Ransom.Buran

Technical Description

Once executed, the Trojan creates the following file:

• [PATH TO ENCRYPTED FILES]\!!! YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED !!!.TXT

The Trojan creates the following registry entry so that it runs every time Windows starts:

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\”ctfmon.exe” = “%UserProfile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\ctfmon.exe”

The Trojan also creates the following registry entries:

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Buran\”Knock” = %[HEXADECIMAL VALUE]%
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Buran\Service\”Public” = %[DATA]%
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Buran\Service\”Private” = %[DATA]%

The Trojan connects to the following remote locations:

• iplo[REMOVED]er.ru
• iplo[REMOVED]er.org

Next, the Trojan copies itself to the following location:

• %UserProfile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\ctfmon.exe

The Trojan then encrypts files on the compromised computer.

The Trojan does not encrypt files with the following extensions:

• cmd
• com
• cpl
• dll
• msc
• msp
• pif
• scr
• sys
• log
• exe
• buran

The Trojan does not encrypt files in directories with the following strings:

• :\$RECYCLE.BIN\
• :\$Windows.~bt\
• :\RECYCLER
• :\System Volume Information\
• :\Windows.old\
• :\Windows\
• :\intel\
• :\nvidia\
• :\inetpub\logs\
• \All Users\
• \AppData\
• \Apple Computer\Safari\
• \Application Data\
• \Boot\
• \Google\
• \Google\Chrome\
• \Mozilla Firefox\
• \Mozilla\
• \Opera Software\
• \Opera\
• \Tor Browser\
• \Common Files\
• \Internet Explorer\
• \Windows Defender\
• \Windows Mail\
• \Windows Media Player\
• \Windows Multimedia Platform\
• \Windows NT\
• \Windows Photo Viewer\
• \Windows Portable Devices\
• \WindowsPowerShell\
• \Windows Photo Viewer\
• \Windows Security\
• \Embedded Lockdown Manager\
• \Windows Journal\
• \MSBuild\
• \Reference Assemblies\
• \Windows Sidebar\
• \Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection\
• \Microsoft\
• \Package Cache\
• \Microsoft Help\

The Trojan does not encrypt files with the following names:

• boot.ini
• bootfont.bin
• bootsect.bak
• desktop.ini
• defender.exe
• iconcache.db
• master.exe
• master.dat
• ntdetect.com
• ntldr
• ntuser.dat
• ntuser.dat.log
• ntuser.ini
• temp.txt
• thumbs.db
• unlock.exe
• unlocker.exe
• !!! YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED !!!.TXT

The Trojan renames encrypted files by appending an ID unique to the compromised computer.

Example: [ORIGINAL FILE NAME].[HEXADECIMAL VALUE]

The Trojan drops the following ransom note in directories where it has encrypted files:

• [PATH TO ENCRYPTED FILES]\!!! YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED !!!.TXT

The ransom note informs the user their files have been encrypted and provides instructions on how they may pay to have the files decrypted.

Recommendations

Secnic Security Response encourages all users and administrators to adhere to the following basic security “best practices”:

• Use a firewall to block all incoming connections from the Internet to services that should not be publicly available. By default, you should deny all incoming connections and only allow services you explicitly want to offer to the outside world.
• Enforce a password policy. Complex passwords make it difficult to crack password files on compromised computers. This helps to prevent or limit damage when a computer is compromised.
• Ensure that programs and users of the computer use the lowest level of privileges necessary to complete a task. When prompted for a root or UAC password, ensure that the program asking for administration-level access is a legitimate application.
• Disable AutoPlay to prevent the automatic launching of executable files on network and removable drives, and disconnect the drives when not required. If write access is not required, enable read-only mode if the option is available.
• Turn off file sharing if not needed. If file sharing is required, use ACLs and password protection to limit access. Disable anonymous access to shared folders. Grant access only to user accounts with strong passwords to folders that must be shared.
• Turn off and remove unnecessary services. By default, many operating systems install auxiliary services that are not critical. These services are avenues of attack. If they are removed, threats have less avenues of attack.
• If a threat exploits one or more network services, disable, or block access to, those services until a patch is applied.
• Always keep your patch levels up-to-date, especially on computers that host public services and are accessible through the firewall, such as HTTP, FTP, mail, and DNS services.
• Configure your email server to block or remove email that contains file attachments that are commonly used to spread threats, such as .vbs, .bat, .exe, .pif and .scr files.
• Isolate compromised computers quickly to prevent threats from spreading further. Perform a forensic analysis and restore the computers using trusted media.
• Train employees not to open attachments unless they are expecting them. Also, do not execute software that is downloaded from the Internet unless it has been scanned for viruses. Simply visiting a compromised Web site can cause infection if certain browser vulnerabilities are not patched.
• If Bluetooth is not required for mobile devices, it should be turned off. If you require its use, ensure that the device’s visibility is set to “Hidden” so that it cannot be scanned by other Bluetooth devices. If device pairing must be used, ensure that all devices are set to “Unauthorized”, requiring authorization for each connection request. Do not accept applications that are unsigned or sent from unknown sources.

Removal

You may use Anti Virus products about this risk.

Before proceeding further we recommend that you run a full system scan.