[BreachExchange] New REvil-Based Ransomware Emerges

[Sophia Kingsbury]

https://www.securityweek.com/new-revil-based-ransomware-emerges

A threat actor appears to have repurposed the REvil ransomware to create
their own ransomware family and possibly launch a ransomware-as-a-service
(RaaS) offering.

Also known as Sodinokibi, REvil has become one of the most prominent
ransomware families out there, being involved in a large number of
high-profile attacks, including the one on JBS, the world’s largest meat
processing company.

REvil is offered by an Eastern Europe/Russia-based threat actor tracked as
PINCHY SPIDER, which is known for their RaaS business that previously
involved the GandCrab ransomware, which was retired in June 2019, two
months after REvil emerged.

On Tuesday, security researchers with Secureworks, which tracks REvil’s
operators as GOLD SOUTHFIELD, revealed that a new ransomware family that is
making the rounds appears to be nothing more than a repurposed REvil
iteration created by a threat actor referred to as GOLD NORTHFIELD.

“[Secureworks Counter Threat Unit] analysis confirmed that the GOLD
NORTHFIELD threat group, which operates LV, replaced the configuration of a
REvil v2.03 beta version to repurpose the REvil binary for the LV
ransomware,” the researchers say.

Furthermore, they note that the LV ransomware hasn’t been advertised on
underground forums yet, but changes in partner and campaign IDs, as well as
“the practice of naming and shaming victims” suggests that the threat actor
is readying their own RaaS offering that involves LV.

Analysis of the LV ransomware has revealed identical code structure and
functionality compared to REvil, while the observed changes would suggest
the use of a hex editor to remove certain characteristics from the binary.
The adversary also replaced the REvil configuration with their own. The
threat actor also had to bypass REvil's anti-tamper controls.

“If done correctly, the binary will successfully execute using LV's updated
configuration. Files on the victim's system will be encrypted with session
keys that are protected by LV's public key, and victims will be directed to
LV's ransom payment site via the updated ransom note,” Secureworks says.

When visiting the payment site, the victim is asked for the key from the
ransom note. To date, the researchers identified three Tor domains
specified in LV ransom notes, but attempts to enter the required keys
resulted in HTTP errors.

The researchers also discovered two leak sites associated with the LV
ransomware and discovered that the threat actor names and shames victims,
likely in an attempt to coerce them into paying the ransom. The adversary
also posts screenshots of stolen files on the leak sites, and threatens to
make the stolen information public unless the victim makes contact within
72 hours.

However, according to Secureworks, the threat actor hasn’t published any
sensitive information stolen from its victims yet.
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