Ransomware Research
About Phobos
Phobos
Phobos was first discovered in January 2019 in enterprise cloud environments. Phobos is found in environments with a number of different names, including Phobos 2.0, Phobos NextGen, Phobos NotDharma, etc. For a full list of all names, please see below.
| Name | Phobos |
|---|---|
| AKA |
|
| First Seen | January 2019 |
Genealogy
To better understand Phobos, we can trace it’s origins. Below is a snapshot of Phobos’s genealogy.
| CrySiS » Dharma » Phobos » Phobos NextGen |
Targeting
Behavior of Phobos
Phobos is known to target specific file types. Below are all known file types that Phobos is known to infect.
In some cases, ransomware will update the modified date, when it encrypts files. Phobos updates the last modified date of the file it targets.
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Characteristics of Phobos
Here are some of the unique characteristics that are helpful to know about Phobos.
Suffixes
Some ransomware will change or append a suffix to the end of the file after they are encrypted, including changing the extension of a file. Here are some of the possible suffixes that Phobos ransomware is known to change.
| Suffixes | .phobos, .Frendi, .phoenix, .actor, .mamba, .actin, .KARLOS, .help, .com, .Acton, .adage, .blend, .WALLET, .acute, .1500dollars, .Acuna, .Adame, .banjo, .BORISHORSE, .Banta, .BANKS, .Adair, .zax, .HORSELIKER, .Actin, .barak, .Barak, .Caley, .Caleb, .deal, .Cales, .calix, .elder, .octopus, .age, .deuce, .angus, .Calum, .Dever, .Devon, .devil, .Devos, .bablo, .dewar, .eight, .revon, .eject, .iso, .eking, .isos, .Acuff, .ELDAOSLA, .Antivirus, .DLL, .WIN, .PERDAK, .XIII, .Drik, .Elbie, .LOWPRICE, .MONETA, .BOOM, .Devos |
|---|
Ransomware Notes
Not all ransomware leaves a note. However, some ransomware leaves the infected party instructions on what the user should do to get rid of the ransomware, or satisfy the ransom. This often involves transferring money, often bitcoin or another cryptocurrency to a designated wallet.
Below are the type(s) of notes, content, and typical locations where Elastio has found ransom notes from Phobos.
| Type | file |
|---|---|
| File Name | Data.hta |
| Location |
| Type | file |
|---|---|
| File Name | Encrypted.txt |
| Location |
| Type | file |
|---|---|
| File Name | encrypted.txt |
| Location |
| Type | file |
|---|---|
| File Name | info.txt |
| Location | Desktop, RootDiscs |
| Type | file |
|---|---|
| File Name | info.hta |
| Location | Desktop, RootDiscs |
Executables
These are the names of the executables that contain the undetonated ransomware payload for Phobos.
| Executables | V.zip, phobos, file.exe, myfile.exe, dexec.exe, exec.exe, program.exe, Absonkaine.exe, ph_exec.exe, costelloh.exe, 2ph_decrypt.exe, software.exe, 2ph.exe, 2ph_exec.exe, ph_exec.bin, shaofao.exe, greencrypt_crypt.exe, 123.exe, 0t_2806_ph_exec_1cr13.exe, 1.exe, 1ph_exec.exe, executable.exe, Pp3, lsaa.exe, AppResolver, rfds354hfg45.exe, 1H41ZDD3.exe, phobos.exe, phobos.bin, Phobos.exe, Trojan.Ransom.Phobos.exe, Microsoft_Office_ExcelUpdate_KB3216755p.msi++, e.exe, yIV8ARvwUUZ6.exe, 2019-05-14 Phobos.exe, 1saas.bin, 1saas.exe, 1saas.exe12, antirecuvaanddb.exe, svhost.bin, svhost.exe, AntiRecuvaAndDB_.exe, zax.exe, rsfd234df.pe32, rsfd234df.exe, testing.exe, AntiRecuvaAndDB.exe, svchost.exe, huntress_eRV6KXMW.dll, 8KZM4TOR.exe, rdgf324dgf23.exe, QHLJG22Z.exe, E0VKEF63.exe, 41ZT0QX3.exe, dedolence.exe, somnambular.exe, UTAKGI.exe, rvckjhg.exe, XTO4MHH6.exe, rbvcvbne.exe, NCXWTUXX.exe, AntiRecuvaAndDB.ex_, 5.10.2019Taskmgr.exe, GASAS, GASAS.exe, gasas.pe32, semimonthly.exe, portholes.exe, rsdf54refsd.exe, 3A6K0YNM.exe, Fast.exe, a1.exe, bf04bba0511d99ab3353.pe32, 1sass.exe1, 1SASS.EXE.exe, 1sass.exe, AntiRecuvaAndDB.bin, 22.12.19Taskmngr.exe, 22.12.19taskmngr.exe.devon, test.exe, 3.2.20TASKMNGR.EXE.exe, out, 3.2.20taskmngr.exe1, 3.2.20taskmngr.exe, ACMD.exe, system.exe, 2.exe.v, Fast.exeXX.exe, Fast.exeXX, exec.exe.bak.exe, exec.exe.bak, fast.exe, cusersnextadminappdatalocalfast.exe, 2.exe, 3.exe, unS.exe, 626444.dat, winrar.exe, 375476.dat, 262375.dat, 416121.dat, 46522.dat, 378314.dat, 27098.dat, 497051.dat, 834619.dat, 1001478.dat, 654949.dat, 667376.dat, 344560.dat, db_exec.exe, db_exec.exe.old, ItFoV.exe, AntiRecuvaAndDB.ex_.exe, svchostBADSTARTUP.exe, KryP.exe, dsern.exe, 08.12.2019Taskmgr.exe, ucesal.exe, csrss.exe, 10.07.2019taskmgr.exe, 1500dollarsAntirecucaFullDB.exe |
|---|
External Pages
Ransomware often links to external pages such as payment pages, telegram contacts, etc. Below are some of the URLs Elastio has found to be associated with Phobos.
| External Pages |
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