A newly discovered ransomware family has the ability to replace the Master Boot Record and modify the partition table, allowing the malware to function as a wiper.
Dubbed RedBoot, the malware was clearly designed for destructive purposes, as even the file-encryption operation is of a similar nature: it encrypts executables and DLLs along with normal data files, thus rendering the infected machine useless. Furthermore, by replacing the MBR, it prevents the computer from loading Windows.
The malware’s operations are similar to those of the Petya-Mischa pair – Petya would replace the MBR while Mischa would encrypt users’ files – which later evolved into the Goldeneye variant. This year, a global attack was using a destructive wiper masquerading as Petya.
Once executed on the target machine, the new RedBoot ransomware extracts 5 other files into a random folder in the same directory as the launcher: assembler.exe, boot.asm, main.exe, overwrite.exe, and protect.exe, BleepingComputer’s Lawrence Abrams notes.
assembler.exe, which is a renamed copy of nasm.exe, is used to compile the boot.asm assembly file into a new MBR boot.bin file. Next, overwrite.exe is used to overwrite the existing boot.bin with the newly compiled one.
The user mode encryption operation is performed by the main.exe file, while protect.exe was designed to terminate and prevent various programs from running on the infected machine, including Task Manager and Process Hacker.
After the files have been extracted, the launcher executes the necessary command to the new boot.bin file, and then deletes the boot.asm and assembly.exe files. Next, it overwrites boot.bin, and then starts main.exe to scan the computer for files to encrypt. protect.exe is also launched to prevent other programs from blocking or analyzing the infection.
The ransomware was designed to encrypt executables, DLLs, and normal data files on the infected machine, and appends the .locked extension to each of the encrypted files. As soon as the encryption process has been completed, the malware reboots the machine and the new master boot record displays a ransom note instead of loading Windows.
Although the ransom note claims that victims can recover their data if they contact the malware author at redboot@memeware.net to receive payment instructions, the researchers analyzing the threat suggest that this might not be the case.
Apparently, the malware “may also be modifying the partition table without providing a method to restore it,” Abrams says. Because of that, even if the victim contacts the malware author and pays the ransom, the hard drive might not be recoverable, the researcher explains.
It is currently unclear whether RedBoot is yet another wiper masquerading as ransomware, just as NotPetya, or if it is just poorly coded malware. The threat was compiled using AutoIT, which could suggest that an error resulted in it modifying the partition table without providing a way to input a key to recover it.
Related: NotPetya – Destructive Wiper Disguised as Ransomware