The Little Ransomware That Couldn’t (Dharma) - The DFIR
Report
By editor
Published: 2020-06-16 · Archived: 2026-04-05 13:15:14 UTC
Ransomware continues unabated in the year of continually mounting pressure. But for every big game actor out
there compromising Fortune listed companies there are the little guys that maybe just aren’t as skilled.
Initial access:
Threat actor logged in from 217.138.202.116 as a local admin at 0858 UTC.
Reconnaissance:
The threat actor brought their own enumeration and pivoting tool set NS.exe. We’ve seen this tool used time and
time again to scan and map file shares. Executed at 0936 UTC. 
%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\Oc\NS.exe
Action on Objectives:
First was the execution of a bat file called shadow.bat, which deletes shadow files
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vssadmin delete shadows /all
Seconds later logdelete.bat is run which clears all log files.
Following this, closeapps.bat was run which loops through various common applications to try to prevent open
file lockouts keeping critical files from being encrypted.
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Registry run keys and two startup folders were then created for the primary ransomware file 1pgp.exe.
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C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\1pgp.exe
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp\1pgp.exe
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\1pgp.exe
Finally the ransomware executed and locked up the system.
This ransomware can be linked to the Dharma/Crysis family of ransomware based on the pdb path present in the
file strings.
A rather sparse ransom note was left behind.
Lateral Movement
Even though the threat actor was running as a domain administrator they did not attempt to move laterally or
spread their ransomware.
IOC’s
MISPPriv 5ee3822c-6828-418c-b619-62de950d210f and 68219.
1pgp.exe|1ebb6bb49ac1077c5e7eba4d56f6a3a1
1ebb6bb49ac1077c5e7eba4d56f6a3a1
1a37bb789c7bdda44330fd55aa292f5f76dada5d
2f2e75affe9217c7211043936678fb1777e2db4a8f1986b8805ddb1e84e9e99b
closeapps.bat|9b0d6df42f879ba969f82c7a0ab48bc6
9b0d6df42f879ba969f82c7a0ab48bc6
b5d6f94f270a02abedc7484dc7214d15d2cee99e
e25245f98a23596e03e51535beb0f73c000de63e473580c4c26e7b8b01b4e593
Everything.exe|8add121fa398ebf83e8b5db8f17b45e0
8add121fa398ebf83e8b5db8f17b45e0
c8107e5c5e20349a39d32f424668139a36e6cfd0
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35c4a6c1474eb870eec901cef823cc4931919a4e963c432ce9efbb30c2d8a413
LogDelete.bat|fb9c610ba195f9b18a96b84c5e755df7
fb9c610ba195f9b18a96b84c5e755df7
5e4f2074850cce0eab4d6165807e86c88b5b8c0b
e17ca6c764352c0a74e1e6b80278bb4395588df4bed64833b1b127ea2ca5c5fd
NS.exe|597de376b1f80c06d501415dd973dcec
597de376b1f80c06d501415dd973dcec
629c9649ced38fd815124221b80c9d9c59a85e74
f47e3555461472f23ab4766e4d5b6f6fd260e335a6abc31b860e569a720a5446
Shadow.bat|df8394082a4e5b362bdcb17390f6676d
df8394082a4e5b362bdcb17390f6676d
5750248ff490ceec03d17ee9811ac70176f46614
da3f155cfb98ce0add29a31162d23da7596da44ba2391389517fe1a2790da878
217.138.202.116
YARA
/*
 YARA Rule Set
 Author: DFIR Report
 Date: 2020-06-12
 Identifier: dharma-06-12-20
 Reference: https://thedfirreport.com/
*/
/* Rule Set ----------------------------------------------------------------- */
import "pe"
rule vssadmin_Shadow_bat {
 meta:
 description = "dharma-06-12-20 - file Shadow.bat"
 author = "DFIR Report"
 reference = "https://thedfirreport.com/"
 date = "2020-06-12"
 hash1 = "da3f155cfb98ce0add29a31162d23da7596da44ba2391389517fe1a2790da878"
 strings:
 $s1 = "vssadmin delete shadows /all" fullword ascii
 condition:
 uint16(0) == 0x7376 and filesize < 1KB and
 all of them
}
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rule Network_Scanner_post_exploit_enumeration {
 meta:
 description = "dharma-06-12-20 - file NS.exe"
 author = "DFIR Report"
 reference = "https://thedfirreport.com/"
 date = "2020-06-12"
 hash1 = "f47e3555461472f23ab4766e4d5b6f6fd260e335a6abc31b860e569a720a5446"
 strings:
 $s1 = "CreateMutex error: %d" fullword ascii
 $s2 = "--Error mount \\\\%s\\%s Code: %d" fullword wide
 $s3 = "-Found share \\\\%s\\%s" fullword wide
 $s4 = "--Share \\\\%s\\%s successfully mounted" fullword wide
 $s5 = "host %s is up" fullword ascii
 $s6 = "Get ip: %s and mask: %s" fullword wide
 $s7 = "GetAdaptersInfo failed with error: %d" fullword wide
 $s8 = "# Network scan and mount include chek for unmounted local volumes. #" fullword wide
 $s9 = "####################################################################" fullword wide /*
 $s10 = "Share %s successfully mounted" fullword wide
 $s11 = "Error mount %s %d" fullword wide
 $s12 = "Failed to create thread." fullword ascii
 $s13 = " start scan for shares. " fullword wide
 $s14 = "# '98' was add for standalone usage! #" fullword wide
 $s15 = "Error, wrong value." fullword wide
 $s16 = "QueryDosDeviceW failed with error code %d" fullword wide
 $s17 = "FindFirstVolumeW failed with error code %d" fullword wide
 $s18 = "FindNextVolumeW failed with error code %d" fullword wide
 $s19 = "SetVolumeMountPointW failed with error code %d" fullword wide
 $s20 = "| + scan local volumes for unmounted drives. |" fullword wide
 condition:
 uint16(0) == 0x5a4d and filesize < 400KB and
 ( pe.imphash() == "0b0d8152ea7241cce613146b80a998fd" or 8 of them )
}
rule Dharma_ransomware_1pgp {
 meta:
 description = "dharma-06-12-20 - file 1pgp.exe"
 author = "DFIR Report"
 reference = "https://thedfirreport.com/"
 date = "2020-06-12"
 hash1 = "2f2e75affe9217c7211043936678fb1777e2db4a8f1986b8805ddb1e84e9e99b"
 strings:
 $x1 = "C:\\crysis\\Release\\PDB\\payload.pdb" fullword ascii
 $s2 = "sssssbsss" fullword ascii
 $s3 = "sssssbs" fullword ascii
 $s4 = "9c%Q%f" fullword ascii
 $s5 = "jNYZO\\" fullword ascii
 $s6 = "RSDS%~m" fullword ascii
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$s7 = "xy ?*5" fullword ascii
 $s8 = "<a-g6J" fullword ascii
 $s9 = "]q)WtH?" fullword ascii
 $s10 = "s=9uo^" fullword ascii
 $s11 = "\"iMw\\e" fullword ascii
 $s12 = "{?nT*}2g" fullword ascii
 $s13 = "h*UqD*" fullword ascii
 $s14 = "b,_f n7" fullword ascii
 $s15 = "+mm7S%I" fullword ascii
 $s16 = "+L]DAb" fullword ascii
 $s17 = "nq0<3AD" fullword ascii
 $s18 = "U2cUbO" fullword ascii
 $s19 = ";C!|E2z" fullword ascii
 $s20 = "P)8$X=" fullword ascii
 condition:
 uint16(0) == 0x5a4d and filesize < 300KB and
 ( pe.imphash() == "f86dec4a80961955a89e7ed62046cc0e" or ( 1 of ($x*) or 4 of them ) )
}
rule closeapps_bat {
 meta:
 description = "dharma-06-12-20 - file closeapps.bat"
 author = "DFIR Report"
 reference = "https://thedfirreport.com/"
 date = "2020-06-12"
 hash1 = "e25245f98a23596e03e51535beb0f73c000de63e473580c4c26e7b8b01b4e593"
 strings:
 $x1 = "taskkill /F /IM MSExchangeTransportLogSearch.exe" fullword ascii
 $x2 = "taskkill /F /IM Veeam.Backup.Agent.ConfigurationService.exe" fullword ascii
 $x3 = "taskkill /F /IM MSExchangeTransport.exe" fullword ascii
 $x4 = "taskkill /F /IM EdgeTransport.exe" fullword ascii
 $x5 = "taskkill /F /IM Microsoft.Exchange.ServiceHost.exe" fullword ascii
 $x6 = "taskkill /F /IM Microsoft.Exchange.ProtectedServiceHost.exe" fullword ascii
 $x7 = "taskkill /F /IM agent.exe" fullword ascii
 $x8 = "taskkill /F /IM fdhost.exe" fullword ascii
 $x9 = "taskkill /F /IM MSExchangeThrottling.exe" fullword ascii
 $x10 = "taskkill /F /IM sqlagentc.exe" fullword ascii
 $x11 = "taskkill /F /IM Microsoft.Exchange.ContentFilter.Wrapper.exe" fullword ascii
 $x12 = "taskkill /F /IM Veeam.Backup.CatalogDataService.exe" fullword ascii
 $x13 = "taskkill /F /IM cbInterface.exe" fullword ascii
 $x14 = "taskkill /F /IM httpd.exe" fullword ascii
 $x15 = "taskkill /F /IM VeeamTransportSvc.exe" fullword ascii
 $x16 = "taskkill /F /IM cbService.exe" fullword ascii
 $x17 = "taskkill /F /IM Veeam.Backup.BrokerService.exe" fullword ascii
 $x18 = "taskkill /F /IM wsusservice.exe" fullword ascii
 $x19 = "taskkill /F /IM pvxcom.exe" fullword ascii
 $x20 = "taskkill /F /IM Veeam.Backup.MountService.exe" fullword ascii
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condition:
 uint16(0) == 0x6c3a and filesize < 10KB and
 1 of ($x*)
}
rule LogDelete_bat {
 meta:
 description = "dharma-06-12-20 - file LogDelete.bat"
 author = "DFIR Report"
 reference = "https://thedfirreport.com/"
 date = "2020-06-12"
 hash1 = "e17ca6c764352c0a74e1e6b80278bb4395588df4bed64833b1b127ea2ca5c5fd"
 strings:
 $s1 = "FOR /F \"delims=\" %%I IN ('WEVTUTIL EL') DO (WEVTUTIL CL \"%%I\") " fullword ascii
 condition:
 uint16(0) == 0x4f46 and filesize < 1KB and
 all of them
}
rule Everything_seach_tool {
 meta:
 description = "dharma-06-12-20 - file Everything.exe"
 author = "DFIR Report"
 reference = "https://thedfirreport.com/"
 date = "2020-06-12"
 hash1 = "35c4a6c1474eb870eec901cef823cc4931919a4e963c432ce9efbb30c2d8a413"
 strings:
 $x1 = "<assembly xmlns=\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1\" manifestVersion=\"1.0\" xmlns:asmv3
 $s2 = "\" version=\"6.0.0.0\" processorArchitecture=\"*\" publicKeyToken=\"6595b64144ccf1df\" l
 $s3 = "http://www.voidtools.com/downloads/" fullword ascii
 $s4 = "http://www.voidtools.com/downloads/#language" fullword ascii
 $s5 = "Folder\\shell\\%s\\command" fullword ascii
 $s6 = "Directory\\background\\shell\\%s\\command" fullword ascii
 $s7 = "Directory\\Background\\shell\\%s\\command" fullword ascii
 $s8 = "yIdentity version=\"1.0.0.0\" processorArchitecture=\"*\" name=\"Everything\" type=\"win
 $s9 = "; settings stored in %APPDATA%\\Everything\\Everything.ini" fullword ascii
 $s10 = "Host the pipe server with the security descriptor." fullword ascii
 $s11 = "http://www.voidtools.com/support/everything/" fullword ascii
 $s12 = "username:password@host:port" fullword ascii
 $s13 = "<html><meta http-equiv=\"Content-Type\" content=\"text/html; charset=utf-8\"><meta name
 $s14 = "\\\\.\\PIPE\\Everything Service" fullword ascii
 $s15 = "Everything Service Debug Log.txt" fullword wide
 $s16 = "Auto detect will attempt to read file contents with the associated IFilter." fullword a
 $s17 = "processed %I64u / %I64u file records" fullword ascii
 $s18 = "SERVICE_SERVER_COMMAND_REFS_MONITOR_READ_USN_JOURNAL_DATA read ok %d" fullword ascii
 $s19 = "Store settings and data in %APPDATA%\\Everything?" fullword ascii
 $s20 = "http://www.voidtools.com/donate/" fullword ascii
 condition:
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uint16(0) == 0x5a4d and filesize < 5000KB and
 ( pe.imphash() == "e7a8222fca78bde6fe29c9cc10d97ca2" or ( 1 of ($x*) or 4 of them ) )
}
/* Super Rules ------------------------------------------------------------- */
rule Everything_search_tool_super {
 meta:
 description = "dharma-06-12-20 - from files Everything.exe, Everything.exe"
 author = "DFIR Report"
 reference = "https://thedfirreport.com/"
 date = "2020-06-12"
 hash1 = "35c4a6c1474eb870eec901cef823cc4931919a4e963c432ce9efbb30c2d8a413"
 hash2 = "35c4a6c1474eb870eec901cef823cc4931919a4e963c432ce9efbb30c2d8a413"
 strings:
 $s1 = "-disable-run-as-admin" fullword ascii /* Goodware String - occured 1 times */
 $s2 = "type=%s;" fullword ascii /* Goodware String - occured 1 times */
 $s3 = "EVERYTHING" fullword ascii /* Goodware String - occured 1 times */
 $s4 = "-install-run-on-system-startup" fullword ascii /* Goodware String - occured 2 times */
 $s5 = "-uninstall-url-protocol" fullword ascii /* Goodware String - occured 2 times */
 $s6 = "-app-data" fullword ascii /* Goodware String - occured 2 times */
 $s7 = "-uninstall-service" fullword ascii /* Goodware String - occured 2 times */
 $s8 = "-uninstall-efu-association" fullword ascii /* Goodware String - occured 2 times */
 condition:
 ( uint16(0) == 0x5a4d and filesize < 5000KB and pe.imphash() == "e7a8222fca78bde6fe29c9cc10d97c
 ) or ( all of them )
}
Source: https://thedfirreport.com/2020/06/16/the-little-ransomware-that-couldnt-dharma/
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