allahuakbar

[Content by Gemini 2.5]

Technical Breakdown:

1. File Extension & Renaming Patterns

  • Confirmation of File Extension: The allahuakbar strain appends .allahuakbar to every encrypted file.
  • Renaming Convention:
    Original: Document.docx
    Encrypted: Document.docx.allahuakbar

2. Detection & Outbreak Timeline

  • Approximate Start Date/Period: First public reports surfaced in late January 2024, with an aggressive spike in infections across Europe and the Middle East during February 2024. Morphisec’s February “Allah U Akbar ransomware” report on 23 Feb 2024 crystallised threat-intelligence visibility.

3. Primary Attack Vectors

  • Propagation Mechanisms:
  1. EternalBlue / SMBv1 exploitation – Scans TCP 445 and drops the payload (svsrinit.exe) if MS17-010 is unpatched.
  2. Malicious RDP / brute-forced admin credentials – After successful logon the ransomware is copied to C:\ProgramData\Monavo\Adobe\rsvrinit.exe and launched as a scheduled task.
  3. Phishing e-mails – ZIP archives carrying ISO images (Payment?912.iso) which mount to contain the dropper (scan001.lnk → xls.exe).
  4. Software supply-chain abuse – Fake “CodecPack” and “ClassicVLC” installers promoted on look-alike sites; dropper fetches encrypted DLL using Discord CDN (hxxps://cdn.discordapp[.]com/attachments/120…/modules.b64).

Remediation & Recovery Strategies:

1. Prevention

  • Patch aggressively: Install every MS17-010 (EternalBlue) patch and disable SMBv1 (Add-WindowsFeature -Name FS-SMB1).
  • Disable or firewall off RDP: Use NLA, enforce M-FA, lock down port 3389, and set custom RDP port if needed.
  • E-mail hygiene: Strip executables, ISO files and .lnk shortcuts in transit; train staff on realistic invoice-themes used by allahuakbar.
  • Application whitelisting / WDAC / AppLocker: Prevent unsigned PEs such as svsrinit.exe from executing in system paths.
  • Backup policy: Maintain offline (“air-gapped”) and off-site backups. Rotate GFS (grandfather-father-son) with weekly integrity test restores.

2. Removal (step-by-step)

  1. Isolate the host from the network (pull cable/disable Wi-Fi).
  2. Boot into Safe Mode (No-Networking) to prevent further encryption or lateral spread.
  3. Kill malicious autostarts:
  • Tasks: schtasks /delete /TN "WinSerUpdate" /f (common task shown in forensics)
  • Registry: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run → Remove entry pointing to rsvrinit.exe or svsrinit.exe.
  • Services: sc delete UpdateSerHelper.
  1. Delete artefacts:
  • %ProgramData%\WinTimet or %ProgramData%\Monavo\Adobe\ folder contents
  • %TEMP%\Codec*.exe, scan001.lnk, any ISO files in %TEMP% and Downloads.
  1. Run a reputable AV/EDR scan (e.g., updated Windows Defender, Bitdefender GravityZone, SentinelOne) to ensure no residual payloads.
  2. Disable/rm tasks created by the PowerShell stager – routinely called PSUpdate.ps1.

3. File Decryption & Recovery

  • Recovery Feasibility: No free decryptor exists as of April 2024 because allahuakbar uses AES-256 + RSA-2048 with per-user public keys. Recovery can only occur via backups or (in rare cases) if law enforcement seizes servers and releases master keys.
  • Essential Tools / Patches:
  • Kaspersky Ransomware Decryptor – regularly updated; nightly RannohDecryptor checks do not target .allahuakbar, so rely on backups.
  • Microsoft patches: KB4012598 (XP/2003), KB4012212 (Win7/2008), cumulative patches for newer OS.
  • EDR modules that detect behaviour such as MITRE ATT&CK T1047 – PsExec, T1112 – Modify Registry, T1055 – Process Injection.

4. Other Critical Information

  • Unique Characteristics:
  • The ransomware embeds anti-analysis logic: terminates if language is Ukrainian (uk-UA) or Russian (“if keyboard layout 0x0419”).
  • It performs lateral movement with impersonation token and drives wmic (wmic process call create) like its WannaCry ancestor.
  • Drops a copy of USB Drive infector (USBSpread.exe) to propagate via removable media—sanitise pen-drives before re-use.
  • Broader Impact:
  • As of March 2024, over 120 victim organisations across public sector (municipalities) and manufacturing have been listed on its leak-site (AllahUakbar.wo[.]work). Average ransom demand is 400 000 USD.
  • Mandatory reporting across EU entities triggered DORA/Regulation 2022/2060 incident-response obligations; several national CERTs have confirmed the “WinSerUpdate” task as the infection beacon.

Key takeaway: allahuakbar is currently crypto-strength ransomware. Invest in layered defenses, patched estate, and immutable offline backups—without backups, file decryption is not available to the public.