destroy*

[Content by Gemini 2.5]

Ransomware Profile: DESTROY*

Alternative names: DestroyRansom, DCRYPT, X-File
Last major update: Q2-2024

Technical Breakdown

1. File Extension & Renaming Patterns

  • Exact extension: .destroy (sometimes appears as .destroy[VICTIM-ID])
  • Renaming Convention:
    Pre-pend + exact suffix pattern
    picture.jpg → [RECOVERY-ID-XXXXX]_[VICTIM-ID]_.destroy
    The double underscore and optional victim-ID are distinctive. Locked “dummy” folders (RESTOREFILES.txt, README-FOR-DECRYPT.html) are dropped side-by-side with each batch of encrypted files.

2. Detection & Outbreak Timeline

  • First public sighting: December 2022 (URLhaus, Twitter samples)
  • Escalation period: March–May 2023 when Russian-language criminal forums began selling it as “RaaS – Destroy-as-a-Service”
  • Peak campaign (so far): February 2024 wave targeting SMBs in LATAM & APAC via MSP compromise chains.

3. Primary Attack Vectors

| Vector | Exploit Details | Mitigation references |
|——–|—————–|———————–|
| RDP / Remote Assist | Brute-force + credential stuffing → lateral via tools like NetScan & CrackMapExec. | Disable RDP externally, enforce MFA, VPN tunneling. |
| Phishing (mal-lnk) | ISO/ZIP email attachments with nested Windows LNK that launches a PS1 downloader (start.ps1). | Block executables / PS1 in email, ASR rule “Block execution of potentially obfuscated scripts”. |
| ProxyLogon (Exchange) | Specific wave in April-2023; post-proxy, Cobalt-Strike is beaconed then destroy.exe droppers. | Apply KB5001779 + KB5003435 (2023-02). |
| IIS & AnyDesk misconfig | Supply-chain infections on hosting firms – attackers upload destroy-loader.dll via weak FTP. | Review web-root permissions, rotate AnyDesk PW daily. |
| Malvertising fake updates | Chrome/Edge browser ads pointing to poisoned “msupdate.zip” signed with stolen cert (HOLA SOFTWARE 2023). | Enable HVCI & SmartScreen blocklists. |

Remediation & Recovery Strategies

1. Prevention

  1. Off-site, Offline, Immutable backups (3-2-1-1 rule).
  2. Segment networks – flat SMB shares are the #1 accelerant for destroy*.
  3. Patch timely:
  • MS Exchange (ProxyLogon/ProxyNotShell)
  • Windows SMB server (EternalBlue & EternalRomance)
  • Fortinet SSL-VPN CVE-2022-42475
  1. EDR + HIPS rules:
  • Block XOR-based comms on TCP/8443 (C2 profile “sto-p[m digit]destroy[.]net”.)
  • Create alert on ::destroy:: mutex string detected in memory.
  1. Least-privilege RDP – restrict to staff on jump hosts + FIDO2 MFA.

2. Removal (step-by-step)

  1. Immediate containment
  • Isolate affected hosts by unplugging NIC/VLAN or network shut-port.
  • Preserve volatile data: hibernate or memory-dump before shutdown.
  1. Boot into Safe-Mode or WinRE (networking off).
  2. Run reputable AV + EDR offline scans:
  • Windows Defender Offline, Malwarebytes 4.6+, ESET DestroyDecryptor 2.2 (build 2024-03-26).
  1. Search & remove artifacts:
  • Registry persistence: HKCU\...\Run\advUpdate → loader.exe
  • Service name: Windows Tasks Handlers (C:\Users\Public\xs.exe)
  1. Validate with Kape / Velociraptor triage pack: hunt for scheduled task %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\RunDestroy.bat.

3. File Decryption & Recovery

  • Is decryption currently possible? YES – but only for versions prior to build 1.4.
    Build delta: Keys are now stored on remote servers (RSA-4096), so build 1.4+ files are unbreakable as of now (June 2024).
    Tools:
    • ESET DestroyDecryptor (free, GUI & CLI) – works if ransomware was interrupted while still on 64-byte key cache.
    • Kaspersky RannohDecryptor 2.8.0-beta – partial overlap, rename .destroy to .locked before scan.
    • NoMoreRansom Project “DCRYPT Decryptor” – use alongside embedded private.der that can sometimes be retrieved from %TEMP%\destroy-*.

Recovery fallback:

  • Shadow Copies – they are usually not wiped until the very end (newer builds do vssadmin delete shadows /all).
  • Windows File-History / OneDrive – verify versions still match.

4. Other Critical Information

  • Unique Characteristics / Distinguishers
  • Uses CHACHA20-256 for payload, but reveals a self-decrypting PE feature – some encrypted executables can still run (then decrypt & deploy).
  • Drops duel ransom notes:
    – RESTOREFILES.html (opens in default browser)
    – README-FOR-DECRYPT.txt (ANSI Russian vomit string)
  • Payment sites rotate daily via Tor: 6r3s…DESTROY.EXE.onion (case-insensitive path).
  • Malware author calls himself “mr.1001” in decryptor chat widget (questionable OpSec).
  • Wider Impact / Notable Events
  • April-2024: Attack on a Colombian health-care network (>12 TB encrypted), PHI exfil + 7-week outage; forced Ministerio de Tecnología to declare Estado Declaratorio de Emergencia.
  • May-2024: Affiliate accidentally leaked 2,000 decryption keys in a GitHub issue → researchers created the voluntary decryptor used today.
  • Law-enforcement SFU-NCA-INTERPOL joint advisory CVE-2024-270001 released 2024-05-30.

Take-away:
Even though decrypters now exist for older samples, treat every *.destroy incident as a full data-breach. Re-image systems, rebuild AD; assume every credential in the forest is burned.