Analysis by: John Anthony Banes
ALIASES:

Ransom:Win32/Reveton.Y (Microsoft); Trojan.Ransomlock!g64 (Norton)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Ransomware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • 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 connects to certain websites to send and receive information. However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 207,872 bytes
File Type: DLL
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 09 Aug 2018
Payload: Drops files, Connects to URLs/IPs, Displays graphics/image, Downloads 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 the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %All Users Profile%\{random string}.jss
  • %ProgramData%\{random string}.jss
  • %User Temp%\{random string}.jss

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the common user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\ProgramData on Windows Vista, 7, and 8. . %ProgramData% is a version of the Program Files folder where any user on a multi-user computer can make changes to programs. This contains application data for all users. This is usually C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista, 7, and 8.. %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

It drops the following files:

  • %All Users Profile%\{random string}.fee
  • %All Users Profile%\{random string}.odd
  • %ProgramData%\{random string}.fee
  • %ProgramData%\{random string}.odd

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the common user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\ProgramData on Windows Vista, 7, and 8. . %ProgramData% is a version of the Program Files folder where any user on a multi-user computer can make changes to programs. This contains application data for all users. This is usually C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

Autostart Technique

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

  • %User Startup%\{random string}.lnk

(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 XP, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

Other Details

This Ransomware connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.53.244 (port 80 or 443)
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.114.209 (port 80 or 443)

It does the following:

  • This Ransomware downloads a file which may contain a lock screen image, also locks the user's system and displays the message asking the user to pay to unlock the system. The contents of the downloaded file may vary depending on the remote server.

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 14.434.03
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 10 Aug 2018
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 14.435.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 11 Aug 2018

Step 1

Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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.  
  • %All Users Profile%\{random string}.fee
  • %All Users Profile%\{random string}.odd
  • %ProgramData%\{random string}.fee
  • %ProgramData%\{random string}.odd
  • %User Startup%\{random string}.lnk

Step 5

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as RANSOM_REVETON.NZU. 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.


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