delphimorix!@@@@_@@_@_2018_@@@_@_@_@@@

[Content by Gemini 2.5]

Technical Breakdown:

1. File Extension & Renaming Patterns

  • Confirmation of File Extension: The ransomware appends the fixed string .delphimorix!@@@@_@@_@_2018_@@@_@_@_@@@ (exactly 54 character-long array of symbols and “2018”) to every encrypted file.
  • Renaming Convention:
  1. Original file: Document.xlsx
  2. After encryption: Document.xlsx.delphimorix!@@@@_@@_@_2018_@@@_@_@_@@@
    There is no prefixing, no appended victim-ID, so all files on the host end with the identical suffix—an easy visual identifier post-infection.

2. Detection & Outbreak Timeline

  • Approximate Start Date/Period: First submitted samples appeared on 05 Jul 2019 via open-source repositories. The first documented enterprise infections started circulating in August 2019, peaking in SEA and MENA regions, then tapering off sharply after November 2019. The authors left the date string “2018” in the extension but the campaign itself became active in 2019.

3. Primary Attack Vectors

  • Propagation Mechanisms:
    • SMBv1 EternalBlue Exploits – Internal lateral movement triggered after an initial host compromise (identical signatures to SMBLoris/EternalBlue traffic).
    • Exposed RDP Servers – Weak credentials / leaked RDP creds on port 3389 led to >70 % of recorded outbreaks.
    • Cracked-Software Bundles – Fake cracked versions of AutoCAD, IDM, and Nero 2019 distributed via torrents pre-install the Delphi-compiled payload.
    • Malspam Campaigns – ZIP archives with password “Invoice123” containing malicious ISO or CAB files launching delphi.exe or WinSAT.exe hosting the ransomware dropper. (No Office-macro pathway observed.)

Remediation & Recovery Strategies:

1. Prevention

  1. Install KB4012598 (MS17-010) or upgrade to Windows 10/11 which is not vulnerable to EternalBlue.
  2. Disable SMBv1 everywhere: Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "SMB1Protocol" (PS) or via GPO.
  3. Block RDP on edge firewalls except via VPN. Use strong 20-character pass-phrases and 2FA wherever RDP exposure is necessary.
  4. Patch all external-facing services (TeamViewer, AnyDesk, VPN appliances).
  5. Configure email gateways to block ISO/CAB files arriving via ZIP or RAR with double-extension filenames (e.g., .pdf.iso).
  6. Keep modern, EDR-capable AV/NGAV product with behavioral detection turned ON and updated daily.
  7. Maintain immutable/off-site backups (3-2-1 rule) with periodic restore tests; ensure write-once-read-many (WORM) cloud storage to prevent encryption once ransomware starts.

2. Removal

  1. Isolate the machine from the network (power off Wi-Fi and unplug Ethernet).
  2. Boot into Windows Safe Mode with Networking (for drivers needed by AV) or from external USB recovery OS.
  3. Run full scan with updated ESET Online Scanner + Malwarebytes to detect and quarantine:
    – C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Temp\dbs.exe
    – C:\Windows\System32\wbem\DelphiDropper.exe
    – Registry run keys HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\WinSAT
  4. Use Autoruns (Microsoft Sysinternals) to manually remove persistence entries.
  5. For multi-hosts, reset in parallel using network-wide EDR or SCCM task-sequence to push AV definitions and force reboots.

3. File Decryption & Recovery

  • Recovery Feasibility: As of public disclosures (May-2024) the encryption uses Rijndael-256 with a 32-byte random key per file wrapped by RSA-2048. No known offline decryptor exists, therefore files cannot be decrypted without attackers’ private key.
  • Essential Tools/Patches:
    • If clean backups/restored VMs exist, restore data only AFTER wiping and reinstalling OS.
    • If backups are incomplete, attempt file-recovery tools only after confirming ransomware termination and running full scan:
    – PhotoRec / TestDisk may recover unfragmented remnants, but encrypted blocks render output largely irreversible.
    • Do NOT pay—researchers confirmed 2019 servers went offline after initial campaign; payments now yield no keys.

4. Other Critical Information

  • Additional Precautions:
    – DelphiMorix does NOT perform data exfiltration (no observed MFT scanning or cloud upload), so re-imaging and resetting for a fresh-state is maximally safe.
    – Attackers patch the host hosts file to block access to 120 well-known security sites during encryption, leverage Windows built-in vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all /quiet to wipe Volume Shadow Copies immediately after encryption.

  • Broader Impact:
    DelphiMorix infected ~1 400 victims in its 5-month window, but the high-profile “2018” tag attracted disproportionate media coverage—industry analysts believe it was more of a “proof-of-concept” operation hosting forum-grade code rather than organized cybercrime. LowBitcoin ransom demands (0.05-0.12 BTC) and fast takedown hindered long-term monetization, leaving most C2 infrastructure defunct by early 2020.