TROJ_CRYPCTB.PDA

 Analysis by: Michael John Marcos

 ALIASES:

Ransom:Win32/Critroni.A (Microsoft), Trojan.Win32.Vimditator.gol (Kaspersky), Win32/Filecoder.DA (Eset), Trojan-Ransom.CTBLocker (Ikarus),

 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, Dropped by other malware

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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

1,017,856 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

04 Feb 2015

Payload:

Encrypts files, Changes wallpaper

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:

  • %System%\config\systemprofile\My Documents\!Decrypt-All-Files-{random characters}.bmp
  • %System%\config\systemprofile\My Documents\!Decrypt-All-Files-{random characters}.txt
  • %System Root%\{randomly selected path}\!Decrypt-All-Files-{random characters}.txt - Ten (10) *.txt files in different locations
  • %System Root%\{randomly selected path}\!Decrypt-All-Files-{random characters}.bmp - Ten (10) *.bmp files in different locations
  • %User Profile%\My Documents\!Decrypt-All-Files-{random characters}.bmp - image used as wallpaper
  • %User Profile%\My Documents\!Decrypt-All-Files-{random characters}.txt - ransom note in text file
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random characters}.html - contains ransom note and list of encrypted files

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.. %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.. %All Users Profile% is the All Users folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\ProgramData on 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 the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %User Temp%\{random filename}.exe

(Note: %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on 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 injects itself into the following processes running in the affected system's memory:

  • svchost.exe
  • explorer.exe

It creates the following folders:

  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{randomly selected path}\{random characters}

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\ProgramData on 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.)

Autostart Technique

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • C:\Windows\Tasks\{random filename}.job

Other System Modifications

This Trojan modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
Wallpaper = "%User Profile%\My Documents\!Decrypt-All-Files-{random characters}.bmp"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {user-defined}.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
TileWallpaper = 0

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following URL(s) to get the affected system's IP address:

  • http://ip.{BLOCKED}elize.com

It connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • {BLOCKED}lx5e3w7bpv.tor2web.fi
  • {BLOCKED}zlx5e3w7bpv.tor2web.org
  • {BLOCKED}kzlx5e3w7bpv.tor2web.blutmagie.de
  • {BLOCKED}zlx5e3w7bpv.onion.lt
  • {BLOCKED}kzlx5e3w7bpv.onion.cab
  • {BLOCKED}x5e3w7bpv.onion.gq

It encrypts files with the following extensions:

  • 3fr
  • 7z
  • abu
  • accdb
  • ai
  • arp
  • arw
  • bas
  • bay
  • bdcr
  • bdcu
  • bdd
  • bdp
  • bds
  • blend
  • bpdr
  • bpdu
  • bsdr
  • bsdu
  • c
  • cdr
  • cer
  • config
  • cpp
  • cr2
  • crt
  • crw
  • cs
  • dbf
  • dbx
  • dcr
  • dd
  • dds
  • der
  • dng
  • doc
  • docm
  • docx
  • dwg
  • dxf
  • dxg
  • eps
  • erf
  • fdb
  • gdb
  • gdb
  • groups
  • gsd
  • gsf
  • ims
  • indd
  • iss
  • jpe
  • jpeg
  • jpg
  • js
  • kdc
  • kwm
  • md
  • mdb
  • mdf
  • mef
  • mrw
  • nef
  • nrw
  • odb
  • odm
  • odp
  • ods
  • odt
  • orf
  • p12
  • p7b
  • p7c
  • pas
  • pdd
  • pdf
  • pef
  • pem
  • pfx
  • php
  • pl
  • ppt
  • pptm
  • pptx
  • psd
  • pst
  • ptx
  • pwm
  • py
  • r3d
  • raf
  • rar
  • raw
  • rgx
  • rik
  • rtf
  • rw2
  • rwl
  • safe
  • sql
  • srf
  • srw
  • txt
  • vsd
  • wb2
  • wpd
  • wps
  • xlk
  • xls
  • xlsb
  • xlsm
  • xlsx
  • zip

NOTES:

It deletes all Windows Shadow Copies found in the system.

The dropped !Decrypt-All Files-{random characters}.txt contains the following ransom message:

It sets the system's desktop wallpaper to the following image:

It appends the extension .{seven random characters} to the encrypted files. (ex. sample.docx.{seven random characters})

It displays the ransom message in seven different languages: French, Spanish, Latvian, German, Dutch, Italian and English

It can decrypt five random files to entice the user that it is capable of recovering the files after payment of ransom.

If the connection to the server is established, it will save the details of the private key in %Application Data%\{randomly selected path}\{random file name}.

It will then asks the user to pay the ransom in bitcoin to automatically decrypt the files. It also contain instructions how to buy bitcoins via cash, electronic currency and etc.

If the connection is not established, it will give instruction to the user how to pay the ransom in another computer with internet connection.

It deletes copies of itself and its scheduled task after the time expired.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.700

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

11.458.10

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

04 Feb 2015

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

11.459.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

04 Feb 2015

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

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as TROJ_CRYPCTB.PDA

Step 4

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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.
  • %System%\config\systemprofile\My Documents\!Decrypt-All-Files-{random characters}.bmp
  • %System%\config\systemprofile\My Documents\!Decrypt-All-Files-{random characters}.txt
  • %User Profile%\My Documents\!Decrypt-All-Files {random characters}.bmp
  • %User Profile%\My Documents\!Decrypt-All-Files-{random characters}.txt
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{random characters}.html
  • %Windows%\Tasks\{random filename}.job
  • %System Root%\{randomly selected path}\!Decrypt-All-Files-{random characters}.txt
  • %System Root%\{randomly selected path}\!Decrypt-All-Files-{random characters}.bmp

Step 6

Search and delete these folders

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden folders in the search result.
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{randomly selected path}\{random characters}

Step 7

Restore these modified registry values

[ Learn More ]

Important:Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this only if you know how to or you can seek your system administrator's help. You may also check out this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
    • From: Wallpaper = "%User Profile%\My Documents\!Decrypt-All-Files-{random characters}.bmp"
      To: Wallpaper = "{user-defined}"

Step 8

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TROJ_CRYPCTB.PDA. 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 9

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_CRYPCTB.PDA. 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.

NOTES:

Restore the encrypted files from backup.


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