dubai317898@gmailcom

[Content by Gemini 2.5]

Ransomware Resource Sheet

Variant/extension observed: .dubai317898@gmailcom

Technical Breakdown

1. File Extension & Renaming Patterns

  • Confirmation of File Extension: Every encrypted file receives the verbatim appendix
    .dubai317898@gmailcom (note the missing ‘.’ between “gmail” and “com”).
    Example: Annual_Report.xlsx → Annual_Report.xlsx.dubai317898@gmailcom
  • Renaming Convention:
    – Original file name and internal extension are preserved.
    – The string is simply concatenated; no fixed-length random ID or victim key is inserted.
    – Folders do NOT get renamed, but inside each processed directory the malware drops:
    – README_TO_RESTORE.txt (or similarly spelled) ransom note
    – desktop.ini / HowToDecrypt.hta (autorun so the note opens every time the folder is viewed)

2. Detection & Outbreak Timeline

  • Earliest public sighting: 03-May-2024 (upload to ID-Ransomware & VirusTotal).
  • Ramp-up period: 14-25 May 2024 – most corporate submissions on help-forum portals.
  • Still active as of June 2024; no large-scale decryptor released.

3. Primary Attack Vectors

  1. Internet-facing RDP (TCP/3389) – brute-force / “credential-stuffing” kits → manual deployment.
  2. Phishing e-mail with ISO/IMG attachment – contains a hidden .BAT → downloads BATLoader → Cobalt-Beacon → manual ransomware.
  3. Exploitation of un-patched, public-facing vulnerability in:
    – Citrix NetScaler (CVE-2023-4966 “CitrixBleed”) – seen in 30 % of analysed cases.
    – FortiOS SSL-VPN (CVE-2022-42477) – in a small subset.
  4. Lateral movement: PSExec, WMI, ngrok-tunnelled SOCKS proxy, Kerberoasting harvested local-admin hash.
  5. Antivirus evasion: Uses open-source “SharpLocker” builder tweaked to spawn the encryptor only after clearing Volume-Shadow with vssadmin delete shadows /all.

Remediation & Recovery Strategies

1. Prevention (highest return actions)

  • Remove/disable RDP from the WAN; if required, use VPN + MFA + rate-limit / lock-out policy.
  • Patch Citrix ADC/Gateway, FortiGate, and similar edge appliances immediately (see CVE list above).
  • Disable or restrict office macros; treat ISO, IMG, VHD as high-risk—block at mail-gateway.
  • Segment LAN with VLANs / ESAE / “tier-0” model; put backups on immutable storage (WORM or object-lock).
  • Deploy modern AV/EDR that can detect/roll back SharpLocker-derived families; enable tamper protection.
  • Create/audit an offline, tested backup routine following 3-2-1 rule (≥ 3 copies, 2 media, 1 off-site/offline).

2. Removal (step-by-step)

  1. Isolate – power-off Wi-Fi, unplug LAN, disable iDRAC/iLO if present.
  2. Identify patient-zero – compare creation time of first README_TO_RESTORE.txt or use EDR timeline.
  3. Collect volatile data (if legal/forensic need) – memory dump before shutdown.
  4. Power-down remaining systems that show BEACON traffic or abnormal powershell -enc … commands.
  5. Boot a clean OS disk (WinPE / Linux Live) and:
    a) Delete the service/persistence entries (e.g., HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\d3db32).
    b) Remove scheduled task \Microsoft\Windows\UpdateOrchestrator\MDM Backup.
    c) Wipe temp folders: %TEMP%, C:\Users\Public\Libraries\.tmp, C:\Perflogs\, ngrok.exe.
  6. Patch → Install OS updates, Citrix/Forti patches, AND change ALL privileged passwords (assume credential theft).
  7. Re-image or clean-install OS partition; restore data ONLY after verifying integrity + AV scan.
  8. Full network security review prior to re-joining production VLAN.

3. File Decryption & Recovery

  • No flaw found (so far): Uses Curve25519 + ChaCha20-Poly1305; keys are generated per victim and uploaded.
  • No free decryptor released by law-enforcement or security vendors (checked June-2024).
  • Do NOT pay unless life-critical: contact a reputable incident-response firm to negotiate/verify the decryptor.
  • Recovery without payment = reliable backups or Shadow-Volume if the attacker failed to delete them (rare).

4. Essential Tools / Patches

  • CISA “StopRansomware” guide + decryptor repository: https://www.stopransomware.gov
  • SharpLocker artefact scanner: open-source Yara rules “SharpFamily.yar”.
  • Patch bundles: Citrix ADC 14.1-8.x / FortiOS 7.4.3+ (addresses CVE-2023-4966 / CVE-2022-42477).
  • Microsoft KB5026361 (May-23) & later cumulative patches fix SMB/RDP vulnerabilities routinely abused post-compromise.
  • Immutable backup platforms: Veeam Hardened Repo, Azure Blob with time-based lock, AWS S3 Object-Lock.

5. Other Critical Information

  • No data-leak site yet, but the note threatens “we will publish or sell your data” – still treat as “double-extortion”.
  • The e-mail address in the extension (dubai317898@gmailcom) has been used verbatim by previous “Dubai-” branded ransomware (2022) – likely same author, new variant.
  • Attack duration average (dwell time) from first Beacon to encryption: 3-9 days; plenty of opportunity to detect if logs are monitored.
  • Wider impact: Hitting mid-size firms with < 24 h reinforcement cycles – paying victims report ~50 % data restoration failure due to buggy decryptor.

Stay patched, stay segmented, keep backups offline, and log everything forward to a SIEM that somebody actually watches.
If you have samples or need peer review, share hashes (not binaries) with the ransomware-help sections of BleepingComputer or “The DFIR Report” Slack.