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RANSOM_KARMA.A

February 02, 2017
 Analysis by: David John Agni
 ALIASES:

Ransom:MSIL/KarmaLock.A (Microsoft), Ransom.Karma (Malwarebytes)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet


This Trojan 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. It terminates itself if it detects it is being run in a virtual environment.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

728,328 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

14 Nov 2016

Payload:

Connects to URLs/IPs, Encrypts files, Displays message/message boxes

Arrival Details

This Trojan 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 Trojan drops the following files:

  • {malware path}\pchelper.xml - used to create scheduled task
  • %Desktop%\# DECRYPT MY FILES #.html - ransom note
  • %Desktop%\# DECRYPT MY FILES #.txt - ransom note

(Note: %Desktop% is the desktop folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Desktop in Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop in Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

It drops and executes the following files:

  • {malware path}\xRun.vbs
  • {malware path}\updatehelper.vbs

Autostart Technique

The scheduled task executes the malware every:

  • User logon

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Saffron = "%Desktop%\# DECRYPT MY FILES #.html"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Safron = "%Desktop%\# DECRYPT MY FILES #.txt"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
auth = "{hex value}"

Other Details

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

  • http://{BLOCKED}-tuneup.com/web293/xUser.php?
  • http://{BLOCKED}xgg6ccmupd.onion/

It encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • .1cd
  • .3dm
  • .3ds
  • .3fr
  • .3g2
  • .3gp
  • .3gp2
  • .3gpp
  • .3pr
  • .7z
  • .7zip
  • .aac
  • .ab4
  • .abd
  • .acc
  • .accda
  • .accdb
  • .accdc
  • .accde
  • .accdr
  • .accdt
  • .accdu
  • .accdw
  • .ace
  • .ach
  • .acr
  • .act
  • .adb
  • .ade
  • .adn
  • .adp
  • .ads
  • .agdl
  • .ai
  • .aiff
  • .ait
  • .al
  • .amr
  • .aoi
  • .apj
  • .apk
  • .arj
  • .arw
  • .asax
  • .ascx
  • .asf
  • .ashx
  • .asm
  • .asmx
  • .asp
  • .aspx
  • .asset
  • .asx
  • .atb
  • .au
  • .avi
  • .awg
  • .back
  • .backup
  • .backupdb
  • .bak
  • .bank
  • .bay
  • .bdb
  • .bgt
  • .bik
  • .bin
  • .bkp
  • .blend
  • .bmp
  • .bpw
  • .bsa
  • .bz
  • .bz2
  • .c
  • .caf
  • .cash
  • .cdb
  • .cdf
  • .cdr
  • .cdr3
  • .cdr4
  • .cdr5
  • .cdr6
  • .cdrw
  • .cdx
  • .ce1
  • .ce2
  • .cer
  • .cfg
  • .cfn
  • .cgm
  • .cib
  • .class
  • .cls
  • .cmt
  • .config
  • .contact
  • .cpi
  • .cpp
  • .cr2
  • .craw
  • .crt
  • .crw
  • .cry
  • .cs
  • .csh
  • .cshtml
  • .csl
  • .csproj
  • .css
  • .csv
  • .d3dbsp
  • .dac
  • .das
  • .dat
  • .db
  • .db_journal
  • .db3
  • .dbf
  • .dbx
  • .dc2
  • .dcr
  • .dcs
  • .ddd
  • .ddoc
  • .ddrw
  • .dds
  • .def
  • .der
  • .des
  • .design
  • .dgc
  • .dgn
  • .dit
  • .djvu
  • .dng
  • .doc
  • .dochtml
  • .docm
  • .docx
  • .docxml
  • .dot
  • .dothtml
  • .dotm
  • .dotx
  • .drf
  • .drw
  • .dsw
  • .dtd
  • .dwg
  • .dxb
  • .dxf
  • .dxg
  • .edb
  • .eml
  • .eps
  • .erbsql
  • .erf
  • .exf
  • .fdb
  • .fdf
  • .ffd
  • .fff
  • .fh
  • .fhd
  • .fla
  • .flac
  • .flb
  • .flf
  • .flv
  • .flvv
  • .forge
  • .fpx
  • .fs
  • .fsi
  • .fsproj
  • .fsscript
  • .fsx
  • .fxg
  • .gbr
  • .gho
  • .gif
  • .gray
  • .grey
  • .groups
  • .gry
  • .gz
  • .h
  • .hbk
  • .hdd
  • .hpp
  • .htaccess
  • .html
  • .htpasswd
  • .ibank
  • .ibd
  • .ibz
  • .idx
  • .iff
  • .iif
  • .iiq
  • .incpas
  • .indd
  • .info
  • .info_
  • .ini
  • .ipsw
  • .iqy
  • .iwi
  • .jar
  • .java
  • .jnt
  • .jpe
  • .jpeg
  • .jpg
  • .js
  • .json
  • .k2p
  • .kc2
  • .kdbx
  • .kdc
  • .key
  • .kpdx
  • .kwm
  • .laccdb
  • .lbf
  • .lck
  • .ldf
  • .lha
  • .lit
  • .litemod
  • .litesql
  • .lock
  • .log
  • .ltx
  • .lua
  • .lzh
  • .m
  • .m2ts
  • .m3u
  • .m4a
  • .m4p
  • .m4v
  • .ma
  • .mab
  • .mapimail
  • .master
  • .max
  • .mbx
  • .md
  • .mda
  • .mdb
  • .mdc
  • .mdf
  • .mdp
  • .mdt
  • .mef
  • .mfw
  • .mid
  • .mkv
  • .mlb
  • .mmw
  • .mny
  • .money
  • .moneywell
  • .mos
  • .mov
  • .mp2
  • .mp2v
  • .mp3
  • .mp4
  • .mp4v
  • .mpa
  • .mpe
  • .mpeg
  • .mpg
  • .mpg
  • .mpga
  • .mpv
  • .mpv2
  • .mrw
  • .msf
  • .msg
  • .myd
  • .nd
  • .ndd
  • .ndf
  • .nef
  • .nk2
  • .nop
  • .nrw
  • .ns2
  • .ns3
  • .ns4
  • .nsd
  • .nsf
  • .nsg
  • .nsh
  • .nvram
  • .nwb
  • .nx2
  • .nxl
  • .nyf
  • .oab
  • .obj
  • .odb
  • .odc
  • .odf
  • .odg
  • .odm
  • .odp
  • .ods
  • .odt
  • .ogg
  • .oil
  • .omg
  • .one
  • .onepkg
  • .onetoc
  • .onetoc2
  • .orf
  • .ost
  • .otg
  • .oth
  • .otp
  • .ots
  • .ott
  • .p12
  • .p7b
  • .p7c
  • .pab
  • .pages
  • .pas
  • .pat
  • .pbf
  • .pcd
  • .pct
  • .pdb
  • .pdd
  • .pdf
  • .pdfxml
  • .pef
  • .pem
  • .pfx
  • .php
  • .pif
  • .pl
  • .plc
  • .plus_muhd
  • .pm
  • .pm!
  • .pmi
  • .pmj
  • .pml
  • .pmm
  • .pmo
  • .pmr
  • .pnc
  • .pnd
  • .png
  • .pnx
  • .pot
  • .pothtml
  • .potm
  • .potm
  • .potx
  • .ppam
  • .pps
  • .ppsm
  • .ppsm
  • .ppsx
  • .ppt
  • .ppthtml
  • .pptm
  • .pptm
  • .pptx
  • .pptxml
  • .prf
  • .private
  • .ps
  • .psafe3
  • .psd
  • .pspimage
  • .pst
  • .ptx
  • .pub
  • .pwm
  • .pwz
  • .py
  • .qba
  • .qbb
  • .qbm
  • .qbr
  • .qbw
  • .qbx
  • .qby
  • .qcow
  • .qcow2
  • .qed
  • .qtb
  • .r00
  • .r01
  • .r3d
  • .raf
  • .ram
  • .rar
  • .rat
  • .raw
  • .rax
  • .rdb
  • .re4
  • .resx
  • .rm
  • .rmm
  • .rmvb
  • .rp
  • .rpt
  • .rt
  • .rtf
  • .rvt
  • .rw2
  • .rwl
  • .rwz
  • .s3db
  • .safe
  • .sas7bdat
  • .sav
  • .save
  • .say
  • .sd0
  • .sda
  • .sdb
  • .sdf
  • .settings
  • .sh
  • .sldm
  • .sldx
  • .slk
  • .slm
  • .sln
  • .sql
  • .sqlite
  • .sqlite3
  • .sqlitedb
  • .sqlite-shm
  • .sqlite-wal
  • .sr2
  • .srb
  • .srf
  • .srs
  • .srt
  • .srw
  • .st4
  • .st5
  • .st6
  • .st7
  • .st8
  • .stc
  • .std
  • .sti
  • .stl
  • .stm
  • .stw
  • .stx
  • .svg
  • .swf
  • .sxc
  • .sxd
  • .sxg
  • .sxi
  • .sxm
  • .sxw
  • .tar
  • .tax
  • .tbb
  • .tbk
  • .tbn
  • .tex
  • .tga
  • .tgz
  • .thm
  • .tif
  • .tiff
  • .tlg
  • .tlx
  • .txt
  • .upk
  • .usr
  • .utorrent
  • .vb
  • .vbe
  • .vbhtml
  • .vbox
  • .vbproj
  • .vbs
  • .vcf
  • .vcproj
  • .vcs
  • .vcxproj
  • .vdi
  • .vdx
  • .vhd
  • .vhdx
  • .vmdk
  • .vmsd
  • .vmx
  • .vmxf
  • .vob
  • .vpd
  • .vsd
  • .vsix
  • .vss
  • .vst
  • .vsx
  • .vtx
  • .wab
  • .wad
  • .wallet
  • .war
  • .wav
  • .wb2
  • .wbk
  • .web
  • .wiz
  • .wm
  • .wma
  • .wmf
  • .wmv
  • .wmx
  • .wpd
  • .wps
  • .wsf
  • .wvx
  • .x11
  • .x3f
  • .xdp
  • .xis
  • .xla
  • .xla
  • .xlam
  • .xlk
  • .xlk
  • .xll
  • .xlm
  • .xlr
  • .xls
  • .xlsb
  • .xlsb
  • .xlshtml
  • .xlsm
  • .xlsm
  • .xlsx
  • .xlt
  • .xltm
  • .xltm
  • .xltx
  • .xlw
  • .xlw
  • .xml
  • .xps
  • .xslt
  • .xxx
  • .ycbcra
  • .yuv
  • .zip

It renames encrypted files using the following names:

  • {host file}.karma

It terminates itself if it detects it is being run in a virtual environment.

NOTES:

This ransomware avoids encrypting file with the following strings in their file path:

  • \$recycle.bin\
  • \$windows.~bt\
  • \appdata\local\
  • \appdata\locallow\
  • \appdata\roaming\
  • \boot\
  • \drivers\
  • \program files (x86)\
  • \program files\
  • \programdata\
  • \public\music\sample music\
  • \public\pictures\sample pictures\
  • \public\videos\sample videos\
  • \tor browser\
  • \users\all users\
  • \windows\

Upon execution it displays the following user interface to trick the user:

The dropped ransom note contains the following information:

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

12.900.02

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

15 Nov 2016

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

12.901.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

16 Nov 2016

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

Delete the Scheduled Tasks added by this malware/grayware

[ Learn More ]

To delete the added Scheduled Task file:

For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:

  1. Open the Windows Scheduled Tasks. To do this, click Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Scheduled Tasks.
  2. Double-click on a .JOB file.
  3. Check if the malware path and file name exists in the .JOB file. To do this, check the value in the Run field.
  4. If found, select the .JOB file then press SHIFT+DELETE to permanently delete the file.
  5. Repeat the steps above for the remaining .JOB files.

For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012:

  1. Open the Windows Task Scheduler. To do this:
    • On Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008, click Start, type taskschd.msc in the Search input field, then press Enter.
    • On Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, click Run, type taskschd.msc, then press Enter.
  2. In the left panel of the Task Scheduler Window, click Task Scheduler Library.
  3. In the upper-middle panel, click a Task.
  4. In the lower middle panel, click the Actions tab
  5. Check if the malware path and file name exists in the task. To do this, check the value in the Details column under the Actions tab.
  6. If found, select the task and press DELETE and click Yes to delete the task.
  7. Repeat the steps above for the remaining tasks.

Step 5

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 path}\pchelper.xml
  • {malware path}\xRun.vbs
  • {malware path}\updatehelper.vbs
  • %Desktop%\# DECRYPT MY FILES #.html
  • %Desktop%\# DECRYPT MY FILES #.txt

Step 6

Delete this registry value

[ Learn More ]

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
    • auth = "{hex values}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Saffron = "%Desktop%\\# DECRYPT MY FILES #.html"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Safron = "%Desktop%\\# DECRYPT MY FILES #.txt"

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as RANSOM_KARMA.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 this Knowledge Base page for more information.

Step 8

Restore encrypted files from backup.


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