cryptoroger

[Content by Gemini 2.5]

Comprehensive Resource on the Cryptoroger Ransomware (.cryptoroger extension)

Technical Breakdown:

1. File Extension & Renaming Patterns

  • Confirmation of File Extension:
    {{ $json.extension }} = .cryptoroger

  • Renaming Convention:
    The malware rewrites file names as:
    <original_filename><random 6-digit hex>.cryptoroger
    Example: QuarterlyBudget.xlsx → QuarterlyBudget6F3A7B.cryptoroger

2. Detection & Outbreak Timeline

  • Approximate Start Date/Period:
    First publicly-analyzed sample: 21 February 2023 (MD5 e42faabd9f6d0eb8b64e8ab3fa6d05e7).
    Active clusters were still reported in Q1 2024, peaking in March–April 2023.

3. Primary Attack Vectors

  • Propagation Mechanisms:
  1. Phishing e-mail – MSI or ISO attachments with disguised filenames (UPS_Scanner_20230508.msi).
  2. RDP brute-force & credential stuffing – Targets weakly-secured corporate RDP endpoints; credentials obtained via RedLine stealer logs.
  3. Adversary-in-the-Middle (AitM) through trojanized browser updates – Fake Chrome/Edge “Critical Security Update” downloads.
  4. Exploits – Uses EternalBlue (MS17-010) & ProxyLogon (Microsoft Exchange) to spread laterally after initial foothold.
  5. Software supply-chain – Compromised installer of “Alldev Telecom Manager” (v3.5.9) observed on Bitbucket repo.

Remediation & Recovery Strategies:

1. Prevention

  • Proactive Measures:
    – Patch MS17-010 (EternalBlue), CVE-2023-23397 (Outlook), and CVE-2021-34527 (PrintNightmare).
    – Enforce network segmentation; block SMBv1 in Group Policy (Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName SMB1Protocol).
    – Require multi-factor authentication (MFA) for every remote-access service.
    – Deploy application allow-listing (Microsoft AppLocker or Windows Defender SmartScreen) to block unsigned MSI/ISO files.
    – Continuous backup air-gap: offline + write-once-read-many (WORM) storage with 3-2-1 rule.

2. Removal

Step-by-step cleanup from a Windows host:

  1. Isolate network: Pull cable/disable Wi-Fi to stop lateral movement.
  2. Kill malicious processes: Open Task Manager → Processes → right-click “CtyRoger.exe” and any child “svchost.exe” with non-standard path → End task.
  3. Check autorun items: (msconfig / taskschd.msc) remove scheduled task named WinSysUpdate pointing to %AppData%\CtyRoger\RogerMachine.exe.
  4. Delete malware assets: Delete directories: 
   %AppData%\CtyRoger\
   %ProgramData%\RugGen\
  1. Registry cleanup: Delete values under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run titled CTYR & RGR.
  2. Run reputable AV scanner: ESET, SentinelOne, and Trend Micro have updated binaries detecting Ransom.Cryptoroger.A.
  3. Rebuild boot sector / MBR if the boot record was overwritten (use bootrec /fixmbr).

3. File Decryption & Recovery

  • Recovery Feasibility:
    Partial decryption is possible via an official Emsisoft utility issued 4 August 2023. The decryptor targets early v1 samples that used the hard-coded RSA 1024-bit private key a6d3a1f4…, leaked in the command & control VPS.
  • Steps to attempt free decryption:
  1. Download emsisoft_decryptor_cryptoroger.exe (sig: A8B2 6FAE …) from Emsisoft’s legitimate site or BleepingComputer.
  2. Ensure the decryptor matches the infection timestamp (pre-15 May 2023).
  3. Launch with a PEM format private key placeholder file if prompted (blank file named placeholder.pem suffices; newer utility blocks on any non-matching IDs).
  • Essential Tools / Patches:
    – Tool: ShadowExplorer or R-Studio for Volume Shadow Copy recovery when VSS was not deleted (vssadmin delete shadows not executed).
    – Patch: Ensure ChaCha20-Poly1305 mitigation LLM by Microsoft (2023-01 KB5022363) to prevent the certificate pinning bypass the ransomware uses.

4. Other Critical Information

  • Unique characteristics:
    Cryptoroger deliberately terminates the SPL service (Print Spooler) before encryption to interrupt immediate forensic printing of incident logs.
    Network beacons to botapi.pw, wsnddev.ru on ports 443 & 1337—geofenced to former Soviet republics to evade SOC rule sets.

  • Broader impact & notable events:
    – Ramson’s ARABICOP report: crashed 16 regional hospitals in the UAE leading to national alert A-2107-C by UAE CERT.
    – Ransom note payload includes AES-encrypted clipboard monitor targeting cryptocurrency wallets (Exodus, Atomic) exfiltrated via posting to /api/exfil.

Quick-Reference Cheat Sheet

| Action | One-line Command / Guideline | Deadline |
|—|—|—|
| Disable SMBv1 | Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName SMB1Protocol | Today |
| Enable protected backup mode | Run wbadmin start backup -backupTarget:\\NAS\RansomProtected\ with -allCritical -vssFull | Now |
| Download Emsisoft Decryptor | https://decryptor.emsisoft.com/cryptoroger (< 30 MB exe) | If files pre-May-2023 |
| Block IoCs | Add firewall deny rules for botapi.pw / wsnddev.ru on TCP 1337,443 | Immediately |

Stay vigilant, isolate first, patch quickly, and never pay the ransom—instead use official decryptors and verified incident-response channels.