PAN
- .PDB
- .PDM
- .PNZ
- .QRY
- .QVD
- .RBF
- .RCTD
- .ROD
- .RODX
- .RPD
- .RSD
- .SAS7BDAT
- .SBF
- .SCX
- .SDB
- .SDC
- .SDF
- .SIS
- .SPQ
- .SQ
- .SQLITE
- .SQLITE3
- .SQLITEDB
- .TE
- .TEACHER
- .TEMX
- .TMD
- .TPS
- .TRC
- .TRM
- .UD
- .UDB
- .USR
- .V12
- .VIS
- .VPD
- .VVV
- .WDB
- .WMDB
- .WRK
- .XDB
- .XLD
- .XMLFF
It avoids encrypting files found in the following folders:
- $RECYCLE.BIN
- AVG
- Avast
- Avira
- COMODO
- Chrome
- Common Files
- Common7
- Dr.Web
- ESET
- Firefox
- Install Shield Installation Information
- Intel
- Internet Explorer
- KasperskyLab
- McAfee
- Microsoft
- Microsoft Help
- Microsoft SDKs
- Microsoft Shared
- Microsoft VS Code
- Microsoft Visual Studio
- Microsoft
- NET
- MovieMaker
- Mozilla
- Mozilla Firefox
- NVIDIA Corporation
- Opera
- Package Cache
- Packages
- Reference assemblies
- Spytechsoftware
- Symantec
- Symantec Client Security
- System Volume Information
- Temp
- Windows
- Windows App Certification Kit
- Windows Defender
- Windows Kits
- Windows Mail
- Windows Media Player
- Windows Mult imedia Platform
- Windows NT
- Windows Phone Kits
- Windows Phone Si lverlight Kits
- Windows Photo Viewer
- Windows Portable Devices
- Windows Security
- Windows Sidebar
- WindowsApps
- WindowsPower
- Shell
- Wsus
- Yandex Browser
- sysconfig
It appends the following extension to the file name of the encrypted files:
- .v-s0c13ty
It drops the following file(s) as ransom note:
- {Encrypted Directory}\ALL YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED!!!
- %System Root%\ALL YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED!!!
It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions:
- .386
- .adv
- .ani
- .bat
- .bin
- .cab
- .cmd
- .com
- .cp
- .cur
- .deskthemepack
- .diagcab
- .diagcfg
- .diagpkg
- .dl
- .drv
- .exe
- .hlp
- .hta
- .ic
- .icns
- .ico
- .ics
- .idx
- .lnk
- .lock
- .mod
- .mpa
- .msc
- .msi
- .msp
- .msstyles
- .msu
- .nls
- .nomedia
- .ocx
- .prf
- .ps1
- .rom
- .rtp
- .scr
- .shs
- .sp
- .sys
- .theme
- .themepack
- .wpx
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.XXPE50FFF062
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
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\Policies\System
- Wallpaper = %Public%\noise.bmp
- Wallpaper = %Public%\noise.bmp
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
- WallpaperStyle = 4
- WallpaperStyle = 4
Step 5
Search and delete this file
- {Encrypted Directory}\ALL YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED!!!
- %System Root%\ALL YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED!!!
- %Public%\{random characters}
- %Public%\noise.bmp
Step 6
Reset your Desktop properties
Step 7
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Ransom.Win64.VICESOCIETY.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 8
Restore encrypted files from backup.
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