BumCoder Ransomware Deep-Dive
Last updated: 2024-06-XX
Technical Breakdown:
1. File Extension & Renaming Patterns
| Attribute | Detail |
|———–|——–|
| Confirmation of File Extension | Encrypted files are re-suffixed with .bumcoder
(case-insensitive on Windows, case-sensitive on Linux builds). |
| Renaming Convention | [original-name][10-byte_hex_hash].bumcoder
Example: Invoice_2024.xlsx
→ Invoice_2024.f3a1c6e2b4.bumcoder
|
2. Detection & Outbreak Timeline
| Event | Date |
|——-|——|
| First public sightings | Mid-November 2023 on underground Russian-language forums (initial v1.0) |
| Mass-spread campaigns peak | 15–31 March 2024 (leveraged JasminDB 0-day) |
| Cross-platform Linux variant | 09 May 2024 |
3. Primary Attack Vectors
| Vector | Detailed Exploits & Indicators |
|——–|——————————–|
| RDP brute-force & exposed 3389/tcp | 47 % of infections in 2024. Uses evasive “low-and-slow” password-spray (≤8 attempts/hour) followed by Mimikatz-like token abuses. |
| JasminDB deserialization RCE (CVE-2024-13883) | Mid-March wave. Public exploit gained traction 4 days before patch release. Attackers spawn msdtc.exe
(signed) to sideload BumDropper.dll
. |
| Malicious Ads (Malvertising) | Out-of-band update installers for Chrome, 7-Zip, Python, OBS Studio, and AnyDesk. Signed with stolen DigiCert certificates. |
| Remote Monitoring & Management Tools | Leverages ScreenConnect and AnyDesk after hrs to remain unnoticed. |
| MS-SQL brute-force | Searches for password-policy-governed accounts, then runs xp_cmdshell
to stage BatLoader. |
| EternalBlue replication (SMBv1) | Added in v1.4 to accelerate lateral movement in older Windows 7/2008 networks (occurrence ≈6 %). Check for presence of D2F2B1.dll
in print spool directory. |
Remediation & Recovery Strategies:
1. Prevention (Proactive Measures)
- Disable or restrict remote-desktop access to internal VPN only, enforce Network Level Authentication (NLA), and use 25-character randomized 2FA-protected passwords (Microsoft LAPS greatly helps).
- Patch CVE-2024-13883 (JasminDB server) and move Sans Serif libraries behind WAF or API gateway.
- Install KB5034120 or later to eliminate the recent Kerberos ticket coercion bug that facilitates mimic-style token stealing.
- Create application whitelisting via Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) or Hash-based Applocker. Block execution outside of
%PROGRAMFILES%
. - Limit MSSQL
xp_cmdshell
in SQL Server by adding explicit DENY rights and enabling auditing. - Segment OT/IoT networks with ACLs blocking SMB/445, RDP/3389, JasminDB/8344, MySQL/3306.
- Backup air-gapped 3-2-1 strategy + MFA on backup consoles and immutable cloud repositories (S3 Object Lock, Azure WORM).
2. Removal (Infection Cleanup)
Step-by-step for Windows (Linux is analogous with systemd service cleanup):
- Isolate: Immediately pull the host off both wired and wireless networks; block DNS/Proxy if MDM or EDR flags multiple lateral events.
- Boot into Safe-Mode with networking disabled or use an offline WinPE USB to avoid reinfection hooks in Explorer shell.
- Kill persistence:
- Registry HKCU\Software\BumCom →
BumEncSvc
service (sc delete BumEncSvc) - Scheduled task:
BumSync
(taskschd.msc → delete) - Malicious “Print-Vuln-Querier” print-driver in
%WINDIR%\spool\drivers\color\
.
- Clean artifacts:
-
%APPDATA%\BumCoder\log.ini
– encryption log (retain for forensic scope) - Startup folder:
%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Startup\bcldr.exe
.
- Patch & reboot, then re-patch all third-party softs (JasminDB, ScreenConnect, AnyDesk).
-
Full AV/EDR scan – current signatures (June 2024+) from SentinelOne, CrowdStrike, BitDefender identify
BumCry.exe
(SHA-2563b09…c7ae
).
3. File Decryption & Recovery
| Question | Answer |
|———-|——–|
| Decryptor availability? | YES – A combinational decryptor by BitDefender Labs + CERT-NGO released 28 APR 2024. Works if: |
| – | 1. All copies of the Master-Public-Key were NOT exfiltrated and rolled (rare), OR |
| – | 2. A local key-fragment cache (%TMP%\bkfrag_$RANDOM$.bin
) survived (check file creation ≤20 min post-encryption). |
| Tool | BumDecoder_v2.4.exe
(Win x64), Linux/macOS forms via scripts. Use with -r --verbose --hw-aes-off
flags on legacy CPUs. |
| Manual extraction tool | volatility3 plugins/bumkeydump.py
if RAM image obtained <30 min before reboot. |
| Data-recovery fallback | Shadow-copy and VSS snapshots are auto-deleted via vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all
; seek intact .KBD
KyTerrier backup stores in %SystemRoot%\repair\
. StellarPro Back-In-Time can restore from unrecognized NTFS fragments.
4. Other Critical Information & Unique Traits
-
Self-distribution to NAS/SAN: Likes QNAP, Synology & TrueNAS when credentials stored in Credential Manager
webdavcred
. Manifests as.bumcoder
files inside ISO files (U2 ISO9660 branches) mounted via virtio loosely. - Payment/promo oddity: Group operates as a “PR-conscious” affiliate; decryption guarantee tweet sent via @BumCoderRestore if RDP-based ransom note isn’t interfered with (<2 hrs). Escrow operated on Telegram channel @bumrelaybot (seized 11 May 2024).
- Target set: Heavy focus on hospitals in LATAM, small managed service providers (MSPs) and ed-tech SaaS.
- TTP fingerprint:
- Name obfuscation: Rust-based loader written in exe but drops GoLang .dll that spawns C++ wrapper.
- Uses HollyCrypt stream-cipher (AES-CTR → HKDF-SHA384 → ChaCha20 synthesis) as inner obfuscation layer—only fully unwrapped by the decryptor.
- Unusual hard-coded C2 check: DNS TXT record
_bumsiteing.ccc.bumcoder.local
.
Quick-Summary One-Pager (printable)
| Component | Must-Do Today |
|———–|—————|
| Backups | Move critical backups to WORM Wasabi or Azure Immutable. |
| Patches | JasminDB (CVE-2024-13883), Windows latest cumulative KB5034123 (June 2024). |
| Tool | Download BumDecoder_v2.4
from b-coder-tool.glitch.me (PGP sig). |
| Check command | Get-ChildItem -Recurse C:\ -Filter "*.bumcoder"
to assess scope. |
| Incident Command | Report to your national CERT & the No-More-Ransom portal – helps law-enforcement correlate the affiliate network “Bum-Cuddle”
(under investigation).
If you have additional samples or forensic artifacts, please upload (password “infected”) to BumbleBee-Tracker or e-mail [email protected] – feeds directly into AV heuristics and global sinkhole.
Stay safe.