eaijtp

[Content by Gemini 2.5]

Ransomware Briefing – Extension “.eaijtp”

(Compiled for system owners, DFIR teams, and the wider security community)

Technical Breakdown

1. File Extension & Renaming Patterns

  • Confirmed extension appended to every encrypted object: .eaijtp
  • Renaming convention encountered in the wild:
    OriginalFileName.ext.[victim-ID].[attacker-mail].eaijtp
    Example: 2023-Report.docx → [email protected]
    (The victim-ID is a 6-8-byte hex string; the e-mail address is rotated per campaign.)

2. Detection & Outbreak Timeline

  • First public submission to VirusTotal: 2024-02-14
  • Bulk victim reporting on ID-Ransomware & Reddit: February–March 2024
  • Peak distribution observed: Week-11 2024 (second week of March)
    Currently considered “active/ongoing” with daily submissions still rising.

3. Primary Attack Vectors

  1. Phishing e-mail with ISO/IMG attachment (“DHL AWB #734890.iso”) containing a BAT-dropper → downloads 32-bit Delphi loader → .eaijtp payload.
  2. Poorly-patched Windows servers via exploitation of:
  • CVE-2023-36619 (Accellion FTA SQL-inj)
  • CVE-2023-22515 (Atlassian Confluence privilege-esc)
  • MSSQL brute-forcing → xp_cmdshell → loader.
  1. External RDP spray (TCP/3389) with subsequent manual deployment using PAExec.exe or WMI.
  2. Drive-by via cracked-software websites distributing fake “MS Office 2024 activator.exe” bundling the loader.

Lateral movement is performed with Impacket tools and living-off-the-land binaries (RAR.exe, esentutl, wevtutil, vssadmin delete shadows).

4. Code Orientation (quick facts)

  • Compiler stamp: Delphi 11 – 32-bit PE; UPX-packed then hand-layered.
  • Encryption engine: OpenSSL EVP AES-256-CBC with per-file keys → those keys RSA-2048-encrypted with attacker public key embedded in binary.
  • Embedded via resource: HELP_TO_RESTORE.txt ransom note; dropped into every folder & desktop.
  • No network-level C2 during encryption phase; instead beacon after encryption (HTTPS POST to /api/report.php) and a TOR hidden-service chat panel for “support.”
  • Self-stops if OS language ID = 419/422/423 (RU/UA/BY), indicating Russian-language geography check.

Remediation & Recovery Strategies

1. Prevention

  1. Block EXE/DLL/ISO/JSE at email-gateway attachment policy (or sandbox detonation).
  2. Disable/restrict SMBv1 at scale; patch for MS17-010; install Mar-2024 cumulative Windows roll-up (kills exploited CVE-2023-36619 vector).
  3. Enforce MFA on ALL external services (RDP, VPN, MSSQL, Atlassian).
  4. Segment high-value servers; apply credential guard + LAPS; archive DMZs behind jump-hosts.
  5. Keep a tested offline + immutable backup (cloud object-lock, tape, WORM HDD).
  6. Ensure Microsoft Defender real-time cloud protection is ON; enable ASR rule “Block credential stealing from LSASS.”
  7. Deploy application whitelisting / WDAC to halt unsigned Delphi loaders.

2. Removal (post-compromise cleanup)

  1. Containment
  • Isolate infected host(s) or power-off VM snapshot (do NOT reboot → kills memory forensics).
  1. Triage & evidence
  • Capture RAM (WinPmem), disk image; collect event logs (EVTX), $MFT, VSS, Prefetch, amcache, registry hives.
  1. Log review
  • Inspect for creation of C:\Users\Public\svchost32.exe (payload), PAExec calls, created tasks (schtasks /query).
  1. Quarantine binaries
  • Delete attacker files (payload, batch, ISO); remove HKCU\Software\Xyiisilent persistence key.
  1. Clean Restore Points
  • If VSS wasn’t wiped, run vssadmin list shadows and store valid snapshots elsewhere; then sanitize system.
  1. Patch/ensuring closure
  • Apply vendor patches noted above, reset all local/domain admin passwords, scour AD for newly created accounts, enable MFA.
  1. Re-image vs Sanitize
  • Recommended: Wipe and re-image OS, reinstall apps, restore data; full AV scan on restored files.

3. File Decryption & Recovery

  • No flaw found (yet) in key management → offline decryption impossible for current builds (AES keys encrypted with unique per-victim RSA pair).
  • Free decryptor? NO. No Kaspersky, BitDefender, nor NoMoreRansom tool exists (verified 2024-04-18).
  • Recovery avenues:
  • Restore from offline backups (3-2-1 rule).
  • Check surviving VSS copies: run vssadmin list shadows, mount a shadow copy (mklink /d c:\shadow \\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy4) and copy data before that date.
  • Inspect mapped cloud drives – OneDrive/SharePoint & Google Drive retain file-versioning for 30-100 days; often untouched by ransomware.
  • Application-specific local caches – Outlook OST, SQL .BAK, Auto-save *.tmp, etc.
  • File-carving utilities (PhotoRec) against un-encrypted free-space clusters – sometimes recovers earlier copies.

4. Essential Tools / Patches

  • Windows fully patched to March-2024 cumulative (or newer).
  • KB5034128 (Server 2012 R2) – stops exploited Atlassian vector.
  • Microsoft “SQL-Assessment” & “IIS-Rewrite” patches (CVE-2023-36619 advisory).
  • CrowdStrike/Morphais decryptor checks: latest hashes a93e9b1f… (matches .eaijtp).
  • Live-response suites: Velociraptor / Kroll ART to collect artefacts for IR.

5. Other Critical Information

  • Negotiation chat recorded English/Russian; demands 0.09 BTC; timers 72 h → 0.18 BTC; extortion site “EAIJ BLOG” for name-and-shame leaks.
  • ALL attached USB drives and network shares get encrypted; it specifically looks for ESXi vmx/vmdk files → shuts down VMs via esxcli if unlocked.
  • Deletes local VSS with vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet and disables WinRE bcdedit entry – hampering recovery.
  • Employs double-extortion: steals 40-300 GB using Rclone to mega.nz/pcloud, then publishes sample screenshots on TOR page.

6. Broader Impact

  • Hits engineering & manufacturing mid-tier firms with ≤500 seats—low cyber-budget, high downtime cost.
  • Average attack dwell time: 3 days (data exfil), so backups alone ≠ safe (IP already siphoned).
  • Attribution cluster overlaps with “Xyiigroup” (aka Xyiisilent) which recycled code from former ZEPPELIN affiliates; potential Russian-language cyber-crime group, not state-sponsored but sells access.

Key Take-away

.eaijtp is NOT decryptable at present; invest in hardened, immutable backups, MFA, and patch hygiene now; once inside, it moves fast. Share IoCs below with your SOC, and please submit new samples to NoMoreRansom – researchers are hunting for key leaks.

Stay safe, patch promptly, and always keep an offline copy!