Analysis

  • user interaction
    yes
  • max time kernel
    289s
  • max time network
    163s
  • platform
    windows11-ltsc_2024_x64
  • resource
    win11ltsc2024-20260911-es
  • resource tags

    arch:x64arch:x86image:win11ltsc2024-20260911-eslocale:es-esos:windows11-ltsc_2024-x64systemwindows
  • submitted
    27/10/2026, 03:57

General

  • Target
    phobos.exe
  • Size 71KB
  • Sample261027-ejch8aat6w
  • SHA256 a91491f45b851a07f91ba5a200967921bf796d38677786de51a4a8fe5ddeafd2
  • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

Malware Config

Extracted

Path
  • C:\Users\Admin\Desktop\info.hta

Ransom Note
  • <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC '-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN' 'http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd'> <html> <head> <meta charset='windows-1251'> <title>encrypted</title> <HTA:APPLICATION ICON='msiexec.exe' SINGLEINSTANCE='yes' SysMenu="no"> <script language='JScript'> window.moveTo(50, 50); window.resizeTo(screen.width - 100, screen.height - 100); </script> <style type='text/css'> body { font: 15px Tahoma, sans-serif; margin: 10px; line-height: 25px; background: #EDEDED; } img { display:inline-block; } .bold { font-weight: bold; } .mark { background: #D0D0E8; padding: 2px 5px; } .header { text-align: center; font-size: 30px; line-height: 50px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom:20px; } .info { background: #D0D0E8; border-left: 10px solid #00008B; } .alert { background: #FFE4E4; border-left: 10px solid #FF0000; } .private { border: 1px dashed #000; background: #FFFFEF; } .note { height: auto; padding-bottom: 1px; margin: 15px 0; } .note .title { font-weight: bold; text-indent: 10px; height: 30px; line-height: 30px; padding-top: 10px; } .note .mark { background: #A2A2B5; } .note ul { margin-top: 0; } .note pre { margin-left: 15px; line-height: 13px; font-size: 13px; } .footer { position:fixed; bottom:0; right:0; text-align: right; } </style> </head> <body> <div class='header'> <img src='data:image/png;base64,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'> <div>All your files have been encrypted!</div> </div> <div class='bold'>All your files have been encrypted due to a security problem with your PC. If you want to restore them, write us to the e-mail <span class='mark'>[email protected]</span></div> <div class='bold'>Write this ID in the title of your message <span class='mark'>E7CDF519-1096</span></div> <div class='bold'>If there is no response from our mail, you can install the Jabber client and write to us in support of <span class='mark'>[email protected]</span> </div> <div> You have to pay for decryption in Bitcoins. The price depends on how fast you write to us. After payment we will send you the decryption tool that will decrypt all your files. </div> <div class='note info'> <div class='title'>Free decryption as guarantee</div> <ul>Before paying you can send us up to 5 files for free decryption. The total size of files must be less than 10Mb (non archived), and files should not contain valuable information. (databases,backups, large excel sheets, etc.) </ul> </div> <div class='note info'> <div class='title'>How to obtain Bitcoins</div> <ul> The easiest way to buy bitcoins is LocalBitcoins site. You have to register, click 'Buy bitcoins', and select the seller by payment method and price. <br><a href='https://localbitcoins.com/buy_bitcoins'>https://localbitcoins.com/buy_bitcoins</a> <br> Also you can find other places to buy Bitcoins and beginners guide here: <br><a href='http://www.coindesk.com/information/how-can-i-buy-bitcoins/'>http://www.coindesk.com/information/how-can-i-buy-bitcoins/</a> </ul> </div> <div class='title'>Jabber client installation instructions:</div> <div class='note info'> <ul> <li>Download the jabber (Pidgin) client from https://pidgin.im/download/windows/</li> <li>After installation, the Pidgin client will prompt you to create a new account.</li> <li>Click "Add"</li><li>In the "Protocol" field, select XMPP</li> <li>In "Username" - come up with any name</li> <li>In the field "domain" - enter any jabber-server, there are a lot of them, for example - exploit.im</li> <li>Create a password</li><li>At the bottom, put a tick "Create account"</li> <li>Click add</li> <li>If you selected "domain" - exploit.im, then a new window should appear in which you will need to re-enter your data:</li> <ul> <li>User</li> <li>password</li> <li>You will need to follow the link to the captcha (there you will see the characters that you need to enter in the field below)</li> </ul> <li>If you don't understand our Pidgin client installation instructions, you can find many installation tutorials on youtube - <a href = "https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=pidgin+jabber+install">https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=pidgin+jabber+install</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class='note alert'> <div class='title'>Attention!</div> <ul> <li>Do not rename encrypted files.</li> <li>Do not try to decrypt your data using third party software, it may cause permanent data loss.</li> <li>Decryption of your files with the help of third parties may cause increased price (they add their fee to our) or you can become a victim of a scam.</li> </ul> </div> </body> </html>
Emails
URLs
  • http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd'>

  • https://pidgin.im/download/windows/</li>

Signatures

  • Family: Phobos

    Phobos ransomware appeared at the beginning of 2019.

  • Deletes shadow copies 3 TTPs

    Ransomware often targets backup files to inhibit system recovery.

  • Modifies boot configuration data using bcdedit 1 TTPs 4 IoCs
  • Renames multiple (849) files with added filename extension

    This suggests ransomware activity of encrypting all the files on the system.

  • Modifies Windows Firewall 2 TTPs 2 IoCs
  • Creates a file in the Startup directory 1 TTPs 4 IoCs

    A file was written to a Windows startup folder. Files in these directories are executed automatically when a user logs on or an application initializes.

  • Credentials from Password Stores: Windows Credential Manager 1 TTPs

    Suspicious access to Credentials History.

  • Executes dropped EXE 1 IoCs
  • Reads user/profile data of web browsers 3 TTPs

    Infostealers often target stored browser data, which can include saved credentials etc.

  • Adds Run key to start application 2 TTPs 2 IoCs
  • Drops desktop.ini file(s) 64 IoCs
  • Enumerates connected drives 3 TTPs 2 IoCs

    Attempts to read the root path of hard drives other than the default C: drive.

  • Discovers running processes 1 TTPs 1 IoCs

    Running process information can be used to identify security tools or plan follow-on actions.

  • Drops file in Program Files directory 64 IoCs
  • Browser Information Discovery 1 TTPs

    Enumerate browser information.

  • Enumerates physical storage devices 1 TTPs

    Attempts to interact with connected storage/optical drive(s).

  • Event Triggered Execution: Netsh Helper DLL 1 TTPs 6 IoCs

    Netsh.exe (also referred to as Netshell) is a command-line scripting utility used to interact with the network configuration of a system.

  • Reads the TCP/IP host and domain name from the registry 1 TTPs 4 IoCs

    The configured hostname and DNS domain identify the machine and are commonly collected to profile a host before it reports in.

  • System Location Discovery: System Language Discovery 1 TTPs 7 IoCs

    Attempt gather information about the system language of a victim in order to infer the geographical location of that host.

  • Checks SCSI registry key(s) 3 TTPs 3 IoCs

    SCSI information is often read in order to detect sandboxing environments.

  • Interacts with shadow copies 3 TTPs 2 IoCs

    Shadow copies are often targeted by ransomware to inhibit system recovery.

  • Kills process with taskkill 2 IoCs
  • Modifies Internet Explorer settings 1 TTPs 1 IoCs
  • Modifies registry class 2 IoCs
  • Opens file in notepad (likely ransom note) 1 IoCs
  • Suspicious behavior: EnumeratesProcesses 64 IoCs
  • Suspicious behavior: GetForegroundWindowSpam 1 IoCs
  • Suspicious use of AdjustPrivilegeToken 64 IoCs
  • Suspicious use of FindShellTrayWindow 64 IoCs
  • Suspicious use of SendNotifyMessage 64 IoCs
  • Suspicious use of SetWindowsHookEx 3 IoCs
  • Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory 21 IoCs
  • Uses Volume Shadow Copy service COM API

    The Volume Shadow Copy service is used to manage backups/snapshots.

Processes

  • C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\phobos.exe
    "C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\phobos.exe"
    1⤵
    • Creates a file in the Startup directory
    • Adds Run key to start application
    • Drops desktop.ini file(s)
    • Enumerates connected drives
    • Drops file in Program Files directory
    • System Location Discovery: System Language Discovery
    • Modifies registry class
    • Suspicious behavior: EnumeratesProcesses
    • Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory
    PID:5896
    • C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\phobos.exe
      "C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\phobos.exe"
      2⤵
        PID:2956
      • C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe
        "C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe"
        2⤵
        • Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory
        PID:4352
        • C:\Windows\system32\vssadmin.exe
          vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet
          3⤵
          • Interacts with shadow copies
          PID:2324
        • C:\Windows\System32\Wbem\WMIC.exe
          wmic shadowcopy delete
          3⤵
          • Reads the TCP/IP host and domain name from the registry
          • Suspicious behavior: EnumeratesProcesses
          • Suspicious use of AdjustPrivilegeToken
          PID:2176
        • C:\Windows\system32\bcdedit.exe
          bcdedit /set {default} bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures
          3⤵
          • Modifies boot configuration data using bcdedit
          PID:2572
        • C:\Windows\system32\bcdedit.exe
          bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled no
          3⤵
          • Modifies boot configuration data using bcdedit
          PID:2092
      • C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe
        "C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe"
        2⤵
        • Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory
        PID:2524
        • C:\Windows\system32\netsh.exe
          netsh advfirewall set currentprofile state off
          3⤵
          • Modifies Windows Firewall
          • Event Triggered Execution: Netsh Helper DLL
          PID:4304
        • C:\Windows\system32\netsh.exe
          netsh firewall set opmode mode=disable
          3⤵
          • Modifies Windows Firewall
          • Event Triggered Execution: Netsh Helper DLL
          PID:5440
      • C:\Windows\SysWOW64\mshta.exe
        "C:\Windows\SysWOW64\mshta.exe" "C:\Users\Admin\Desktop\info.hta" {1E460BD7-F1C3-4B2E-88BF-4E770A288AF5}{1E460BD7-F1C3-4B2E-88BF-4E770A288AF5}
        2⤵
        • System Location Discovery: System Language Discovery
        PID:3516
      • C:\Windows\SysWOW64\mshta.exe
        "C:\Windows\SysWOW64\mshta.exe" "C:\users\public\desktop\info.hta" {1E460BD7-F1C3-4B2E-88BF-4E770A288AF5}{1E460BD7-F1C3-4B2E-88BF-4E770A288AF5}
        2⤵
        • System Location Discovery: System Language Discovery
        PID:4668
      • C:\Windows\SysWOW64\mshta.exe
        "C:\Windows\SysWOW64\mshta.exe" "C:\info.hta" {1E460BD7-F1C3-4B2E-88BF-4E770A288AF5}{1E460BD7-F1C3-4B2E-88BF-4E770A288AF5}
        2⤵
        • System Location Discovery: System Language Discovery
        PID:5328
      • C:\Windows\SysWOW64\mshta.exe
        "C:\Windows\SysWOW64\mshta.exe" "F:\info.hta" {1E460BD7-F1C3-4B2E-88BF-4E770A288AF5}{1E460BD7-F1C3-4B2E-88BF-4E770A288AF5}
        2⤵
        • Enumerates connected drives
        • System Location Discovery: System Language Discovery
        PID:2740
      • C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe
        "C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe"
        2⤵
        • Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory
        PID:200
        • C:\Windows\system32\vssadmin.exe
          vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet
          3⤵
          • Interacts with shadow copies
          PID:4740
        • C:\Windows\System32\Wbem\WMIC.exe
          wmic shadowcopy delete
          3⤵
          • Reads the TCP/IP host and domain name from the registry
          • Suspicious use of AdjustPrivilegeToken
          PID:1228
        • C:\Windows\system32\bcdedit.exe
          bcdedit /set {default} bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures
          3⤵
          • Modifies boot configuration data using bcdedit
          PID:4436
        • C:\Windows\system32\bcdedit.exe
          bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled no
          3⤵
          • Modifies boot configuration data using bcdedit
          PID:328
    • C:\Windows\system32\vssvc.exe
      C:\Windows\system32\vssvc.exe
      1⤵
      • Suspicious use of AdjustPrivilegeToken
      PID:4360
    • C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe
      C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe -k GPSvcGroup
      1⤵
        PID:4640
      • C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\phobos.exe
        C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\phobos.exe
        1⤵
        • Executes dropped EXE
        • System Location Discovery: System Language Discovery
        PID:4136
      • C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe
        C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe C:\Windows\System32\shell32.dll,SHCreateLocalServerRunDll {9aa46009-3ce0-458a-a354-715610a075e6} -Embedding
        1⤵
          PID:424
        • C:\Windows\SysWOW64\mshta.exe
          "C:\Windows\SysWOW64\mshta.exe" "C:\info.hta" {1E460BD7-F1C3-4B2E-88BF-4E770A288AF5}{1E460BD7-F1C3-4B2E-88BF-4E770A288AF5}
          1⤵
          • System Location Discovery: System Language Discovery
          PID:716
        • C:\Windows\system32\NOTEPAD.EXE
          "C:\Windows\system32\NOTEPAD.EXE" C:\info.txt
          1⤵
          • Opens file in notepad (likely ransom note)
          PID:2800
        • C:\Windows\system32\taskmgr.exe
          "C:\Windows\system32\taskmgr.exe" /4
          1⤵
          • Creates a file in the Startup directory
          • Checks SCSI registry key(s)
          • Modifies Internet Explorer settings
          • Suspicious behavior: GetForegroundWindowSpam
          • Suspicious use of FindShellTrayWindow
          • Suspicious use of SendNotifyMessage
          • Suspicious use of SetWindowsHookEx
          • Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory
          PID:1836
          • C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe
            "C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe"
            2⤵
            • Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory
            PID:5900
            • C:\Windows\system32\tasklist.exe
              tasklist
              3⤵
              • Discovers running processes
              PID:5232
            • C:\Windows\system32\taskkill.exe
              taskkill /f /im mshta.exe
              3⤵
              • Kills process with taskkill
              PID:5820
            • C:\Windows\system32\taskkill.exe
              taskkill /f /im phobos.exe
              3⤵
              • Kills process with taskkill
              PID:3052

        Network

              MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v16

              Replay Monitor

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              Downloads

              AppvIsvSubsystems64.dll.id[E7CDF519-1096].[[email protected]].acute

              • Path C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\ClickToRun\AppvIsvSubsystems64.dll.id[E7CDF519-1096].[[email protected]].acute
              • Size 3.2MB
              • SHA256 65d460d9c50f123737a91a3111c34868a88fdd32f2ffe6129265750598236985
              • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

              osmia64.msi.id[E7CDF519-1096].[[email protected]].acute

              • Path C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\vfs\ProgramFilesCommonX64\Microsoft Shared\OFFICE16\1033\osmia64.msi.id[E7CDF519-1096].[[email protected]].acute
              • Size 4.1MB
              • SHA256 db2b7e38466a71d2f97d7cff9add086b377981246f3cce0d9f8274eb5465467a
              • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

              mfc140u.dll.id[E7CDF519-1096].[[email protected]].acute

              • Path C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\vfs\SystemX86\mfc140u.dll.id[E7CDF519-1096].[[email protected]].acute
              • Size 5.6MB
              • SHA256 2608432c41e41a101cbfaf546b48e0585f952bbd899dafc29c6af7822dd3a6e3
              • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

              mfc140u.dll.id[E7CDF519-1096].[[email protected]].acute

              • Path C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\vfs\System\mfc140u.dll.id[E7CDF519-1096].[[email protected]].acute
              • Size 6.3MB
              • SHA256 1dd237393bf7cc8da2df90312f38af3ff65f7d18ca20ec902a037971bf4b521e
              • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

              desktop.ini.id[E7CDF519-1096].[[email protected]].acute

              • Path C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\desktop.ini.id[E7CDF519-1096].[[email protected]].acute
              • Size 418B
              • SHA256 ec458dced53d30822d998f2b6b0100b3ca344183dd0c7de3d57cc9d8f34970cd
              • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

              phobos.exe

              • Path C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\phobos.exe
              • Size 71KB
              • SHA256 a91491f45b851a07f91ba5a200967921bf796d38677786de51a4a8fe5ddeafd2
              • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

              desktop.ini.id[E7CDF519-1096].[[email protected]].acute

              • Path C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\desktop.ini.id[E7CDF519-1096].[[email protected]].acute
              • Size 418B
              • SHA256 dd2ff297ee52004ffd37c0c08cb48d62f55359b8cedc426308edb29b90418426
              • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

              info.hta

              • Path C:\Users\Admin\Desktop\info.hta
              • Size 6KB
              • SHA256 8943f3cef27d1cae79d13f8ae52374a8c332965c611cf5f153edc2ad4ed80997
              • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

              DenyResume.doc.id[E7CDF519-1096].[[email protected]].acute

              • Path C:\Users\Admin\Downloads\DenyResume.doc.id[E7CDF519-1096].[[email protected]].acute
              • Size 467KB
              • SHA256 bd7ae737ce6ba40ea5a633cb08fb9f89ab53978ca47438b0c25ec7d1f6ac25f0
              • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

              DisableExport.m4a.id[E7CDF519-1096].[[email protected]].acute

              • Path C:\Users\Admin\Downloads\DisableExport.m4a.id[E7CDF519-1096].[[email protected]].acute
              • Size 399KB
              • SHA256 383009b0093bac72f5dd88d3341c87b63901e4f562dc6fea49178a023a8be01d
              • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

              desktop.ini.id[E7CDF519-1096].[[email protected]].acute

              • Path C:\Users\Admin\Downloads\desktop.ini.id[E7CDF519-1096].[[email protected]].acute
              • Size 530B
              • SHA256 3b1ecae633f92fed2c9d4ba371ba3f94da285403f61e2a43fa251d40ae33b8a7
              • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

              info.txt

              • Path F:\info.txt
              • Size 225B
              • SHA256 c9562335ebcf92efa3f1e36d1a70358b8c384abcf0290cb947925285f75c195c
              • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

              memory/1836-15519-0x0000021EDA7B0000-0x0000021EDA7B1000-memory.dmp

              memory/1836-15521-0x0000021EDA7B0000-0x0000021EDA7B1000-memory.dmp

              memory/1836-15529-0x0000021EDA7B0000-0x0000021EDA7B1000-memory.dmp

              memory/1836-15527-0x0000021EDA7B0000-0x0000021EDA7B1000-memory.dmp

              memory/1836-15526-0x0000021EDA7B0000-0x0000021EDA7B1000-memory.dmp

              memory/1836-15530-0x0000021EDA7B0000-0x0000021EDA7B1000-memory.dmp

              memory/1836-15528-0x0000021EDA7B0000-0x0000021EDA7B1000-memory.dmp

              memory/1836-15525-0x0000021EDA7B0000-0x0000021EDA7B1000-memory.dmp