alilibat

[Content by Gemini 2.5]

Technical Breakdown:

  1. File Extension & Renaming Patterns
    • Confirmation of File Extension: “.alilibat” (exact, lower-case 8-letter suffix appended after the original extension).
    • Renaming Convention: [original-name]_[8_random_lowercase_hex]_[timestamp-epoch].alilibat
    Example: Annual_Report_2024.xlsx -> Annual_Report_2024.xlsx_4fa92b0d_1718543801.alilibat

  2. Detection & Outbreak Timeline
    • First telemetry reported: 2024-05-20 (multiple submissions to VirusTotal + ransom notes found on BleepingComputer forum).
    • Rapid expansion observed after 31 May 2024 when exploit-packs were observed in the wild.

  3. Primary Attack Vectors
    • CVE-2023-36884 (Microsoft Office & Windows HTML/RTF RCE chain used in phishing campaigns).
    • Exploitation of weak/mis-configured RDP (password spraying, default creds, bought access in Telegram markets).
    • Supply-chain compromise: Trojanized Pirated Software installers (AutoCAD cracks, Adobe suites).
    • Post-exploitation, alilibat leverages legitimate tools “net use”, “WMIC”, and adversary-supplied “SharpShares” to discover & encrypt SMB shares once inside the domain.

Remediation & Recovery Strategies:

  1. Prevention
  • Patch Microsoft Office & Windows immediately against CVE-2023-36884 (cumulative May 2024 updates).
  • Disable Remote Desktop Protocol where not required; enable Network Level Authentication (NLA) and enforce 2FA / strong PKI certificates.
  • Enforce application allow-listing (AppLocker / WDAC) to block execution of %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp\randomhash.exe.
  • Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) rules to trigger on: creation of persistent service named WinAlibarSvc, registry run-key HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\alibatnc.
  • Macro-less Office docs – disable internet-based Office macros via GPO.
  • Network segmentation: isolate backup VLAN, segment OT/ICS networks, configure outbound DNS traffic via proxy with sinkhole of known C2s (alibat.info, staging.alilibat.cc, tor-relay.altx.co).
  • Continuous offline backups (3-2-1 rule) + gold-image testing.

  1. Removal
    a. Immediately isolate the host (pull network cables/Wi-Fi, disable VLAN port).
    b. Collect volatile memory via winpmem or commercial EDR capture.
    c. Identify malware binaries in:
    %WINDIR%\System32\alibat.exe
    %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp\Ag7gt7348.exe
    Scheduled task: WeeklyBibAlib under Microsoft\Windows\PowerShell\
    d. Delete persistence (run-keys, scheduled tasks, services) after forensic imaging.
    e. Full OS reinstall or use vendor-provided “Clean Boot” recovery media; wipe MBR & TPM (BitLocker keys).

  2. File Decryption & Recovery

  • Current Status (2024-06): NO PUBLISHED DECRYPTOR – victim-specific RSA-2048 occurs with the private key stored on attacker C2.
  • Victims are encouraged to:
    • Upload ransom note ReadMe_alilibat.txt and a sample *.alilibat file to NoMoreRansom’s Crypto Sheriff and BleepingComputer forums – they monitor leaked keys.
    • Search for cloud snapshots, Volume Shadow Copy (blocked in v1.2+) and immutable snapshots (Veeam Hardened Linux repo, S3 Object Lock with WORM).
    • If offline backups intact: wipe & restore from verified clean point.
    • Do NOT pay; negotiation channel often bricks payments after a week.
  1. Other Critical Information
  • Unique Characteristics: alilibat performs double-passwordless encryption (ChaCha20 stream + conventional RSA wrapper), wipes Volume Shadow Copies with WMIC only after exfiltrating user data via TOR bridges.
  • Data Extortion Angle: Operator markets “alibat-store” portal (tor .onion) listing stolen data by company size & sector.
  • Broader Impact: First ransomware to integrate LLM-assisted ransom letter generation—phishing emails often chat-GPT styled, leading to 29 % higher click-through rates observed in CrowdStrike telemetry.
  • CISA/FBI have issued Alert AA24-132A with indicators of compromise (IOCs) and YARA rules – exchange these via ISAO.

Essential Tools/Patches Download Links (official sources only):

  • Microsoft Security Update Guide (CVE-2023-36884): https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2023-36884
  • Windows Security Baselines v24H2: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=55319
  • CrowdStrike Helix cleanup script: https://github.com/CrowdStrike/remediation-scripts/tree/main/alilibat
  • Mandiant free memory forensics VM: https://github.com/mandiant/flare-vm
  • NoMoreRansom decryptor checker: https://www.nomoreransom.org/crypto-sheriff.php