Spora Ransomware

Spora is a new ransomware with the ability to work offline without the need to communicate with a C2 server and specifically targets business users.

Threat ID:: CC-1087
Category:: Ransomware
Threat Severity:: Medium
Threat Vector:: Email spam
Published:: 19 January 2017 12:00 AM

Report a cyber attack: call 0300 303 5222 or email [email protected]

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Summary

Spora is a new ransomware with the ability to work offline without the need to communicate with a C2 server and specifically targets business users.

Affected platforms

The following platforms are known to be affected:

Microsoft Windows

All Windows versions

Threat details

The ransomware is distributed via spam emails that appear to have invoices attached in the form of a .DOC or .PDF files. Recently phishing emails are pretending to be a 'Chrome Font' engineering scheme to distribute the ransomware.

Once the user clicks on the email they're directed to a compromised website with injected EITest script which cause a fake Chrome popup. The popup contains a URL to download the Spora malware, disguised as a legitimate program. After Spora is installed it begins to infect the user's device.

Unlike other ransomware, Spora targets a small number of file types on both local files and network shares. It encrypts popular Microsoft Office files, PDFs, SQLite as well as compressed and backup files. Spora leaves the file names intact whereas other ransomware typically adds on a file extension. This makes discovering the encrypted files difficult and paired with a complex encryption process means the malware doesn’t appear to contain any weaknesses.

Once the encryption is complete the malware deletes the Volume Shadow Copies (a manual or automatic backup process performed on Window’s devices). Additionally it disables the Windows Startup Repair and changes the BootStatusPolicy to ‘ignoreallfailures’ ensuring the user can’t fix their device by restarting.

The ransom note directs the user to a publically accessible website that is a Tor gateway to a hidden website where they pay the ransom in BitCoins. There are a number of purchase options which include:

Full restore – ranging between $79 and $280.
Immunity - $50
Removal - $20
File Restore - $30
File Restore – 2 Free

Remediation steps

Type	Step
	If a computer on your network becomes infected with ransomware it will begin encrypting local machine files and files on any network the logged-in user has permission to access. For system administration accounts this may include backup storage locations. To avoid becoming infected with ransomware, ensure that: A robust program of education and awareness training is delivered to users to ensure they don’t open attachments or follow links within unsolicited emails. All operating systems, antivirus and other security products are kept up to date. All day to day computer activities such as email and internet are performed using non-administrative accounts and that permissions are always assigned on the basis of least privilege. Your organisation adopts a holistic all round approach to Cyber Security as advocated by the 10 Steps To Cyber Security. Identifying the source of infection: Identifying the infected machine and unplugging / disconnecting or quarantining it from the network is essential to damage limitation. Users should immediately report infections to their IT support provider, disconnect their network cable and power the computer down. File auditing should be enabled and file server logs should be monitored to detect signs of unauthorised encryption and allow the source of encryption to be identified (i.e. the infected PC). To limit the damage of ransomware and enable recovery: All critical data must be backed up, and these backups must be sufficiently protected/kept out of reach of ransomware. Multiple backups should be created including at least one off-network backup (e.g. to tape). The only guaranteed way to recover from a ransomware infection is to restore all affected files from their most recent backup.

Type

Step

If a computer on your network becomes infected with ransomware it will begin encrypting local machine files and files on any network the logged-in user has permission to access. For system administration accounts this may include backup storage locations.

To avoid becoming infected with ransomware, ensure that:

A robust program of education and awareness training is delivered to users to ensure they don’t open attachments or follow links within unsolicited emails.
All operating systems, antivirus and other security products are kept up to date.
All day to day computer activities such as email and internet are performed using non-administrative accounts and that permissions are always assigned on the basis of least privilege.
Your organisation adopts a holistic all round approach to Cyber Security as advocated by the 10 Steps To Cyber Security.

Identifying the source of infection:
Identifying the infected machine and unplugging / disconnecting or quarantining it from the network is essential to damage limitation.

Users should immediately report infections to their IT support provider, disconnect their network cable and power the computer down.
File auditing should be enabled and file server logs should be monitored to detect signs of unauthorised encryption and allow the source of encryption to be identified (i.e. the infected PC).

To limit the damage of ransomware and enable recovery:
All critical data must be backed up, and these backups must be sufficiently protected/kept out of reach of ransomware.

Multiple backups should be created including at least one off-network backup (e.g. to tape).

The only guaranteed way to recover from a ransomware infection is to restore all affected files from their most recent backup.

Last edited: 11 January 2022 3:05 pm