Linux-based Lockbit Ransomware Targets ESXi Systems, Encryption Procedure Detailed
Lockbit ESXi Ransomware Targets VMware Servers with Advanced Evasion Techniques
A new strain of ransomware, known as Lockbit ESXi, has emerged, posing a significant threat to enterprise virtualization environments and data centers. This Linux-based malware is designed to target VMware ESXi infrastructure, exploiting sophisticated evasion techniques to avoid detection and analysis.
Upon execution, Lockbit ESXi ransomware employs an anti-debugging technique to hinder reverse engineering efforts. It uses the Linux ptrace system call to detect if it is being debugged by attempting to attach to its parent process. If a debugger such as gdb or strace is detected, the malware terminates immediately, effectively thwarting dynamic analysis.
After this initial evasion step, Lockbit ESXi ransomware applies a string deobfuscation routine. The malware obfuscates strings using a simple rolling XOR operation with a fixed base value of 0x39 (57 decimal). It decrypts these strings byte-by-byte until a null terminator is reached, revealing critical resources such as the help menu, ransom notes, bash commands for managing virtual machines, and log message templates. This unmasking aids analysts in understanding the malware's kernel functionality during reverse engineering.
The malware's modular architecture includes comprehensive logging capabilities, daemon functionality, and a built-in help menu. With its advanced evasion capabilities and sophisticated encryption mechanisms, Lockbit ESXi ransomware is engineered to compromise and encrypt virtual machine infrastructures, making it a significant threat to enterprise virtualization environments.
The attackers behind Lockbit ESXi are targeting high-value enterprise assets, as ESXi servers host multiple virtual machines containing critical business data. This ransomware sample has been identified by Hack & Cheese and Trend Micro analysts, who have provided the SHA256 hash for the malware: f3a1576837ed56bcf79ff486aadf36e78d624853e9409ec1823a6f46fd0143ea.
Analysts and security researchers are encouraged to be vigilant and implement robust security measures to protect their virtualized environments from this emerging threat. Patching systems, updating antivirus software, and monitoring network traffic for unusual activity can help prevent a Lockbit ESXi ransomware attack.
[1] Hack & Cheese and Trend Micro, "Lockbit ESXi Ransomware Analysis," [URL], 2021.
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