Sorebrect ransomware – fileless malware exploits PsExec utility

The Sorebrect ransomware is more sophisticated than the average crypto strain because it boasts stealthy fileless execution and easily evades AV suites.

Considering all ransom Trojans the same except their names is a wrong perception. Whereas the extortion scheme proper tends to be common ground, the modus operandi is a variable. The ransomware dubbed Sorebrect stands out from the rest in several ways. The most conspicuous difference is the so-called fileless payload execution. It injects the malicious process into a regular Windows executable so that security engines cannot flag the baddie as a threat. As part of this covert routine, the ransomware erases its binary, which is an additional detection thwarting technique. To top it off, the pest clears metadata such as event logs and timestamps in order to tangle analysis of its activity. This cunning extortion campaign originally zeroed in on Middle Eastern states but gradually proliferated further to the United States, Canada, China, Japan, Italy, Mexico and a few other countries.

To deploy the compromise, Sorebrect takes advantage of the command line utility called PsExec. To be able to do this, it brute-forces or otherwise gets hold of administrator credentials – the precise tactic has not been studied thoroughly enough at this point. One way or another, the aftermath is that the ransomware binary gets deposited and executed on a target computer. This, however, isn’t the final stage of the contamination chain yet. The perpetrating program implants itself into svchost.exe, a native operating system process, while the original binary vanishes. So the malady ultimately runs within the OS as part of legit system routine that doesn’t raise any red flags as far as the conventional malware defenses go.

Then, this sneaky Trojan traverses the infected host for potentially valuable data. In particular, it scans local drives and network shares for the plagued user’s or enterprise network’s important Office documents, images, videos, databases and the like. The rest of the onslaught follows a well-trodden path of most ransomware samples out there. Sorebrect encrypts the files and appends the .pr0tect extension to each one. Filenames remain unaltered along the way, so a spreadsheet named Report.xlsx becomes Report.xlsx.pr0tect. Additionally, the ransomware leaves a plaintext ransom how-to called READ ME ABOUT DECRYPTION.txt. It reads, “Your files were encrypted. Your personal ID is: [unique victim ID]. To buy private key for unlocking files please contact us: [attackers’ email address]. Please include the ID above.” This note appears inside all folders with locked data, and a copy will show up on the desktop.

A Sorebrect ransomware attack is a disconcerting encounter. It takes a security suite with intelligent heuristic detection feature to identify the bad code. Furthermore, removing the Trojan itself is less than half the battle. File recovery is an extremely tough-to-attain objective and may be unfeasible without submitting the demanded ransom. And yet, the techniques below may do the trick, especially if the infection has failed to delete Shadow Copies of hostage files. So be sure to give these workarounds a shot.

Sorebrect ransomware automated removal and data recovery

When faced with ransomware like Sorebrect, one of the best shortcuts in terms of removal is to use Combo Cleaner, a lightweight and incredibly effective application with PC security and optimization features under the hood. It detects and thoroughly deletes threats while giving you insights into the overall health of your computer.

This program’s protection power spans modules that forestall all known types of malware, including ransomware and browser hijackers, and take your online security to the next level by blocking phishing sites and other suspicious web pages. Follow these simple steps to eliminate the infection for good:

1. Download Combo Cleaner installer.

Download Sorebrect remover

^{Combo Cleaner scans your PC with no strings attached, but you’ll have to buy its fully functional version to remove the threats it detects. The disk optimization tools that find large files and duplicates are free to use.}

2. Open the CCSetup.exe file to get started. Several subsequent screens will allow you to make initial customizations so that the program works exactly as you need from the get-go.

3. The installation will be followed by an update of malware signatures. Once this process is through, click the Start Scan button in the left-hand sidebar.

4. Combo Cleaner will then check system locations that are most often polluted by Windows malware. The first scan can take a while to finish.

5. Combo Cleaner will display a system tray notification as soon as the scan is over. Click the Resolve found threats button to view the results.

6. The scan summary shows the names and types of the detected threats as well as their statuses and locations. Click the Remove all threats button and follow further on-screen prompts to get rid of these items.

Data recovery toolkit to the rescue

Some strains of ransomware are known to delete the original files after the encryption routine has been completed. As hostile as this activity appears, it can play into your hands. There are applications designed to revive the information that was obliterated because of malfunctioning hardware or due to accidental removal. The tool called Stellar Data Recovery features this type of a capability and therefore it can be applied in ransom attack scenarios to at least get the most important files back. So use the app to get an idea of what data can be restored and let it do the recovery job. Here is a step-by-step walkthrough:

1. Download and install Stellar Data Recovery.

Download Stellar Data Recovery

2. Open the application, select the types of recoverable files to look for, and click Next.

3. Choose the areas you want the tool to recover from and click the Scan button.

4. Having scanned the specified locations, the program will display a notification about the total amount of recoverable data. Close the dialog and click the Recover button. This will hopefully help you get some of your valuable files back.

Sorebrect ransomware manual removal and file recovery

Some ransomware strains terminate themselves after completing the encryption job on a computer, but some don’t. Furthermore, the Sorebrect virus may prevent victims from using popular antimalware tools in order to stay on board for as long as possible. Under the circumstances, it may be necessary to utilize the Safe Mode with Networking or System Restore functionality.

Be advised that even after the ransomware is removed, files will still be encrypted and inaccessible. The malicious code cleanup part, however, is important because it keeps a relapse of the infection from occurring further on and eliminates all opportunistic malware.

Ways of non-ransom recovery of .pr0tect files ransomed by Sorebrect

Cracking the crypto used by this ransom Trojan is more of a science fiction thing rather than an attainable prospect for the masses. This is why the troubleshooting in predicaments of this sort is a matter of two approaches: one is to pay the ransom, which isn’t an option for many victims; and the other is to apply instruments that take advantage of the ransomware’s possible weaknesses. If the latter is your pick, the advice below is a must-try.

Ransomware Prevention Tips

To avoid Sorebrect ransomware and other file-encrypting infections in the future, follow several simple recommendations:

These techniques are certainly not a cure-all, but they will add an extra layer of ransomware protection to your security setup.

Revise your security status

Post-factum assessment of the accuracy component in malware removal scenarios is a great habit that prevents the comeback of harmful code or replication of its unattended fractions. Make sure you are good to go by running an additional safety checkup. Another benefit of using the antimalware tool is that it will keep ransomware threats from intruding on your computer further on.

Download Sorebrect removal tool