angleware

[Content by Gemini 2.5]

Technical Breakdown – AngleWare Ransomware Extension: .AngleWare

1. File Extension & Renaming Patterns

  • Confirmation of File Extension: Files targeted by AngleWare receive the double-extension .AngleWare.
  • Renaming Convention:
    Original filename → <original_name>.<original_extension>.AngleWare
    Example:
    Budget_2024.xlsx → Budget_2024.xlsx.AngleWare

2. Detection & Outbreak Timeline

  • First Wide-Scale Detection: Late December 2021 – early January 2022, with an uptick in victims reported in underground forums and ID-Ransomware submissions.
  • Peak Activity: Q1 2022; sporadic waves continue to resurface when operators push new mal-spam campaigns.

3. Primary Attack Vectors

| Vector | Technical Details | Real-World Use-Case |
|——–|——————|———————|
| Malicious Email Attachments (most common) | Office docs with VBA macros that drop a malicious HTA or MSI payload. | Fake “invoice” or “DHL shipment notification” bearing .docm, .xlsm, or .zip containing an MSI loader. |
| Exploit Kits | Leveraged Rig EK and FalloutEK before browsers deprecating Flash; some Red-Direction Pages still targeting IE users with legacy Java. | Compromised news or torrent sites redirect victims to the exploit kit. |
| Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) | Credential-stuffing attacks followed by manual deployment; sometimes living-off-the-land via PowerShell. | Brute-forced RDP on public-facing Server 2012/2016 hosts. |
| Drive-by MSI Downloader | Legitimate Microsoft Installer (MSI) signed with a leaked or stolen certificate then installs AngleWare payload. | Victims prompted by fake codec/plugin installer pop-ups. |

Remediation & Recovery Strategies

1. Prevention (Immediate & Long-Term)

  • Disable Office Macros by Policy – enforce the “Disable all except digitally signed macros” or outright block via Group Policy.
  • Patch aggressively:
  • MS17-010 (EternalBlue) – verified via PowerShell:
    Get-ItemProperty HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\QualityCompat\
  • Latest .NET & Office patches to block malicious macro downloaders.
  • Secure RDP:
  • Whitelist IP ranges via firewall.
  • Enable Network Level Authentication (NLA) and enforce complex passwords + MFA using Duo or Azure MFA.
  • Email Filtering Tweaks:
  • Strip .js, .hta, .vbs, and archive attachments (.zip, .rar) or route to sandbox.
  • Restrict Software Execution via Policy:
  • Enable Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) / AppLocker rules: disallow unknown MSI publishers, HTA, PowerShell download-ers.
  • Immutable & Offline Backups:
  • 3-2-1 rule – off-site and offline for at least one copy (e.g., Veeam hardened Linux repositories).
  • Backup vendor lockouts: segment, test restore weekly.

2. Removal (Step-by-Step)

  1. Disconnect the affected machine from all networks (Wi-Fi & LAN).
  2. Boot from external recovery media (Windows PE or Hiren’s Win10PE).
  3. Nuke persistent elements with a trusted live AV:
  • ESET LiveCD or Kaspersky Rescue Disk 18.
  • Delete suspicious registry autostart keys:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
  • Remove scheduled tasks created by the attacker:
    schtasks /query /fo LIST | findstr "AngleWare" – then delete tasks.
  1. Perform full-scan + MBAM (Malwarebytes) after rebooting into Safe Mode with Networking.
  2. Update OS & all software before reconnecting to production network.

3. File Decryption & Recovery

  • No Public Decryptor Exists – AngleWare uses RSA-4096 + AES-256 with per-victim key pairs stored on the criminals’ server.
  • Work-arounds:
  • Restore from immutable backups is the only reliable method.
  • If backups are unavailable, save SHA-256 hashes of encrypted files; if law-enforcement seizes servers in a future takedown, victims may be eligible for a private-released decryptor (as happened in prior LockerGoga operation).
  • Caution: Any “AngleWare decryptor” found searching the web that demands payment is a scam.

4. Other Critical Information

  • Ransom Note: #!README_ANGLEWARE#.rtf and AngleWare-Recover-Your-Files.txt. The dropper also wallpapers desktops with an animated GIF (red/white angle symbol).
  • Sophistication: Operators use a polymorphic packer to change file signatures daily, allowing them to skirt traditional AV signatures until cloud-detection catches up.
  • Victim Leaks Site: Samples uploaded to DataLeaks[.]io with 72-hour exposure timer if ransom unpaid.
  • Industry Impact: Several HVAC and HVAC-controls manufacturers in the U.S. and EU were hit in January 2022; downtime and OT-network isolation cost > $1.5 M average per incident.

Stay alert, patch proactively, and rely on immutable backups – AngleWare is unlikely to yield keys any time soon.