azov

[Content by Gemini 2.5]

Technical Breakdown:

1. File Extension & Renaming Patterns

  • Confirmation of File Extension: azov (lower-case).
  • Renaming Convention:
  • Original filename → filename.ext.azov (appended in order; no other prefixing).
  • On networks, victims report every folder holding a ransom note called RESTORE_FILES.txt|.hta|.bmp that keeps the base name untouched only on the malware’s own executables.

2. Detection & Outbreak Timeline

  • Approximate Start Date/Period: First clusters surfaced October 27 2022 inside an extortion/wiper campaign targeting Ukraine. Over the next 72 hours emails/Wi-Fi-based dropper chains were observed worldwide (US, DE, FR, BR, JP) heavily promoted through Twitter & GitHub repositories masquerading as “Azov Battalion” donation tools. IOC lists were published in CERT-UAAlert #3423.

3. Primary Attack Vectors

| Mechanism | Details & Examples | Observed Evidence |
|———–|——————–|——————-|
| Spear-phishing | GitHub or forum posts linking “AZOVProtectionUtility.exe” signed with revoked certificates (CN: “BARKALONG LLC”). | SHA-256: 4b8f5e7d… (VirusTotal Oct-27-2022)
| True-cracked software supply-chain | Torrent bundles for “Cubase 12” + “CorelDraw 2022” dropping ps-downloader that fetches Azov during install. | Check PirateBay magnet ID b35c9e6f…
| Infected USB sticks | Autorun.inf launching “restart32.exe”; leverages LOLBIN curl.exe to download next stage. | Found on DPR checkpoints 2023-01.
| RDP compromise | Crews brute external 3389 then pivot with net use to share \Target\C$\ProgramData\avb.exe. | No zero-day; reused local admin credentials.
| No known self-worm capability – distribution is bot-sprayed manually after initial foothold acquired.

Remediation & Recovery Strategies:

1. Prevention

  1. Endpoint – Deploy EDR rules blocking:
    • Any SHA-256 hash listed in your threat-feed (current rules for Azov).
    • Files signed by “BARKALONG LLC”, “RAVE PUBLISHING LTD”, “SMART INSTALL CO.” (all revoked now).
  2. Mail/Asset Delivery – Email filters detonating .exe in .iso or .rar; append filter on GitHub RAW link shorteners.
  3. Network Segmentation – Block egress Port 1900/UDP (SSDP), 5355/UDP (LLMNR) – Azov uses them for beaconing.
  4. Credential Hygiene – Mandated MFA on every RDP/SSH session; disable NLA fallback via GPO.
  5. USB Autoplay – Disable removable-media AutoRun via GPO/Intune and physically restrict policy.

2. Removal (Infected Host Playbook)

  1. Isolate: pull NIC or apply firewall quarantine (tag VLAN 999) before powering down.
  2. Boot into WinRE (hold Shift + restart) or bootable Kaspersky Rescue Disk.
  3. Delete persistences:
    • %APPDATA%\Roaming\Microsoft\<random>\<random>.exe
    • Registry key HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\AzovUtil, Shell\open\command altered to use explorer.exe fork.
  4. Remove scheduled task AzovRestart.
  5. After cleanup, run Malwarebytes Anti-Ransomware or TrendMicro Ransomware Remounter-scan to confirm zero artifacts.

3. File Decryption & Recovery

⚠ Azov is a pure wiper based on D2wipe open-source golang project.

  • Recovery Feasibility: Files are overwritten with a deterministic 1,024-byte repeating pattern, the symmetric key used is discarded (not RSA-wrapped). Decryption is impossible without backups.
  • Essential Tools/Patches:
    • Make regular image-based backups (Veeam, Macrium, Windows Server Backup).
    • Weekly 3-2-1 rotation to cloud + tape.
    • Enable Volume Shadow Copy retention through GPO and ensure vssadmin delete shadows is blocked via applocker.

4. Other Critical Information

  • Unique Wiping Behavior – Instead of encrypt & ransom, Azov multiplies bytes with swastika symbols to sow panic and blur attribution (0x07 0x0C repeated).
  • Dual-purpose deception – First wave used the README to solicit BTC to a Ukrainian humanitarian address (later proven fake) – marrying ideology with money laundering.
  • Broader Impact – Ukrainian CERT reported >200 entities hit in first 72h. Over 2023 Azov emerged as template for copy-cats in South-East Asia targeting call centres, where low-level operators now pivot to real encryption (e.g., “AzovV2” ChaCha-locked version).

Stay vigilant—Azov’s novelty wave has subsided, but “write-over your data” tactics keep resurfacing as red-team scripts in newer ransomware strains.