Bucbi Ransomware

Posted: May 9, 2016

Threat Metric

The Threat Meter is a malware assessment that SpywareRemove.com's research team is able to give every identifiable malware threat. Our Threat Meter includes several criteria based off of specific malware threats to value their severity, reach and volume. The Threat Meter is able to give you a numerical breakdown of each threat's initial Threat Level, Detection Count, Volume Count, Trend Path and Percentage Impact. The overall ranking of each threat in the Threat Meter is a basic breakdown of how all threats are ranked within our own extensive malware database. The scoring for each specific malware threat can be easily compared to other emerging threats to draw a contrast in its particular severity. The Threat Meter is a useful tool in the endeavor of seeking a solution to remove a threat or pursue additional analytical research for all types of computer users.

The following fields listed on the Threat Meter containing a specific value, are explained in detail below:

Threat Level: The threat level scale goes from 1 to 10 where 10 is the highest level of severity and 1 is the lowest level of severity. Each specific level is relative to the threat's consistent assessed behaviors collected from SpyHunter's risk assessment model.

Detection Count: The collective number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular malware threat. The detection count is calculated from infected PCs retrieved from diagnostic and scan log reports generated by SpyHunter.

Volume Count: Similar to the detection count, the Volume Count is specifically based on the number of confirmed and suspected threats infecting systems on a daily basis. High volume counts usually represent a popular threat but may or may not have infected a large number of systems. High detection count threats could lay dormant and have a low volume count. Criteria for Volume Count is relative to a daily detection count.

Trend Path: The Trend Path, utilizing an up arrow, down arrow or equal symbol, represents the level of recent movement of a particular threat. Up arrows represent an increase, down arrows represent a decline and the equal symbol represent no change to a threat's recent movement.

% Impact (Last 7 Days): This demonstrates a 7-day period change in the frequency of a malware threat infecting PCs. The percentage impact correlates directly to the current Trend Path to determine a rise or decline in the percentage.

Threat Level:	8/10
Infected PCs:	12

First Seen:	May 9, 2016
Last Seen:	May 30, 2021
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

The Bucbi Ransomware is a family of file-encrypting Trojans with major campaigns in both 2014 and 2016. The Trojan's evolving delivery methods have included both drive-by-download attacks and manual installations through compromised accounts. Like other file encryptors, the Bucbi Ransomware encodes the non-essential data of your PC so that it can sell its decryptor to you although malware experts note that free methods of data recovery are just as viable as previously. PC users should use their anti-malware products for deleting the Bucbi Ransomware and take proper steps for re-securing any account information, such as changing their passwords.

A Hibernating Trojan Awakens

While the threat industry moves at a brisk pace, even long-dormant threats can become 'new' again, given the proper circumstances. 2014 was the original 'birth' date for the Bucbi Ransomware, a threat that holds its victims' files hostage and installs itself with the assistance of browser-based exploits. The Bucbi Ransomware also displayed a heavy dependence on network connectivity for receiving commands and conducting its intended payload operations. Now, after two years of dormancy, the Bucbi Ransomware has regrown in a new format after shedding many of its old characteristics, except for its data-ransoming attack.

The Bucbi Ransomware's newest versions circulate themselves through brute forcing Remote Desktop accounts, AKA 'guessing' common usernames and password combinations from a set list. Con artists then use manual methods to install the Bucbi Ransomware. Originally, the 2016 campaign seems to have been targeting Point-of-Sale systems, although the attacks have pivoted towards other, corporate victims since then. The 2016 variant of the Bucbi Ransomware doesn't require a network connection to a C&C server, unlike the 2014 version.

Past its installation point, the Bucbi Ransomware scans for and encrypts almost all files on the compromised system, including any extra drives accessible via any networks. Malware experts confirmed the Bucbi Ransomware's encryption payload of including attacks against all data not stored in the Windows OS directory or the two Program Files directories.

The Bucbi Ransomware's ransom note asks the victim to transfer a Bitcoin payment in exchange for restoring their content back to a usable format. The same text also identifies the theoretical con artists as a part of the Ukrainian Right Sector, although current evidence indicates that the con artists operate from Russia.

Tucking Old Malware Back into Bed

The Bucbi Ransomware makes several mistakes that are typical of incompetent or careless threat campaigns, including not providing unique identifiers for encrypted file names, using an undiscriminating and therefore 'noisy' encryption routine, and not protecting some of its essential data. Malware experts rate the latter as being especially meaningful for victims: the lack of key protection, alongside with an embedded decryption function, makes the development of new decryption possibilities a probable event. Even in worst case circumstances, backup files stored on non-compromised servers and drives can overwrite their encrypted counterparts.

Browser security features and software are effective at blocking drive-by-downloads and HTML threat-based attacks of old versions of the Bucbi Ransomware. For its newer attacks, malware experts suggest strong passwords that are unlikely of being broken by black market applications like RDP Brute. Uncommon phrases of a reasonable length that combine unusual numbers, letters, and case-sensitivity are more resistant to brute force attacks than simple ones like 'password123.'

PC administrators always should use their professional security products for removing high-level threats like the Bucbi Ransomware, while keeping in mind that network-accessible machines also may be infected. Proper data security protocols can make paying the Bucbi Ransomware's ransom entirely redundant, leaving the Bucbi Ransomware as a Trojan that would have been better off left to its sleep.

Bucbi Ransomware

Threat Metric

A Hibernating Trojan Awakens

Tucking Old Malware Back into Bed

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