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YARA · Signature Base (Florian Roth / Nextron)

SIGNATURE_BASE_MAL_RANSOM_ELF_Esxi_Attacks_Feb23_1

Detects ransomware exploiting and encrypting ESXi servers

MalwareSignature Base (Florian Roth / Nextron)Detection Rule License 1.1Compiles with YARA-X
Author
Florian Roth
Date
2023-02-04
Modified
2023-12-05
Score / Quality
85 / 85

What this rule detects

Detects ransomware exploiting and encrypting ESXi servers

It defines 8 patterns (5 text, 3 hex, 0 regex).

Summary generated from the rule's metadata and condition.

Rule source

mal-ransom-elf-esxi-attacks-feb23-1.yarDetection Rule License 1.1
rule SIGNATURE_BASE_MAL_RANSOM_ELF_Esxi_Attacks_Feb23_1 : FILE
{
	meta:
		description = "Detects ransomware exploiting and encrypting ESXi servers"
		author = "Florian Roth"
		id = "d0a813aa-41f8-57df-b708-18ccb0d7a3e5"
		date = "2023-02-04"
		modified = "2023-12-05"
		reference = "https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/782193/esxi-ransomware-help-and-support-topic-esxiargs-args-extension/page-14"
		source_url = "https://github.com/Neo23x0/signature-base/blob/94a1c48d7ab499879287ff611dfe7f9c56376030/yara/mal_ransom_esxi_attacks_feb23.yar#L30-L56"
		license_url = "https://github.com/Neo23x0/signature-base/blob/94a1c48d7ab499879287ff611dfe7f9c56376030/LICENSE"
		hash = "11b1b2375d9d840912cfd1f0d0d04d93ed0cddb0ae4ddb550a5b62cd044d6b66"
		logic_hash = "27ff018574323c10821993c30cf74de15121caa92a308fbcae4eceae954e63b6"
		score = 85
		quality = 85
		tags = "FILE"

	strings:
		$x1 = "usage: encrypt <public_key> <file_to_encrypt> [<enc_step>] [<enc_size>] [<file_size>]" ascii fullword
		$x2 = "[ %s ] - FAIL { Errno: %d }" ascii fullword
		$s1 = "lPEM_read_bio_RSAPrivateKey" ascii fullword
		$s2 = "lERR_get_error" ascii fullword
		$s3 = "get_pk_data: key file is empty!" ascii fullword
		$op1 = { 8b 45 a8 03 45 d0 89 45 d4 8b 45 a4 69 c0 07 53 65 54 89 45 a8 8b 45 a8 c1 c8 19 }
		$op2 = { 48 89 95 40 fd ff ff 48 83 bd 40 fd ff ff 00 0f 85 2e 01 00 00 48 8b 9d 50 ff ff ff 48 89 9d 30 fd ff ff 48 83 bd 30 fd ff ff 00 78 13 f2 48 0f 2a 85 30 fd ff ff }
		$op3 = { 31 55 b4 f7 55 b8 8b 4d ac 09 4d b8 8b 45 b8 31 45 bc c1 4d bc 13 c1 4d b4 1d }

	condition:
		uint16( 0 ) == 0x457f and filesize < 200KB and ( 1 of ( $x* ) or 3 of them ) or 4 of them
}

Strings (8 patterns)

IdentifierTypeValueModifiers
$x1text"usage: encrypt <public_key> <file_to_encrypt> [<enc_step>] [<enc_size>] [<file_size>]"ascii fullword
$x2text"[ %s ] - FAIL { Errno: %d }"ascii fullword
$s1text"lPEM_read_bio_RSAPrivateKey"ascii fullword
$s2text"lERR_get_error"ascii fullword
$s3text"get_pk_data: key file is empty!"ascii fullword
$op1hex{ 8b 45 a8 03 45 d0 89 45 d4 8b 45 a4 69 c0 07 53 65 54 89 45 a8 8b 45 a8 c1 c8 19 }
$op2hex{ 48 89 95 40 fd ff ff 48 83 bd 40 fd ff ff 00 0f 85 2e 01 00 00 48 8b 9d 50 ff ff ff 48 89 9d 30 fd ff ff 48 83 bd 30 fd ff ff 00 78 13 f2 48 0f 2a 85 30 fd ff …
$op3hex{ 31 55 b4 f7 55 b8 8b 4d ac 09 4d b8 8b 45 b8 31 45 bc c1 4d bc 13 c1 4d b4 1d }

Condition

uint16( 0 ) == 0x457f and filesize < 200KB and ( 1 of ( $x* ) or 3 of them ) or 4 of them

In plain words (Heuristic)

  • The file must be smaller than 200KB (a cheap guard that skips large files).
  • At least 1 patterns in ( $x* ) must match.
  • At least 3 patterns in the rule must match.
  • At least 4 patterns in the rule must match.

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References

Sample hashes

Hashes of samples the author lists in the rule's meta (look them up in your threat-intelligence platform).

  • 11b1b2375d9d840912cfd1f0d0d04d93ed0cddb0ae4ddb550a5b62cd044d6b66

Licence & attribution

Author: Florian Roth

Source repository: Signature Base (Florian Roth / Nextron) @ 94a1c48d7a

Licence: Detection Rule License 1.1 (repository licence)

Original rule

Mirrored via YARA Forge 20260927, which prefixes rule names with the source and adds normalised meta fields.

Rule id: d0a813aa-41f8-57df-b708-18ccb0d7a3e5

Tags:FILE